- Hardcover: 301 pages
- Publisher: Tor Books (6 Jun 2011)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0765328542
- ISBN-13: 978-0765328540
- Product Dimensions: 24.3 x 16.4 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 355,572 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Fuzzy Nation
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Review
" Scalzi is not just recycling classic Heinlein. He's working out new twists, variations that startle even as they satisfy." "--Publishers Weekly, "starred review, on "Old Man's War
"" If Stephen King were to try his hand at science fiction, he'd be lucky to be half as entertaining as John Scalzi." "--Dallas Morning News "on "The Ghost Brigades
"" Scalzi's captivating blend of offworld adventure and political intrigue remains consistently engaging." "--Booklist "on "The Last Colony
"
Product Description
Jack Holloway works alone, for reasons he doesn't care to talk about. Hundreds of miles from ZaraCorp's headquarters on planet, 178 light-years from the corporation's headquarters on Earth, Jack is content as an independent contractor, prospecting and surveying at his own pace. As for his past, that's not up for discussion.
Then, in the wake of an accidental cliff collapse, Jack discovers a seam of unimaginably valuable jewels, to which he manages to lay legal claim just as ZaraCorp is cancelling their contract with him for his part in causing the collapse. Briefly in the catbird seat, legally speaking, Jack pressures ZaraCorp into recognizing his claim, and cuts them in as partners to help extract the wealth.
But there's another wrinkle to ZaraCorp's relationship with the planet Zarathustra. Their entire legal right to exploit the verdant Earth-like planet, the basis of the wealth they derive from extracting its resources, is based on being able to certify to the authorities on Earth that Zarathustra is home to no sentient species.
Then a small furry biped--trusting, appealing, and ridiculously cute--shows up at Jack's outback home. Followed by its family. As it dawns on Jack that despite their stature, these are people, he begins to suspect that ZaraCorp's claim to a planet's worth of wealth is very flimsy indeed...and that ZaraCorp may stop at nothing to eliminate the "fuzzys" before their existence becomes more widely known.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've been a fan of John Scalzi's work for a number of years now. It is because of this that I bought Fuzzy Nation without reservation and read it at my earliest opportunity. I should point out that I have not read Little Fuzzy so my thoughts are from someone who is coming fresh to the Fuzzyverse.
I enjoyed reading this book (in two sittings) but it just didn't hit the spot, hence why it lost two stars. I was expecting something with more bite, like other Scalzi novels, but I didn't find any. Perhaps this is because he had to stick with the original book's young-adult theme, I don't know. Apart from some satisfying and intelligent twists in the courtroom scenes it was altogether too light, breezy and predictable.
Other authors whom I enjoy have progressed further as writers in the past few years with novels of increasing complexity and craftsmanship. I would love Scalzi to do the same, and not recycle his characters and dialogue style.
All in all I would still recommend reading this book, but I won't go back for a second helping.
I enjoyed reading this book (in two sittings) but it just didn't hit the spot, hence why it lost two stars. I was expecting something with more bite, like other Scalzi novels, but I didn't find any. Perhaps this is because he had to stick with the original book's young-adult theme, I don't know. Apart from some satisfying and intelligent twists in the courtroom scenes it was altogether too light, breezy and predictable.
Other authors whom I enjoy have progressed further as writers in the past few years with novels of increasing complexity and craftsmanship. I would love Scalzi to do the same, and not recycle his characters and dialogue style.
All in all I would still recommend reading this book, but I won't go back for a second helping.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I went into Fuzzy Nation unsure of what to expect - I mean a novel reboot? - but I trusted in Scalzi. And he didn't let me down. This is a smart, compelling science fiction novel with a bit of an offbeat nature. Far from the galaxy-wide military science fiction of Scalzi's previous books, Fuzzy Nation concentrates on the fate of one small planet, on the fate of one small people, on the evaluation of what makes a species sentient or not. The varied, intelligent characters are effortlessly engaging carry us through this well executed story. It's not perfect, but Scalzi's latest comes close: diverse, thoughtful and just plain entertaining.
Josh Holloway is a social outlier by choice - he doesn't get along too well with people - yet he's an appealing character from the start. Holloway carries Scalzi's well-known humor and sarcastic dialogue, helping us overcome his unsocial ways and get closer to him through comic relief. How can you not like a character who in the first few pages of a book has his dog set off explosives for him? More than anything else, Holloway is entertaining. He might be a self-absorbed, anti-social man, but he's a funny man and one that has the tendency to get confrontational with people in the most amusing manner.
