This is the first Scalzi book I've read -- yeah, I know, my bad, but I haven't read any scifi/fantasy until just recently; after a decade or so of wallowing in other genres.

That it's the last volume in a multi-book universe is pretty much how I sometimes fall into things, but it puts me in the position of being able to review this book as a stand-alone. From that point of view I have to say that I thought it held up very well. Scalzi did a good job of backfilling the story to put Zoe's adventure into context, and I never once felt lost.

Now by every other determinant, I have to say that I found "Zoe's Tale" to be more of a YA book than an 'adult-adult' book. The story is interesting, the pacing quick, the writing good... however the emotional tone is simplistic, which is to say when people/Obin are dying no body's running amok tearing their hair out. In addition, the plotting is not devious nor, in fact, complete. For example, there are very interesting creatures that are introduced, made to look like they might be integral to the plot, but they aren't heard from again. (They provide an instrument to move the story ahead and that's it.)

All in all, I enjoyed "Zoe's Tale", though I had to put on my YA/MG mindset. It would be suitable, by the way, for MG (middle schoolers) if some mild cursing is allowable. No real violence. No real adult situations. The writing is fun and funny. Scalzi's a good story teller.

Pam T~
mom and reviewer for BooksforKids-reviews ( )

While Zoe's Tale is retelling of a story already gone by in The Last Colony, it is a refreshing tale from a new and unique point of view. We also get to see some of the things that were done behind the scenes, obviously, as we see everything "on screen" that Zoe is doing. ( )

Not bad even if you've just finished 'The Last Colony' as I just did. Possibly worse if you haven't, not a good introduction to the universe, and no idea in my mind how it would stand alone as the YA book it is ( )

A retelling of the Last Colony (the 3rd book in the Old Man's War trilogy) from Zoe's perspective. Very well done, and interesting both for the story as well as an artistic exercise. ( )

Surprisingly well written. Zoe's point of view was fresh and refreshing and really makes this book worth reading. Its a slow moving book without too much action, but what action there is is entertaining. A good book for people who like interesting characters. ( )

This was a book that reminded me of the teenager I think I was. After twenty years I realize my memories are a bit subjective, but the narrator of this book felt much more real than most and much more appealing that others I have tried to read (4 book series beginning with T.) The plot is a standard science fiction one but the honesty of s an almost child telling the story was compelling and wonderful. ( )

This novel is what it was meant to be and not much more; taking you stage left to show you how the gaps in the plot of "The Last Colony" were filled in. That said, the question then becomes whether Zoe Boutin-Perry is a successful character; maybe. I'd have to imagine that a person having gone through what Zoe had experienced up to the climax of the story would be rather more brittle than how she comes across; at least I would have expected rather more fallout from the results of the girl's budding romance. That said, Scalzi does give you one of his poignant and effective climaxes, and that goes a long way towards making things right. This is not to mention that we do find out what happens to the conflict between the local sapient beings and the colonists on Roanoke. ( )

Although enjoyable, as Scalzi always is, Zoe's Tale is one of his less successful books, as books go.

It suffers from being a parallel tale. The parallel tale can be made to work well, but there's not much new here, and reading it directly after The Last Colony was almost tedious in places. A parallel tale should delve into hidden parts of the previous story or illuminate old characters and events in a new light - this doesn't really manage to do either until the very tale end of the book, and even then I wasn't all that impressed.

Worst, though, is Zoe's voice. I'm a reader of his blog, so I'm aware that he's aware that hitting the teenage girl voice was struggle and that he took it as a challenge to himself. Unfortunately, I could feel that struggle through every inch of Zoe. She's simply a character who /tries/ too hard. She's too pithy, too witty, too brilliant, too unengaging. She has none of the pathos that often attracts me to YA books (one of my favorite genres). Her ups and downs and struggles (what there are of them - Zoe soars right past many an obstacle with a cursory brush to their obstacleness) failed to move me almost entirely, save for one notable exception.

I get what Scalzi was trying to do here - there are moments when this book hits the 'who you are' and 'what you are' points very nicely. I suspect it would resonate with teen girls who are encouraged rather than distracted by a heroine who's smarter and wise-cracking-er than the majority of actual teen girls. And I suppose that's really what YA fiction is all about.

I can't say I didn't enjoy this book - I did, while it was going. But Scalzi can and has done better, and the weight of the 'very little new territory' re-tell combined with the protagonist keeps me from doing much more than simply 'enjoying' it. From Scalzi, that's disappointing. ( )

Scalzi does good work here. Although the story is a retelling of The Last Colony, as seen by Zoe, the compelling characterization makes it worth the read, and living the story again through her perspective gives the narrative a deeper emotional punch than that in the original telling. ( )

A teenage girl fights to protect her new home from invaders.

