Book Reviews Old Man's War, by John Scalzi - Barker
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Old Man’s War, by John Scalzi

Excellent syfy–the first 50 pages of the book are very boring, and the so called repartee is on a teen age level. But, once the book gets going, it really rocks. In the future, the human race drafts people who are way over the hill, around 75 or so, and transplants their brain functionality and memories into young, cloned bodies.

The bodies are almost super human though, as they’ve been refined in the growing process to have perfect bodies. With smart blood, that consists of robotic nano particles that can use oxygen more efficiently and repair the body much faster than the normal rate. The oxygen efficiency is enhanced by tinting the skin color green, to make use of chorophyll’s capability to use CO2 as an energy source.

And a brain buddy–an implanted computer that maximizes brain processing speed.

The green tint and brain transposition reminded me of the movie Avatar, but that’s about as far as the similarity goes.

In addition to the thrills and chills of war in space, there’s a very good personal thread that keeps the hero’s humanity in the forefront. He loses his wife before joining the army, but somehow manages to find her again in space. Sort of–it’s done very well, and I think you’ll like it.