Old Man's War
Feb 2011 · The Old Man’s War series Book 1 · Pan Macmillan
4.5star
156 reviewsreport
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320
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About this eBook
At seventy-five years old, John Perry is looking for a fresh start – in the army. But the universe is a dangerous place in John Scalzi's Old Man's War . . .
'Gripping and surpassingly original' – Cory Doctorow, author of Walkaway
Earth's military machine can transform elderly recruits, restoring their lost youth. But in return, its Colonial Defence Force demands two years of hazardous service in space. This is how Perry finds himself in a new body, crafted from his original DNA. A genetically enhanced and upgraded new body, ready for battle.
But upgrades alone won't keep Perry safe. He'll be fighting for his life on the front line as he defends humanity's colonies from hostile aliens. He'll pay the price for his choices. And he'll discover the universe is even more dangerous than he imagined . . .
'A space war story with fast action, vivid characters, moral complexity, and cool speculative physics' – Ken MacLeod, author of Beyond the Light Horizon
Old Man's War is the first in the series. The gripping space war continues with The Ghost Brigades.
'Gripping and surpassingly original' – Cory Doctorow, author of Walkaway
Earth's military machine can transform elderly recruits, restoring their lost youth. But in return, its Colonial Defence Force demands two years of hazardous service in space. This is how Perry finds himself in a new body, crafted from his original DNA. A genetically enhanced and upgraded new body, ready for battle.
But upgrades alone won't keep Perry safe. He'll be fighting for his life on the front line as he defends humanity's colonies from hostile aliens. He'll pay the price for his choices. And he'll discover the universe is even more dangerous than he imagined . . .
'A space war story with fast action, vivid characters, moral complexity, and cool speculative physics' – Ken MacLeod, author of Beyond the Light Horizon
Old Man's War is the first in the series. The gripping space war continues with The Ghost Brigades.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
156 reviews
Robin Young
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8 February 2024
Moderately entertaining at times, but ultimately shallow and unsatisfying. It aspires to stand shoulder to shoulder with Heinlein and Haldeman but ends up sitting on their shoulders with its feet dangling around their neck, an ice-cream cone in one hand and with the other, pointing at their books and shouting "Look daddy, Sci-Fi!" This is definitely more Saturday morning cartoons rather than Saving Private Ryan, and that's fine, but not what I was looking for in military sci-fi. 5/10
David Allen
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31 March 2018
Having not read Starship Troopers I cant really compare it but this is of a similar vein and its a great book; humorous and insightful. I'm starting its sequel right away!
4 people found this review helpful
Adrian Toh
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28 December 2017
There were so many parts of the book where I read audibly to myself to just enjoy the dialog and gravitas. The injected humor was also appropriate and tasteful. I liked the humility and humanity of the protagonist John Perry. More importantly, the pace and action of this space adventure was peerless. This books ranks with the best I've read, to include notables such as Ready Player One and The Martian
2 people found this review helpful
About the author
John Scalzi is one of the most popular and acclaimed SF authors to emerge in the last decade. His debut Old Man's War won him science fiction's John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His New York Times bestsellers include The Last Colony, Fuzzy Nation, Lock In, and also Redshirts, which won 2013's Hugo Award for Best Novel. Material from his widely read blog Whatever has also earned him two other Hugo Awards. He lives in Ohio with his wife and daughter.
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