A seventy-five year old widower, John Perry finds the Colonial Defense Force's offer of a new, youthful life intriguing. The CDF fulfills their end of the bargain, now he needs to fulfill his: ten years' commitment as a space marine, fighting the worst the universe has to offer. Funny, thoughtful, and packed with action, Old Man's War is a great read and one of Scalzi's seminal works....

I really wanted this one to work. With names like William Gibson, Lester Dent, H.P. Lovecraft, L. Ron Hubbard, Louis L'Amour, and Chester Himes all playing roles in the story, who wouldn't want it to? Ultimately, though, The Chinatown Deatch Cloud Peril was too confusing and did not contain enough of the ingredients I love in a good book....