Unlike Scalzi's most famous work - his `Old Man's War' series - Fuzzy Nation is not military science fiction. That means no shoot-them-up action, space-side battles or planetary assaults, but rather an intimate look at the commercial and judicial turmoil that has arisen on an unexpectedly significant world. A surprising amount of the novel is dedicated to a court case, which is rather unusual for a science fiction novel. The trial in question, in fine Scalzi fashion, is riveting both inside of the court room where Holloway as an unconventional lawyer shines, and out with the intrigue surrounding the case.
One of the best parts of this book is that despite him being the main character, Scalzi doesn't reveal all about Holloway's motivations, leaving us to puzzle them out ourselves. It is clear that Scalzi was shooting for a level of ambiguity depicting him at times as self-centered and greedy, and on other occasions as uncommonly altruistic, but always with the chance of having ulterior motives. Not only does this make the outcome of the story less predictable, but when all is said and done, we can always have some doubts about Holloway's integrity, which is not something that can be said of most protagonists. If nothing else it makes him intriguing and lends authenticity to his portrayal.
Fuzzy Nation moves at a hearty pace and, like all Scalzi novels, is a painless read, any flaws it might have quickly set aside in favor of the overall appeal. Some will wonder weather it lives up to Scalzi's other novels, but such a comparison would ultimately be useless. Fuzzy Nation certainly has recognizable Sclazisms, but it's a very different type of book from any of his others I've read. Fans aside, this fun, clever and absorbing novel should be a guaranteed read for any science fiction enthusiast with a mind to read a good novel.
Josh Holloway is a social outlier by choice - he doesn't get along too well with people - yet he's an appealing character from the start. Holloway carries Scalzi's well-known humor and sarcastic dialogue, helping us overcome his unsocial ways and get closer to him through comic relief. How can you not like a character who in the first few pages of a book has his dog set off explosives for him? More than anything else, Holloway is entertaining. He might be a self-absorbed, anti-social man, but he's a funny man and one that has the tendency to get confrontational with people in the most amusing manner.
Unlike Scalzi's most famous work - his `Old Man's War' series - Fuzzy Nation is not military science fiction. That means no shoot-them-up action, space-side battles or planetary assaults, but rather an intimate look at the commercial and judicial turmoil that has arisen on an unexpectedly significant world. A surprising amount of the novel is dedicated to a court case, which is rather unusual for a science fiction novel. The trial in question, in fine Scalzi fashion, is riveting both inside of the court room where Holloway as an unconventional lawyer shines, and out with the intrigue surrounding the case.
One of the best parts of this book is that despite him being the main character, Scalzi doesn't reveal all about Holloway's motivations, leaving us to puzzle them out ourselves. It is clear that Scalzi was shooting for a level of ambiguity depicting him at times as self-centered and greedy, and on other occasions as uncommonly altruistic, but always with the chance of having ulterior motives. Not only does this make the outcome of the story less predictable, but when all is said and done, we can always have some doubts about Holloway's integrity, which is not something that can be said of most protagonists. If nothing else it makes him intriguing and lends authenticity to his portrayal.
Fuzzy Nation moves at a hearty pace and, like all Scalzi novels, is a painless read, any flaws it might have quickly set aside in favor of the overall appeal. Some will wonder weather it lives up to Scalzi's other novels, but such a comparison would ultimately be useless. Fuzzy Nation certainly has recognizable Sclazisms, but it's a very different type of book from any of his others I've read. Fans aside, this fun, clever and absorbing novel should be a guaranteed read for any science fiction enthusiast with a mind to read a good novel.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Sometimes I like to take a lucky dip approach to reading books. I deliberately avoid reading anything about the book before hand, not even the blurb and just go straight into it. And I am glad I did, as this book is a delight.
It turns out to be a science fiction book very much along the lines of 'Avatar' mixed in with court room drama such as found in the the old 90's series 'LA Law'.
The scene is a lush, jungle-covered planet where mineral extraction is the main attraction (at least for humans). Naturally as tends to be the case in science fiction, this is carried out by a mighty corporation who play legal lip-service to eco-friendly regulations but its eye is absolutely on the profits to be made.
