by John Scalzi
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| List Price: | $7.99 |
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Product Description
The Ghost Brigades are the Special Forces of the Colonial Defense Forces, elite troops created from the DNA of the dead and turned into the perfect soldiers for the CDF's toughest operations. They’re young, they’re fast and strong, and they’re totally without normal human qualms.
The universe is a dangerous place for humanity—and it's about to become far more dangerous. Three races that humans have clashed with before have allied to halt our expansion into space. Their linchpin: the turncoat military scientist Charles Boutin, who knows the CDF’s biggest military secrets. To prevail, the CDF must find out why Boutin did what he did.
Jared Dirac is the only human who can provide answers -- a superhuman hybrid, created from Boutin's DNA, Jared’s brain should be able to access Boutin's electronic memories. But when the memory transplant appears to fail, Jared is given to the Ghost Brigades.
At first, Jared is a perfect soldier, but as Boutin’s memories slowly surface, Jared begins to intuit the reason’s for Boutin’s betrayal. As Jared desperately hunts for his "father," he must also come to grips with his own choices. Time is running out: The alliance is preparing its offensive, and some of them plan worse things than humanity’s mere military defeat…
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Finally a new SF writer I can embrace, 2008-11-18
As someone who grew up on Heinlein, Clarke and Asimov, I have had a really hard time embracing some of the currently popular writers. Actually there seems to be a trend back to a more "scientific" science fiction, but for a long time the line between sci-fi and fantasy became way too blurred for my taste. Not that I am against fantasy novels,for example I am a big Tolkein and Rowling fan, but they are two different genres in my opinion, and for example Le Guin, while a great writer, was someone I could not find compelling. (Having said that, I am huge Connie Willis fan, so where exactly do I fit???)
The Ghost Brigades is the first novel by John Scalzi I have read. (I am downloading Old Man's War to my Kindle as I write this). Very impressive. First of all a new twist to the old concept of genetically engineered soldiers, also a lot of thought provoking situations and dialogue which address some fundamental questions about life and humanity. Really interesting characters, I especially liked the captured alien scientist who turned out to have a great deal of "humanity".
I can only hope John Scalzi keeps it up, it is great to find a new author who you can look forward to.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Great continuation of Old Man's War, 2008-11-12
I loved Old Man's War (who over 50 would not- great premise made into a great adventure with lots of action and suspense) and this one continues with more character development and poses good questions that are answered in the next book*****
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Life with purpose, 2008-11-11
Having a purpose in life sounds good - as long as it's your own. Scalzi's "Ghost Brigades" don't have that luxury. These men and women are built for the army's purpose, to fight and usually to die. Jared Dirac, around whom the story revolves, lives not just someone else's purpose, he thinks with someone else's mind, too.
That someone, Boutin, has turned traitor to all the human worlds. By recreating his mind in Jared, the defense forces hope to understand, then defeat that betrayal. Given that premise, Scalzi sustains a high energy level, right to Jared's heroic end. Although drawn from the same world as his earlier "Old Man's War," this book stands well on its own. Newcomers to the series can hit the ground running, but returning readers will enjoy the extra background established in the previous book.
"Ghost Brigades" comes across as a strong story in itself. "Old Man's War" is a tough act to follow, though. For me, it set a new landmark in SF - and set the bar so high that even Scalzi has trouble achieving the height that he reached there. Still, it's well written and enjoyable, and a welcome addition to Scalzi's universe.
-- wiredweird
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
 Okay Second Book, 2008-11-01
Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
This book is the second in the universe Scalzi introduced readers to in Old Man's War. While not really a sequel, readers are able to reconnect with major characters from Old Man's War like Sagan and Wilson, albeit in minor ways. Ghost Brigades follows the life of Jared Dirac, a Special Forces soldier in the CDF. The gist of the novel is: Three alien species unite with the help of a traitorous human scientist to destroy the CDF. Dirac, implanted with the memories of the scientist, is created to help thwart the plan but, as usual, there are some problems and he may not have the information in his store of the scientist's memories to save the CDF.
While this was a good story, it was nowhere near as engaging as Old Man's War. Yes, I am aware that they are two different stories about two different things, but the comparison is inevitable. I found the character development very well done, and the reader is given occasional glimpses of the wit that made Old Man's War such a charmer, but in the end it falls short of being a crowd-pleaser on par with its predecessor.
Scalzi uses this book as an opportunity to tell more about the workings of CDF technology, particularly the Brain Pal, which was okay but there was not enough of anything new in this book to keep curiosity and interest piqued. Dirac, while a likeable enough character, did not have the deep character interaction and conflicts needed to incite reader emotions.
Overall, this is a good book and, if you like the universe from the first book, I would recommend reading this one.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
TOOO SLOW, 2008-09-15
Very slow read- it took almost 1/4 of the book to develop the main character and the next 150 pages had minimal action.
The first book "Old Man's War" kept your interest much more fully than this sequel.
I am not at all certain that I will purchase any more of his books at this point.
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