Old Man’s War

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What to expect

The universe is a dangerous place in John Scalzi's Old Man's War, the first in The Old Man's War series.

At seventy-five years old, John Perry is after a fresh start - so, naturally, he joins the army. Earth's military machine can transform elderly recruits, restoring their lost youth. But in return, its Colonial Defence Force demands two years of hazardous service in space. This is how Perry finds himself in a new body, crafted from his original DNA. A genetically enhanced and upgraded new body, ready for battle.

But upgrades alone won't keep Perry safe. He'll be fighting for his life on the front line as he defends humanity's colonies from hostile aliens. He'll pay the price for his choices, and he'll discover the universe is even more dangerous than he imagined.

Continue the gripping space war series with The Ghost Brigades.

Critics Review

  • Gripping and surpassingly original. It’s Starship Troopers without the lectures . . . It’s funny, it’s sad, and it’s true

    Cory Doctorow
  • I enjoyed Old Man’s War immensely. A space war story with fast action, vivid characters, moral complexity, and cool speculative physics, set in a future you almost want to live into, and a universe you sincerely hope you don’t live in already

    Ken MacLeod
  • John Scalzi is the most entertaining, accessible writer working in SF today

    Joe Hill
  • Scalzi is one of the slickest writers that SF has ever produced

    Wall Street Journal
  • Clever dialogue, fast-paced story and strong characters

    The Times
  • It gladdens the reader’s heart . . . great fun

    Daily Telegraph

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