Originally digitally released as serial fiction, The Human Division is the next instalment in my re-read of John Scalzi’s hugely popular Old Man’s War setting, and tackles the events following the end of The Last Colony/Zoe’s Tale. While previous novels have focused on the Perry family, this one comes from a fresh, if not entirely different, angle. With a novel created from linked short stories that connect to form an overall story arc, the question really must be raised: how well does it do this? Fortunately the answer is simple: better than expected. While not unique in this, the weekly online release of both ebook and audiobook versions certainly gave The Human Division attention and exposure over a long period. Over three months 13 stories were released, while the final hardback also included two further stories, one originally released on Tor.com in 2008 and the other made available online shortly after publication (both can be found here).
Mild spoilers ahead if you’ve yet to read the previous Old Man’s War novels…
Focusing on the crew of the diplomatic starship, Clarke, with the emphasis on Harry Wilson and Hart Schmidt, The Human Division is a collection of linked stories that form a complete novel. From the start it’s clear that there is more to The Human Division than simple good old military SF. No, what Scalzi has done here is take the next step forward in this universe and, as the title suggest, looks at the split in humanity, both that of the Colonial Union and the people of Earth. Also mixed up in this is the Conclave, the collection of alien races we met during The Last Colony and Zoe’s Tale.
Now that the Colonial Union is compelled to resort to actual diplomacy having lost their resource of colonists and soldiers from Earth, we see a different side to the interactions that go on between humans and aliens. It is no longer about the CDF squashing them to get what they want, but about negotiating – sometimes at a loss – simply to continue surviving. We see the crew of the Clarke often in situations that can be make or break for the Colonial Union, an aspect that adds even more gravity to the novel.
However, it’s not all doom, gloom, and politics. Harry Wilson and Hart Schmidt are two of the main protagonists here, and their interactions and conversations often make for laugh-out-loud moments. Not only do they complement each other so very well, the situations they find themselves in can add to the camaraderie. While this brings a lighter tone to often serious situations, it is much needed, keeping the pace of the novel roaring along.
One of the criticisms I had for Zoe’s Tale was the similarity between Zoe’s character and that of her father, John Perry. This criticism is also present here, with Scalzi’s voice very firmly in the foreground of almost all characters we meet. It could get very old, very quickly, if it wasn’t thanks to the entertainment value on offer, though I suspect I’m not the only one that will raise this issue.
Ultimately the linked stories come together to form a solid and cohesive whole. While some of them feel much like a situation-of-the-week, told for shits and giggles (I’m looking at you, The Dog King), they do add to the bigger picture. Stories such as The B Team, Tales From The Clarke, and Earth Below, Sky Above are some of the finest on offer, though as they are also key plot stories it’s gratifying to say so. However, other stories that link to the overall plot – A Voice in the Wilderness, This Must Be the Place – don’t necessarily meet the same standard while still playing an important role in the greater story arc. Given what is at stake during the events of The Human Division, the tone of the novel could have benefitted at times from a more serious nature, and one I hope will show through during future tales.
Often taking the diplomatic viewpoint rather than the militaristic stance previous volumes offered, The Human Division is a refreshing change of pace that breathes new life into the series. Scalzi’s flair for amusing and enjoyable dialogue mixed in with some genuinely interesting plot points mean that the high points of this novel show him at the top of his game. While not all stories meet the same lofty heights as the best on offer – it is, after all, very easy to judge a novel constructed in this way – The Human Division is certainly a successful return, and continuation, to one of my favourite SF series. Recommended.
Publisher: http://panmacmillan.com
Author: http://www.scalzi.com
January 2016, 512 Pages
Paperback, ISBN: 9781447290476
Review from purchased copy
© 2015 Mark Chitty
Was waiting for this post.
You know, I rarely get a chance to reread books, but I kind of want to reread this one. Or at least choice sections. True, the tone is sometimes a bit incongruous when you consider the gravity of the situation(s) the Colonial Union is facing, but I kind of like that. I’m just not a super serious guy, I guess, so I like seeing others tackle serious situations with a it of levity.
The dog one was probably overly silly, though. Granted, I still REMEMBER it, even though I can’t recall some of the others, so maybe Scalzi did something right there after all.