OLD MAN’S WAR by John Scalzi

Narrated by William Dufris

…..You don’t have the math for it…..

The early sections of this novel are of one nature and that latter parts are of another. It begins with a character study of some aged people choosing to sign up for military service and going through basic training. These sections are interesting and often humorous, typical of a John Scalzi book; but then the book transitions into rather standard combat Science Fiction fare; taking us through a series of alien bug hunts. By this time some of the fundamental conceits of the book begin to wear on you. I began to think of the unrealistic suppositions such as the idea that the technologically advanced human colonists do not share their advanced, and life-extending, technologies with their ancestors back on earth. Also, since no one on earth knows anything about the colonies how can one of the characters—who admittedly does not have the math for it—understand the theory of Skip Drive? I have listened to three other Scalzi books and liked this one the least. His trademark humor seemed muted here. He is better when he doesn’t take himself too seriously. So, at about the time that my willing suspension of disbelief was wearing thin, the plot twists yet again in a dues ex machine fashion and the sense of wonder returns as an element of time-travel is introduced. This saved the book from an early abandonment for me and made me consider continuing with the sequels.

William Dufris is very good, as always. He delivers a competent rendering of the various characters in the book. The problem is that when the characters become pedantic and overbearing he faithfully tracks along with them. He is very good at trying to impart emotion into the character voices he does. I like it when the narrator goes over the top in his performance; this is an all too infrequent occurrence in the realm of audiobooks. This is a shame, because it is one of the elements that help to distinguish it as an art form separate and distinct from the literature upon with it depends.