The Last Colony

The Last Colony
By John Scalzi
Tor, 2008. 324 p. Sci-Fi

John and Jane Perry are doing quite well on the planet Huckleberry, learning the constellations on the new planet and acting as the small colony’s ombudsman. They’ve left their military life and super humanoid forms behind when they retired from the Special Forces and are now living in peaceful contentment with their adopted daughter Zoe. That is, until they receive a request from the Colonial Union to act as Colony Leaders for the latest addition in humanity’s quest to conquer the stars. Then they find themselves in the midst of political intrigue in a battle between the dreaded Conclave and the machinations of the less-than-honest Colonial Union. Oh wait, and they also weren’t told about the intelligent life forms that already roam their new home on Roanoke planet--creatures that look surprisingly like alienized werewolves. Can John, Jane and Zoe work out these complications before the colony riots or they’re vaporized by their enemies? That remains to be seen.

Scalzi, winner of the John W. Campbell award for best new writer, beguiles the world of science fiction with his humorous style and fans of this series are sure to enjoy the continuing wit and sarcasm of John Perry and his fellow beings—both alien and human.

DAP