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Zoe's Tale: An Old Man's War Novel

by John Scalzi

Zoe's Tale: An Old Man's War Novel Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

How do you tell your part in the biggest tale in history?

I ask because it's what I have to do. I'm Zoe Boutin Perry: A colonist stranded on a deadly pioneer world. Holy icon to a race of aliens. A player (and a pawn) in a interstellar chess match to save humanity, or to see it fall. Witness to history. Friend. Daughter. Human. Seventeen years old.

Everyone on Earth knows the tale I am part of. But you don't know my tale: How I did what I did — how I did what I had to do — not just to stay alive but to keep you alive, too. All of you. I'm going to tell it to you now, the only way I know how: not straight but true, the whole thing, to try make you feel what I felt: the joy and terror and uncertainty, panic and wonder, despair and hope. Everything that happened, bringing us to Earth, and Earth out of its captivity. All through my eyes.

It's a story you know. But you don't know it all.

Review:

"In the touching fourth novel set in the Old Man's War universe, Scalzi revisits the events of 2007's The Last Colony from the perspective of Zo, adopted daughter of previous protagonists Jane Sagan and John Perry. Jane and John are drafted to help found the new human colony of Roanoke, struggling against a manipulative and deceitful homeworld government, native werewolf-like creatures and a league of aliens intent on preventing all space expansion and willing to eradicate the colony if needed. Meanwhile, teenage Zo focuses more on her poetic boyfriend, Enzo; her sarcastic best friend, Gretchen; and her bodyguards, a pair of aliens from a race called the Obin who worship and protect Zo because of a scientific breakthrough made by her late biological father. Readers of the previous books will find this mostly a rehash, but engaging character development and Scalzi's sharp ear for dialogue will draw in new readers, particularly young adults." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

A return to the bestselling Old Man's War universe, Zoe's Tale features one of the most appealing characters in the series.

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About the Author

John Scalzi won the 2006 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and his debut novel Old Man's War was a finalist for the Hugo Award. His other novels include The Ghost Brigades, The Last Colony, and The Android's Dream. He lives in southern Ohio with his wife and daughter.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
Erica Horne, April 13, 2009 (view all comments by Erica Horne)
John Scalzi's latest is an excellent addition to the 'Old Man's War' universe. If you haven't read any of the previous books, don't be afraid to jump right in with this one. It works just as well as a stand along novel and was written that way on purpose. Mr. Scalzi continues to impress me with each novel he releases. His writing style is quick, entertaining, and the characters really come alive for the reader.

Zoe's Tale takes place during the same events as 'The Last Colony' but from the perspective of a 16 year old girl. The bare bones of the story are that Zoe's parents are picked to lead a planetary colony. Adding to the risks of starting a colony from nothing, the colonists must also fear being attacked by other alien races that compete for any habitable planet. Not only are there lots of alien species in the universe, but they are all fighting over the same planets and are hyper xenophobic to boot. Zoe, her family, and the entire colony are pawns in a intergalactic power struggle.

I highly recommend this book.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780765316981
Author:
Scalzi, John
Publisher:
Tor Classics
Subject:
Science / General
Subject:
Science Fiction - General
Subject:
Life on other planets
Subject:
Teenage girls
Subject:
Science Fiction - Military
Subject:
Science fiction
Edition Description:
First
Publication Date:
August 2008
Binding:
Hardcover
Language:
English
Pages:
335
Dimensions:
8.16x6.00x1.15 in. .97 lbs.

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