Within the first chapter, you meet the main protagonist, Josh Holloway. He is a smart ex-lawyer turned contract-prospector. Just for laughs, he has trained his dog to press the detonator that sets off the explosives he uses in his work. This absolutely annoys his immediate corporate manager and it warms you to him as a character - a smart, funny maverick in a corporate enterprise.
He uncovers a fabulous seam of gemstones that makes the corporation slaver over the vast profits to be made. But to gum up the works, Josh also comes across a family of endearing, seemingly smart cat-like creatures.
But are they sentient? This is the main thrust of the book. If it can be proved they are sentient, then the corporation must cease exploitation according to Colonial Authority law. And this is where the court room drama comes in.
The story breezes along nicely, with credible characters antagonising each other, cleverly drawn by the author John Scalzi. There is a lot of smart, sarcastic dialogue between the characters along with pathos in one particularly nasty scene.
Unusually, the author notes that this is a 'reimagining' of a fifty year old book called 'Little Fuzzy', a Hugo nominated book from 1962.
I haven't heard of that book, but this is a finely crafted feel-good story.
It turns out to be a science fiction book very much along the lines of 'Avatar' mixed in with court room drama such as found in the the old 90's series 'LA Law'.
The scene is a lush, jungle-covered planet where mineral extraction is the main attraction (at least for humans). Naturally as tends to be the case in science fiction, this is carried out by a mighty corporation who play legal lip-service to eco-friendly regulations but its eye is absolutely on the profits to be made.
Within the first chapter, you meet the main protagonist, Josh Holloway. He is a smart ex-lawyer turned contract-prospector. Just for laughs, he has trained his dog to press the detonator that sets off the explosives he uses in his work. This absolutely annoys his immediate corporate manager and it warms you to him as a character - a smart, funny maverick in a corporate enterprise.
He uncovers a fabulous seam of gemstones that makes the corporation slaver over the vast profits to be made. But to gum up the works, Josh also comes across a family of endearing, seemingly smart cat-like creatures.
But are they sentient? This is the main thrust of the book. If it can be proved they are sentient, then the corporation must cease exploitation according to Colonial Authority law. And this is where the court room drama comes in.
The story breezes along nicely, with credible characters antagonising each other, cleverly drawn by the author John Scalzi. There is a lot of smart, sarcastic dialogue between the characters along with pathos in one particularly nasty scene.
Unusually, the author notes that this is a 'reimagining' of a fifty year old book called 'Little Fuzzy', a Hugo nominated book from 1962.
I haven't heard of that book, but this is a finely crafted feel-good story.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Jury's out - final grade to be determined
Grading this book is very difficult because I feel like I'm judging an unfinished project. However, if it is meant to be a one-off entry into the Fuzzy Sapien canon then I hate it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by nvh65
Read this before
Is it not just a retelling of Little Fuzzy be H B Piper. Planet outside court case evil corporations and the overall question about what is human enough to be protected by the... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. Charles Hill
What to say?
Hard one this, the original is an old friend, and I do like most of John Scalzi books. The old man's war series is brilliant. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Terry
Fuzzy Awesomeness
Fuzzy Nation is the new book by John Scalzi, but it's not original, rather a reboot of H. Beam Piper's original Little Fuzzy. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mark Chitty
Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi
As usual, another enjoyable read from John Scalzi. More light-hearted than Old Man's War, The Ghost Brigades et. al but just as good a book in its own right. Read more
Published 11 months ago by SciFiGuy
a marvelous reboot
Short review, I was a big fan of the 3 original books by H Beam Piper so was in two minds about reading this, glad I did, a wonderful updating of the story of the Fuzzies with the... Read more
Published 12 months ago by meonamz
A Man, his dog and fuzzy aliens
When reading is good it bring you into a different world. The people step out of the pages and become close to you. Fuzzy Nation is such a book. Read more
Published 12 months ago by cybermage.se
A Slight But Affecting Tale
John Scalzi's latest novel is a self-confessed 're-imagining' of Little Fuzzy by H.Beam-Piper. I will confess that until I read the inside cover of Fuzzy Nation I had never heard... Read more
Published 12 months ago by C. Green
Fuzzy Nation - Little Fuzzy from a different perspective.
This book was advertised as a reboot of the original "Little Fuzzy" by H. Beam Piper.
I was in 2 minds about reading it, as the original written in the early sixties (I read... Read more
I was in 2 minds about reading it, as the original written in the early sixties (I read... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Sid
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