The Human Division (Old Man's War #5)

#983
Title: The Human Division (Old Man's War #5)
Author:  John Scalzi
Publisher: Tor
Year: 2013
432 pages

Read serially from January 20 to April 11, 2013. Purchased from Audible as a serial for $0.69 a segment, preordered and read as released. However, it bugs me unbelievably to read that when it's published as a book, it will include "the first tale of Lieutenant Harry Wilson, and a coda that wasn’t part of the digital serialization." When I signed up to buy the serialized book at Audible, it was represented as the serialized book, not "the serialized book minus two segments." Update: Scalzi says the extra segments will be available after the hardback is published.

After the Coup ("the first tale of Lieutenant Harry Wilson"): I'll be interested to see where this is placed in the volume. It's not one of the audio segments. http://www.tor.com/stories/2008/07/af...: Harry is to show off in, but throw, a single-combat demonstration with a race with which the Colonial Union hopes to ally. Aside from one stunt, there's not much emphasis here on what a CDF guy (a tech, not a soldier, as he points out) can do--no BrainPal action on display. The solution to the problem makes sense but is more mechanical and less interesting than, say, (view spoiler). Depending on where Scalzi places this in the collection, it would be a good feint prior to The Sound of Rebellion. Update: Scalzi says it's a prequel, so I'm reviewing it first.

The B-Team: Lots of quick action, snappy dialogue, and some themes familiar from Scalzi's Redshirts. This story picks up post-The Last Colony as the Conclave grows in power and Earth and the Colonial Union appear to be parting ways. This story would seem to set up at least some of those that will follow, with typical Scalzi wheels-inside-wheels stratagems.

Walk the Plank: A short lead-in or bridging narrative about a wildcat colony. It provides a political perspective and an opportunity for an unrealistic amount of exposition, especially at the outset. Not a very strong stand-alone.

We Only Need the Heads: The story arc continues to develop as characters and situations are brought together to advance the probable major plot components. Schmidt, Wilson, and Ambassador Ambumwe, brought together in "The B-Team," here intersect with the wildcat colony on a Bula planet from "Walk the Plank."

A Voice in the Wilderness: Meanwhile, machinations on Earth.

Tales from the Clarke: Moves the narrative along and builds relationships, but aspects of this one are predictable and lack the punch of some of the others.

The Dog King: Eh. Cute, but the whole front end was immediately predictable, and unless the solution to the problem at the end turns out to be a useful fix elsewhere, not a critical chapter. It's sort of the antithesis of The Android's Dream--here, (view spoiler)

The Sound of Rebellion: More cool, laconic Colonial Defense Forces, enjoyable technology, and fun with SmartBlood. (view spoiler) More Earth/Colonial Union conflict. A poke at US involvement in Afghanistan--gee, you mean we weren't greeted by all as liberators?

The Observers: Another Harry Wilson and Ambassador Ambumwe tale, aboard the Clarke. A closed-room mystery. (view spoiler) Plus, a bottle of Laphroaig eases interstellar diplomacy.

This Must Be the Place: Hart spends time with his family, and clarifies his values. It's a character piece, not an action narrative.

A Problem of Proportion: The most poignant piece I've read by Scalzi. Complications increase with the introduction of an unidentified third force. A nod to Anne McCaffrey's Ship series, perhaps.

The Gentle Art of Cracking Heads: Back on earth, a mystery and no resolution on an earlier murder.

Earth Below, Sky Above: The last audio segment. It's action-packed, and collects but does not resolve the many questions already raised. Cue sequel.

The extra segment is "Hafte Sorvalh Eats a Churro and Speaks to the Youth of Today," and after I read it, I'll add it.