MobileRead Discussion: Old Man's War by John Scalzi (spoilers)

[Altoanto]

Originally Posted by drofgnal

Not sure I understand Altoano's question about the multiverse. That is the exact term many cosmologists are using today.

I too thought the explanation was good and believable, it's just that it is pretty long with a lot of possible consequences (doubles of yourself, weird alternate universe, time/space anomalies etc..) and came out as if it was a major plot element in itself.

I was expecting a lot more from it than a long introduction to where tachyons (the actual major plot element) came from. Especially since the one-paragraph-long explanation of tachyons would be equally plausible if you just replaced "into another universe" by "to another point in space".

Hence my curiosity

Perhaps one of you who read the whole series can tell me (us) if it turns out to be important beyond the existence of tachyons?

I really appreciated obs20 link on John Scalzi's own comments, it's interesting to see how he sacrificed a bit of his "own voice" to appeal to as many reader as possible, it's planed like a true blockbuster movie! I guess I'm naive to think books are less thought-out than movies in term of target audience, success, fashionable plots/styles etc..

[Crusader]

I loved the book. Recently finished it as part of a Sci-Fi challenge. The humor is really what made it shine.

[mike_bike_kite]

I gave up on the book pretty quick (maybe I should give it another chance). It didn't help that I'd just read Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan which covered a similar idea and covered it very well. I'm now making my way though all of Morgan's books even though I do find him a little too blood thirsty at times.

[jhempel24]

If you gave up on it really quickly, I doubt you'd find much enjoyment on it, I really liked it from the get go, and that's what keeps me reading anyway.

I've not heard of Altered Carbon, I'll have to look it up!

[Donnageddon]

Altered Carbon is a must read. One of my favorite science fiction books.