Dear Mr. Scalzi,
Please don’t take all of my money.
Thanks in advance — Cam
Yes folks, I finished The Android’s Dream a few days ago, and while it isn’t quite Old Man’s War in terms of sheer awesomeness, it’s darn close. Moreover, I’m totally hooked on Scalzi’s style, wit and humor as well as his ideas, aliens and characters. This is the reason for my opening plea: with the winning streak he’s on, I doubt I’ll ever be able to avoid the impulse to buy his books (in any form) the day they are released. I’d rather go hungry than not read his stuff as soon as possible. That might get expensive, especially if he keeps auctioning off ARCs of his new books months before they hit the store shelves.
The title is a play on Philip K Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, in that a genetically altered breed of electric blue sheep plays a central role in the crowning of a new monarch in an alien race. Earth invented the sheep and gifted it to the alien monarch in an effort to win sponsorship into the intergalactic Common Confederation. When enemies of the crown massacre all living Android’s Dream sheep weeks before the next ascension to the throne, Earth is drawn into a desperate political game that could easily end in war. Oh and some Earth ambassador farts a diplomat to death. What more could you want?
Summary: The Android’s Dream had me hooked from the fart and it kept me on the edge of my sheep the whole time. Part satire, part homage (to PKD) and completely filled with Scalzi’s signature witty dialog, this is a novel that does not disappoint.
That’s the end of the review. Zoe’s Tale arrived today. Bye.
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You can read the first chapter here:
http://www.scalzi.com/whatever/004945.html
I’m about to read The Android’s Dream so I can’t comment on the book itself yet.
However, I thought I would mention, my Mom recently purchased this book because the clouds on the cover made it look like a girl’s book. So she picked it up, and while being confused by the andriod on the cover and not a reader of sci-fi, really liked the first paragraph so she purchased it.