John Scalzi’s new book The Human Division was an experiment of sorts and it shows. The book was released as a weekly series of episodes that were semi-related (same characters and related plot developments), but could sit alone without any problem. However, the experimental release format makes the novel not really hold together well, as it reads more like a collection of stories, than a coherent narrative. I don’t want to give the impression that it’s bad, because I did enjoy it. Let’s check it out.

This collection of stories in a vaguely novel shaped book is mainly about diplomacy and negotiations. We pick up after the end of The Last Colony (or Zoe’s Tale) with the Colonial Defense Forces(CDF) still against the conclave. Only John Perry has brought the Conclave to Earth and blown up everyone’s plans. The main characters in this book are Harry Wilson (one of John Perry’s first friends from the first novel) and the ambassadors he works with, Oda Abume and Hart Schmidt. They get known as the B-Team. They’re not the top ambassadors who get the important negotiations. But they are the ones who get sent into almost no-win situations. If they succeed, great, but if they fail, then they’re the B-Team no expects to succeed.

The stories jump around Harry and his ambassadors, but the real linchpin of the book is Earth’s relationship with the CDF. Since John Perry brought the Conclave to Earth, the CDF has been working hard to win back Earth’s hearts and minds. The CDF needs Earth for their soldiers and colonists. There are plans within plans and moles (some of which Harry finds out through some baseball sleuthing) and it’s obvious that there are various conspiracies involved.

I don’t want to spoil too much, but the book (especially the ending) felt like the first half of a story. I know that Scalzi is working on a new “season” of The Human Division, but this book is not advertised as a first in a series. The ending did disappoint me, but overall I still enjoyed the book. The characters (mainly Harry) are wonderful. I think Harry is a much better lead character than John Perry was. He’s more interesting and muddles through without being the natural leader that Perry was. Overall I liked the book and am waiting for the sequel to find out what happens. Recommended.

This post is part of the thread: Old Man’s War – an ongoing story on this site. View the thread timeline for more context on this post.