So often, I hear others say that a book from further along in an established series is a good place to start. I usually think that's tripe, but it's true here. Even though ZOE'S TALE takes place pretty far along in the OLD MAN'S WAR timeline, I never felt like I was out of the loop. Scalzi gave me everything I needed to establish a connection with Zoë and her story. I really liked how he handled the backstory and the worldbuilding; while Zoë sometimes discusses her past in some detail, it always feels like a natural part of the story, and it fit with her character.

Which, by the way, is wonderful. I loved her voice. I can’t speak for the way Zoë sounds in the other books, but in this one she always comes across as being utterly herself. I really liked her snark and her honesty, and the back and forth between her and her friends really, really works. I believed in her completely. I did, however, question how aware she was of her teenage status. All the “never send an adult to do a teenager’s job” stuff got kind of old after a while. It felt rather forced.

As far as the plot goes... well, when I stopped to think about it, I did find that I wanted a little bit more, but I so rarely did so that it wasn’t much of an issue. Zoë’s world is easy to sink into. I wanted to spend more time with her and her friends, and I appreciated how Scalzi intertwined her life with the wider political stuff going on around her. I’m sure that I’ll appreciate it all the more when I read THE LAST COLONY and see all the political stuff Zoë – and, by extension, I – missed out on.

I often steer clear of science fiction as I find that most of the stuff I run across is very plot-over-character, but John Scalzi's got me thinking I should dip my toe in the water a bit more often. Zoe is unquestionably the focus here; I really felt for her, and even teared up a few times. I got a big kick out of the book, and recommend that you give it a go.

(A rather different version of this review first appeared on my blog, Stella Matutina, as an open letter to John Scalzi). ( )

I can say without a doubt that this is one the best books I've read all year.

Having never read any of the other books in the series, this book can absolutely stand on its own. I couldn't put it down - I found myself laughing out loud, smiling, and eventually, holding back tears. It was a poignant tale with a pacing that seemed very suitable to a young adult readership. And while Scalzi may certainly not be a teenaged girl, I think he gave her a voice that was spot on. She was the kind of girl I wish I had been growing up.

It reminded me quite a bit of The Giver in the smooth and even way the story unfolded, and in the very accessible manner in which it was told. I loved it. ( )

Review located at http://pilethemon.blogspot.com/2008/1... ( )

Although this book pretty much covers the same events as the book, _The Last Colony_, it tells the tale of the Roanoak Colony from the point of view of Zoe, John Perry's adopted daughter and her fellow teenagers. Again, this could have been a disaster - whatever else he may be, John Scalzi isn't a teenaged girl.
However, it was a surprisingly moving version of the tale, especially in the way that Zoe's feelings were described, first in the discovery of her true love and then her feelings of loss after his death (on the other hand I'm even less a female teen than Mr Scalzi...) and it does add a few additional events that expand on the original story.
Highly recommended ( )

http://tpi-reads.blogspot.com/2009/06... ( )

Since Zoe's Tale is essentially a re-telling of events from some of the other books, primarily The Last Colony, isn't it kind of repetitive, and more to the point, why would I give it one more star than The Last Colony?

Repetitive? Maybe a little. But Scalzi tells a very different story this time. It is the tale of Zoe and secondarily of Hickory and Dickory. And in the afterword Scalzi notes that one of the things he wanted to do was fix some of the problems people noted in The Last Colony, particularly the Deus Ex Machina salvation of the colony and the appearance and disappearance of the Roanoke natives. When I looked back at my review of The Last Colony I discovered I was one of the folks complaining about just that.

I think the story telling on Zoe is more consistent, better paced, and has fewer holes than The Last Colony did. If I'd read this one first I might not think that though. There is no question it is meant to be read in conjunction with The Last Colony. Should they be read in publication order? Probably. You could start with Zoe's Tale, but I think it assumes a lot of familiarity with the events of The Last Colony. I can't say that it suffers from a predictable ending since the ending is a foregone conclusion. ( )

For those of us who have already read The Last Colony, this is great companion piece. The overall plot is the same, so there are no twists and turns, but instead there is depth. For example, I knew when a major character was going to die and was still moved, almost to tears, over that character's death. Still, in some ways, I wish I could have read this on its own and I think someone who has not read the rest of the series may actually get more out of it than I did. I think that teens would enjoy this book.

http://archthinking.blogspot.com/2009... ( )

http://tyranist.blogspot.com/2009/05/... ( )

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1213582...

Zoë's Tale actually takes place in parallel with last year's Hugo nominee, The Lost Colony, being the story of the teenage daughter of John Perry and Jane Sagan, the leaders of the human colony of Roanoke, living through and playing a key role in the key points of humanity's conflict with the alien Conclave federation. I had forgotten most of last year's book, but Zoë's Tale does clear up one (but not all) of the more handwavey plot elements.

