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Old Man's War Audiobook
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(4.00) - 32,856 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Perfect for an entry-level sci-fi reader and the ideal addition to a veteran fan’s collection, John Scalzi's Old Man’s War will take audiences on a heart-stopping adventure into the far corners of the universe. John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army. The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce—and alien races willing to fight us for them are common. So: we fight. To defend Earth, and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has been going on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding. Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity's resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force. Everybody knows that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve two years at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets. John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine—and what he will become is far stranger. John Scalzi's Old Man's War is a stunning novel of the long war for human survival—in a universe replete with hostility
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"The premise of Old's Man's War is that those in man's colonies have access to alien tech including both interstellar travel and advanced medicine, but those on earth do not. But an elderly person on Earth may enlist in the colony defense force and in return for signing up for ten years off-world service receive rejuvenation. This book, which is the first in the series, follows one recruit as he signs up, enters the service, and begins his service protecting man's colonies.I found this book very enjoyable with humor in the approach to many issues and the narration pleasing. I intend to buy the second in the series (The Last Colony)"
— nAlan (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Though a lot of SF writers are more or less efficiently continuing the tradition of Robert A. Heinlein, Scalzi's astonishingly proficient first novel reads like an original work by the late grand master...This virtuoso debut pays tribute to SF's past while showing that well-worn tropes still can have real zip when they're approached with ingenuity.
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
Solid…[Scalzi] sidesteps most of the cliches of military science fiction, delivers fast-paced scenes of combat and pays attention to the science underpinning his premise.
— San Francisco Chronicle -
Thought-provoking!
— Entertainment Weekly on Old Man’s War -
Smartly conceived and thoroughly entertaining, Old Man's War is a splendid novel.
— Cleveland Plain Dealer -
Gripping and surpassingly original. It's Starship Troopers without the lectures. It's The Forever War with better sex. It's funny, it's sad, and it's true.
— Cory Doctorow -
John Scalzi is a fresh and appealing new voice, and Old Man's War is classic SF seen from a modern perspective a fast-paced tour of a daunting, hostile universe.
— Robert Charles Wilson -
I enjoyed Old Man's War immensely. A space war story with fast action, vivid characters, moral complexity and cool speculative physics, set in a future you almost want to live into, and a universe you sincerely hope you don't live in already.
— Ken MacLeod
Awards
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Finalist for the 2006 Hugo Award for Best Novel
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Nominated for Hugo Award - Nominee, 2006
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Among longlisted titles for Audible.com Best of the Year, 2007
Old Man's War Listener Reviews
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Bryce Robertson, 10/18/2024
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Roland of Eld, 9/7/2022
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Susana Rawlinson, 2/10/2020
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" Ender's Game + Starship Troopers, but for senior citizens. "
— Peter, 2/16/2014 -
" The POV character was mildly annoying at times, but it's an excellent story that ended sooner than I wanted it to. Moving on to the rest of the series "
— David, 2/10/2014 -
" Though I expected this to be plotted more along the lines of The Forever War, I actually enjoyed it quite a bit more. Old Man's War has a lot of fun fictional universe discovery that reminded me much more of Ender's Game. The way the book goes about presenting the question "Why are 75-year-olds being recruited to be space marines?" and the slowly answering it is richly satisfying. The characters aren't particularly deep or memorable (with the exception of Master Sergeant Ruiz); it's the universe that Scalzi creates and the way he unveils it that makes the book so entertaining. "
