The Android's Dream

Scalzi has quickly become a favorite of mine in recent months.  He reminds me a great deal of Robert A. Heinlein, blending quirky humor with fast-moving plots.  In this novel, Scalzi uses a complicated mish-mash of events that deftly weaves satire, interstellar cloak and dagger, moral questions, and action.  I won’t go into any of the details, but there are several moments in the book that are truly laugh out loud funny.  The satire is sharp enough to cause several involuntary gasps of incredulity, especially when the target is L. Ron Hubbard’s “Scientology”. 

The novel reminds me poignantly of several, earlier works, chief of which are Heinlein’s The Star Beast and Friday.  Like these earlier works, there are questions about the nature of sentience and humanity that are answered only through the trials that the characters journey through.  Don’t expect complex characters, though.  Characters here are a charcoal sketch at best, drawn with broad strokes that leave room for the reader to interpret their actions by placing themselves in the character’s shoes.  Some may say that this type of characterization is typical in Scalzi’s work before ripping him on character development, but that would be an unfair criticism.  The characters are drawn as they need to be in order for Scalzi to tell the story that he wants to tell.  All else is dross.

Do yourselves a favor by picking this one up.