Book number 522 of my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project
John Scalzi has a very particular and recognizable authorial voice. You always know when you are reading his fiction. I can definitely see his roots, namely Robert Heinlein, that libertarian writer who believed so strongly in personal freedom to choose how he lived. But Scalzi has a progressive side too, advocating for responsibility towards our fellow humans, living with honour and without gratuitous violence.
The narrator of this novel, John Perry, downplays his own intelligence, preferring to credit his wife Jane as the brains of the operation. John and Jane find themselves assigned to be the colonial administrators of a forbidden colony hiding itself on an obscure planet. Jane and her assistant run things and John runs interference for them. Much of his time is spent using the Socratic method to convince the leaders of the colony to acquiesce to his plans. But this is Scalzi, so Perry is also a smartass who is very willing to share his ironic opinions.
Safe to say, as good self reliant folk, John and Jane and their adoptive daughter Zoe try to steer their planet in the right direction and think their way out of their dilemmas while encouraging the colonists to use their brains too. If you like other Scalzi books, you are liable to enjoy this one too. On the other hand, if his worldview grates on you, this book will irritate. I'm kind of middle of the road on him—I love some books, but wasn't as enamoured by this one.
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