— Reid, 12/31/2013 -
" I heard about this book via the Sword and Laser video podcast on Geek and Sundry. I hadn't read anything by John Scalzi previously, but I really enjoyed this. It was an enjoyable, light sci-fi read and I will continue on reading the series. "
— Mark, 12/5/2013 -
" A thoroughly enjoyable novel. Very early on, I noticed the similarity to Robert Heinlein. Then I noticed the testimonial excerpt on the cover which said the same. There are more in the series too. "
— Rebelson, 11/25/2013 -
" A bit long winded and way to much grousing about being old. Suggests a future were war effectively solves most problems. The upshot of the books seems at times just: KIll KIll KIll and love your wife. "
— Vanuatu, 9/11/2013 -
" Excellent book based on a fascinating premise. "
— Mike, 9/7/2013 -
" This is a well executed story about space colonization in the future. The interesting twist I that it also explores, in a creative way, the age old desire for a fountain of youth. "
— Mary, 8/13/2013 -
" Enjoyable -- not the best dialogue or character development, but still a fun read. "
— Jesse, 8/10/2013 -
" Fantastic! Original and well told story I just couldn't put down. "
— Tim, 7/5/2013 -
" If Heinlein had written Ender's Game. Fun read while touching on a few philosophical points without being too heavy handed. Enjoyable quick read. "
— Richard, 12/6/2012 -
" I thought it was just going to be some silly sci-fi action book, and there definitely is a lot of that to keep it entertaining, but I found myself caring about the characters a lot more than I expected. I won't jump straight into the sequel, but I'm sure I'll continue the series at some point. "
— David, 11/30/2012 -
" nice scifi book. quick read "
— Muyiwa, 11/26/2012 -
" enjoyed this book, but i felt that it borrowed a little too much from starship troopers "
— Calvin, 10/17/2012 -
" Good enough for me to want to read more. "
— Jacob, 7/16/2012 -
" Reread this since I got it with the Humble Bundle. Now the used copy I bought a while back so I could reread it is giving me dirty looks from the bookshelf. "
— Audrey, 7/2/2012 -
" One of the best books I've read in a long while. A sci-fi classic! "
— Bozhidar, 6/6/2012 -
" Loved it, highly recommended. Shades of Heinlein (Starship Troopers), Hamilton (Fallen Dragon etc), Piers Anthony (Bio series) and a bunch of others referenced. "
— Alastair, 2/8/2012 -
" A great sci-fi novel. Filled with fantastic concepts, high-stakes action and incredibly human characters. I can't wait to continue on with Scalzi's universe. "
— Joshua, 1/28/2012 -
" I am really glad this book was suggested to me by some random guy in a bookstore, I loved every minute of it! "
— Marisa, 6/8/2011 -
" Better than most of Heinlein... A truly wonderful SF war story. "
— Jim, 5/19/2011 -
" Intriguing plot dragged down by sex scenes. "
— Kelly, 5/18/2011 -
" This rises above the run-of-the-mill sf by virtue of the writing. Plotline is essentially a warrior thrust into a series of dangerous circumstances, but Scalzi makes you care. The descriptions of age in the early part of the book are about the finest I've ever encountered. "
— Harry, 5/14/2011 -
" I really enjoyed (as in, slurped up, wolfed down, inhaled) this book. It's like Battlestar Galactica + Hunger Games + Grumpy Old Men, with a little Ender's Game thrown in for good measure. Apparently he borrows from Heinlen, but I didn't make the connection while reading it. Fun. "
— Fran, 5/14/2011 -
" Lot of fun and a fast, easy read with a realistic protagonist. "
— Avani, 5/11/2011 -
" Just started reading this and like it so far. "
— Dave, 5/5/2011 -
" Fun, fast, movie-script-like, but not especially interesting or compelling. This is the kind of book I read on a summer afternoon when I don't want to do any housework--it won't hold me long and I don't particularly care that it won't. "
— Moses, 4/25/2011
About John Scalzi
John Scalzi is an acclaimed science-fiction author whose debut Old Man’s War won him science fiction’s John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His New York Times bestsellers include Fuzzy Nation, Lock In, and Redshirts, which also won the 2013 Hugo Award for Best Novel. He also writes nonfiction on subjects ranging from personal finance to astronomy to film. He served as the creative consultant for the Stargate: Universe television series.
About William Dufris
William Dufris attended the University of Southern Maine in Portland-Gorham before pursuing a career in voice work in London and then the United States. He has won more than twenty AudioFile Earphones Awards, was voted one of the Best Voices at the End of the Century by AudioFile magazine, and won the prestigious Audie Award in 2012 for best nonfiction narration. He lives with his family in Maine.