Zoë herself is rather delightful, with a line in sarcasm that readers of her creator's blog will recognise. The other characters seem fairly three-dimensional as well. The political background, and behaviour of the most senior political leaders, once again doesn't make a lot of sense (a standard complaint of mine, and of course a YA novel like this more or less has to involve the protagonist getting one up on the adults) but it's a decent enough story apart from that. ( )

The premise: it's not easy being seventeen. Not when you're the biological daughter of the man who betrayed the human race, the adopted daughter of the colony leaders on a pioneer world that's been abandoned and used for bait, and what amounts to being a holy icon to the Obin, a race of aliens. Zoë's Tale takes us through the events of The Last Colony, but all from HER point of view and how her actions effected that book. But it's more than a retelling: it's a story about love and friendship, about the dangers of a pioneer world, and what it means to hold the entire race of an alien people in the palm of your hands.

My Rating

Must Have: sue me, I've reached the point where I'm biased. I enjoy Scalzi's work way too much, and while his trademark humor and snark is evident in this book, he did a great job crafting Zoë's character and giving her a story within the story we already know. And I'm serious about wanting to get the YA audience to read this, because I think they'd really, really enjoy it (those who like SF, anyway). I think the book stands well enough on its own, but even I'll admit at its strongest after reading all the OMW books that come before. It's the icing on the cake, and the cherry on top is the realization that Scalzi could, if he wanted to, write YA too. Just watch out for the occasional bits of profanity. Although my new favorite word is now "smartassery." Thanks for that, Scalzi!

The full review, which does include spoilers unless you've already read The Last Colony, is in my journal if anyone's interested. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome. :)

REVIEW: John Scalzi's ZOE'S TALE

Happy Reading! :) ( )

We follow Zoë, as she makes new friends, settles in to the community and deals with the events as they start to unravel. Thankfully, Salzi chooses not to just rehash those events from a different point-of-view, but also flesh them out and give us new information.

As I mentioned earlier, Tavia Gilbert, narration is amazing, she perfectly caputures Zoë’s snarky sarcastic attituse with her friends, but also easily gets across the characater’s intellegence and compassion, her voice creaks with emotion at one point (if you’ve read either this book or The Lost Colony, you’ll know where) and as the reader/listener your emotions will be seriously shredded. :)

This is certainly going to be one of may favourite books of the year, and Zoë is one of my new favourite literary characters.

Read and comment on my full review at:
http://www.bartsbookshelf.co.uk/2009/... ( )

...

As the the threats in the books grow in scale, her negotiation skills get honed even further. Her arc from carefree child to manipulator of one of the most ancient races in the galaxy is an amazingly smooth progression.

http://mentatjack.com/2009/03/28/revi... ( )

Not having read any previous books set in John Scalzi's "Old Man War", I found this book stood on it's own well enough. Zoe and her family set out as part of a group to colonize a new planet, something that has become a standard occurrance in the novel. "Zoe's Tale" definitely has the tone of a young adult novel, but as an adult I still found it enjoyable. It's an easy read, and while it has some serious dramatic moments, it is all from the point of view of the teen protagonist.

Zoe is a spunky teen, almost relentlessly so at times, but great fun. For those, like myself, who haven't read Scalzi's other novels, the war, the various worlds, and the alien races seem only lightly sketched. However, there are enough details to get the general idea, and the story is so focused on Zoe that I wouldn't really call this a shortcoming. Basically, the further from Zoe you consider, the less detailed the picture, but Zoe's interactions with the people in her immediate surroundings are richly drawn.

I can easily recommend this as a young adult novel, and as a lighter read for adults who can enjoy an interesting story centered on a group of teenage colonists. ( )

An excellent addition to the series! ( )

Zoe is the type of young, snarky little teenager that I like to read about. Her family is a little strange. Her real parents are dead. But her adopted parents are the founding fathers of a new colony, and the settlers arrive on their planet in a fury of activity. But the Colonial Union has set them up for attack and as a pawn in a intergalactic war. So Zoe has to step in and try to save the day. Of course, it helps that she has an entire species of alien at her beck and call. But, that's what happens when your daddy gives alien life consciousness! :) Read this fantastic science fiction tale if you want to read fast, read late into the night, and get in trouble for reading during class! (No, wait, don't do that....) ( )

Apparently, Zoe's Tale is a parallel story to The Last Colony, which I didn't realize because I hadn't read The Last Colony. I'm not sure if you'd like it more or less having read it, but it manages to stand pretty well on its own.
Scalzi returns to the Old Man's War universe once again, this time telling a story through the eyes of Zoe Boutin-Perry. He manages to pull off the teenage girl voice pretty well, complete with eye-rolling and angst in spades. The story moves briskly along, though much of the action remains on Roanoke, until the last 50 pages or so.
The book might not be as effective as other "alternate view" stories (the Ender/Shadow series, for example), but it manages to flesh out a little more of the Old Man's War backstory in an interesting and unique way. ( )