Zoe's Tale

Yes, it's just a continuation of TLC (The Lost Colony) but it also reveals a few things that were Not in TLC or were glossed over, overall, a very good companion to TLC.

For me, this is just another example of John Scalzi's great writing ability, not just to write a interesting story but to have a "surprise" for you (don't tell me you figured out the ending in any of his previous books!), in addition, this is another example of this writers ability to create characters that you can feel and care for.

You could say this is a "chick story" and well, yes, since it's from the perspective of a female teenager and if you're a bit sexiest, you may not enjoy a "female" hero (get the book, read it and get over it)

Zoe's Tale also set's up a few continuation plots for Zoe or Jane or John Perry (or all three). I for one look forward to more books from this writer. Just enough character building, action, sensitivity without all the filler of preaching or grandstanding on some personal crusade.

For me, he is a rising star in the SCI-FI genre and we need some more then ever, the old "ones" are dying.

"Zoe's Tale" is a retelling of "The Lost Colony" from a different perspective. If you enjoyed Colony, you will like Zoe, as I did. It does, however, suffer from a few faults. One is that, since we already know the Lost Colony story, there is very little suspense in it. Another is that it is a bit "Catcher In The Rye."
You have to sympathize with Scalzi a bit - he writes this killer first novel "Old Man's War" that knocks everybody out and almost wins the Hugo. His publisher is hounding him for more, and he writes two sequels that are good but not as good. They depend on residual enthusiasm for Old Man. "Zoe's Tale" is the fourth.

If you have read the Last Colony (hereafter referred to as TLC) little in this book will be new to you. This book provides a different perspective on the events in TLC, that of the daughter Zoe. As I was reading this book I was wondering if I was reading content edited out of TLC. I think TLC would have been a better book with Zoe's perspective included.

That being said this book is interesting. It develops the character of Zoe more fully and includes more information about events in TLC. We learn more about the Obin and the Consu. Parts of it are fascinating; I'm not going to spoil the surprise. If you enjoyed TLC you will enjoy this book. I wish this book had been longer. Zoe is an interesting character; I hope Scalzi writes more books about her in the future.

Jane Sagan and John Perry have been recruited to establish Roanoke, a new human colony. When they agreed to help, neither Jane nor John expected interference or hostility from the scheming amoral home-world government. They were also taken aback by local shapeshifters and under alien assault by a federation violently opposed to human expansion into their sector.

While they struggle with those threatening to demolish the colony, their adopted teenage child Zoe ignores the big picture; instead she has fun with her boyfriend Enzo and her sarcastic best friend Gretchen while flirting with her Obin bodyguards. The Obin pair keeps Zoe on a pedestal due to her late biological father, a God to that species because of an incredible scientific discovery he made.

THE LAST COLONY contains much of the same events that occur in ZOE'S TALE but with a differing perspective as that novel was through the eyes of Jane and John. Thus, though ZOE'S TALE is well written and entertaining, to those who read THE LAST COLONY, it has a déjà vu feel. Still comparing the viewpoints is fun as interpretations of what is going on differ between the teen and the adults enhancing the intriguing read as the devil is in the details and that is where Zoe sees things radically diverse from her adoptive parents.

Harriet Klausner

The hard core sci-fi cover might make you think otherwise, but Zoe's Tale is chiefly an empowering yet sweet coming of age story about 17 year old Zoe, both player and pawn in a complex interstellar battle between the Colonial Union (the human alliance) and the Conclave (an alliance of roughly 400 alien species). If you've read The Last Colony, I guess you probably know how it all turns out since this is apparently a novel with a parallel timeline told from a different perspective. If you haven't, no matter, as this exciting tale can stand on its own.

Zoe, her adopted parents, her two alien bodyguards and about 2000 settlers from 10 different human colonies are sent off by the Colonial Union to colonize a new planet called Roanoke (and anyone who knows American history will appreciate the irony of the name). As it turns out, the Colonial Union has plans that don't have the best interests of the colonists at heart. But fortunately, Zoe is not the type of girl who goes down without fight, especially when the lives of her parents, her new best friend Gretchen (with whom she has a great sarcastic rapport) and her new boyfriend Enzo's lives are at stake.

I like sci-fi, but I've never been big on books where alien races make up a big part of the narrative because of all the exposition you normally have to slog through. Author John Scalzi is wise to keep this to a minimum and the aliens he does introduce even manage to be entertaining (picture big spider like creatures at a hoedown and try not to laugh). Don't let the star trek like premise turn you off, because Zoe, an ordinary teenage girl asked to be extraordinary, is worth getting to know. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Although this isn't a YA novel, Publisher Tor is actively courting the teen market. And with a heroine as appealing and strong as Zoe, I think they just might succeed.

See more of my reviews at presentinglenore.blogspot.com