Zoe's Tale
by John Scalzi
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Book Reviews of Zoe's Tale
Book Review: For Sci-Fi Fans and Teen Girls
Summary: 5 Stars
The hard core sci-fi cover might make you think otherwise, but Zoe's Tale is chiefly an empowering yet sweet coming of age story about 17 year old Zoe, both player and pawn in a complex interstellar battle between the Colonial Union (the human alliance) and the Conclave (an alliance of roughly 400 alien species). If you've read The Last Colony, I guess you probably know how it all turns out since this is apparently a novel with a parallel timeline told from a different perspective. If you haven't, no matter, as this exciting tale can stand on its own.
Zoe, her adopted parents, her two alien bodyguards and about 2000 settlers from 10 different human colonies are sent off by the Colonial Union to colonize a new planet called Roanoke (and anyone who knows American history will appreciate the irony of the name). As it turns out, the Colonial Union has plans that don't have the best interests of the colonists at heart. But fortunately, Zoe is not the type of girl who goes down without fight, especially when the lives of her parents, her new best friend Gretchen (with whom she has a great sarcastic rapport) and her new boyfriend Enzo's lives are at stake.
I like sci-fi, but I've never been big on books where alien races make up a big part of the narrative because of all the exposition you normally have to slog through. Author John Scalzi is wise to keep this to a minimum and the aliens he does introduce even manage to be entertaining (picture big spider like creatures at a hoedown and try not to laugh). Don't let the star trek like premise turn you off, because Zoe, an ordinary teenage girl asked to be extraordinary, is worth getting to know. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Although this isn't a YA novel, Publisher Tor is actively courting the teen market. And with a heroine as appealing and strong as Zoe, I think they just might succeed.
See more of my reviews at presentinglenore.blogspot.com
Book Review: Another worthy peek into Scalzi's Colonial Union universe
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought Zoe's tale, not because it was a coming of age story of a teenage girl, but rather in spite of that fact.
Scalzi's stories about his Colonial Union universe have captivated me since I first read his 'Old Man's War', and I have since read all three of his Colonial Union books, plus 'The Sagan Diary'. So when I heard that 'Zoe's Tale' was out, I did not hesitate to buy it.
I was not disappointed. This may be the best story yet of the Colonial Union; it is certainly the most moving for me.
Zoe is a fascinating character to read about, not only because of *who* she is -- a complicated story in and of itself -- but also because of *what* she is -- a 'treaty obligation' to a deadly alien race, currently allied with the Colonial Union because of what Zoe is -- the biological daughter of a dead traitor.
I have to admit that John Scalzi's writing does a better job of playing with my emotions that any other writer that I can name. I was on pins and needles reading his 'The Last Colony', and while reading 'Zoe's Tale', I found myself reading a key passage of the book experiencing first awe, and then finding tears of joy streaming down my face for the next few minutes. Believe me, this just does not happen often to this 53-year old male.
Zoe's tale is part teenager coming of age, part coming of age of an extraordinary person, and the fascinating story of a primary mover of events in Scalzi's Colonial Union universe.
I found 'Zoe's Tale' to be an excellent addition to John Scalzi's Colonial Union universe. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested.
Book Review: From a Different Point of a View
Summary: 4 Stars
John Scalzi returns to his popular "Old Man's War" universe with a parallel novel to the last entry, told from the perspective of Zoe Boutin Perry. Covering the same time frame as the previous entry, "The Last Colony," "Zoe's Tale" examines the ins and outs of the story from Zoe's perspective as a teenage girl and the lynchpin of peace agreeement between several interstellar races.
Hearing how Zoe thinks and reacts to things is fascinating and even though we may know where things are going, Scalzi still manages to keep the story suspenseful and compelling. The big part of this is the voice of Zoe. Scalzi sets up the character's voice early and then steps back, allowing her to take over telling the story in such a way that it is fresh, compelling and a definite asset to the universe of Old Man's War. I know at the end of "The Last Colony," Scalzi said he was taking a break from the universe for a while, but after reading this, I'm glad he didn't. "Zoe's Tale" comes along just soon enough after "Last Colony" to allow readers to remember enough of the critical events and turning points from the story.
However, don't think that just because you haven't read "Last Colony" you can't or shouldn't read this one. Scalzi's strength is that you can read his novels in any order and while having some background will enhance some aspects of the novels, it's not required. Scalzi has created a series that is equally rewarding for new and old readers. If anything, the compelling nature of "Zoe's Tale" will have those who haven't read the previous installments heading to a bookstore or library to see what they've missed.
Book Review: A good, though not great, retelling of Scalzi's "The Last Colony"
Summary: 3 Stars
Frankly, this book is a little disappointing. It's the 4th book in Scalzi's "Old Man's War" universe - this time a retelling of the immediately preceding book, "The Last Colony," retold from the perspective of Zoe, the adopted daughter of the hero, John Perry, from "Old Man's War" (and the biological daughter of the human race's greatest traitor). If this book had truly been a stand alone book, I would have been hard pressed to have given it 2 stars. However, because it does add a little depth to the "Old Man's War" universe and is written in Scalzi's easygoing style, I gave it 1 more star (for a total of 3). As Scalzi himself notes, this storytelling approach is similar to Orson Scott Card's treatment of the Ender series ("Ender's Game") in "Ender's Shadow." It doesn't work quite so well for me for two reasons: (1) unlike "Ender's Shadow," which was written almost 15 years after "Ender's Game," this is a retelling of the last book I read by Scalzi less than 2 years ago - I felt like I had already read this story; and (2) Scalzi just isn't Orson Scott Card (at least not yet), so he doesn't quite pull this approach off - it just doesn't seem as fresh, interesting, or add enough to justify me spending the time re-reading the tale told in "The Last Colony."
If you really like the "Old Man's War" universe, you'll enjoy this book, but don't expect a masterpiece. Frankly, I wish I had waited a few more years before reading this book (after "The Last Colony" had begun to fade from my memory). For those interested in a great book/universe to delve into, though, start with "Old Man's War" and "The Ghost Brigades". Great books.
Book Review: Satisfying finishing touch on the "Old Man's War" series
Summary: 5 Stars
"Zoe's Tale" is essentially a retelling of the events in Scalzi's previous novel in the "Old Man's War" universe, "The Last Colony". Thematically, there's no new ground being tread here, but this version of the tale is told by the teenage daughter of the TLC protagonists, which provides an interesting contrast.
Scalzi uses the opportunity to fill in a few of the gaps in the backstory in a way that avoids the "As you know, Bob" syndrome of intrusive exposition. The events are familiar to anyone who's read The Last Colony, but Zoe's take on things makes the retelling different and interesting enough for "Zoe's Tale" to stand on its own very well.
Stand-out characters include Zoe's sensitive and intelligent boyfriend Enzo, and her best friend Gretchen, whose latent sarcasm and sense of humor mesh well with Zoe's own. (The interactions between the teenagers of Roanoke colony contain some of the funniest exchanges in the entire Old Man's War series, and Scalzi is quite adept at both convincingly writing their voices, and giving their characters dimension.)
Overall, "Zoe's Tale" is a satisfying finishing touch to the Old Man's War universe, which gains a little more depth and dimension with Zoe's perspective--not only on the events, but also on life, teenage angst, identity issues, and the status of family and friends in one's life. Zoe is a remarkably layered and believable character, one of the most convincing and positive depictions of a teenage girl you'll find in any genre.