Robert Heinlein’s famous novel, Starship Troopers was first published nearly fifty years ago. Its tale of space warfare conducted by crack space marines against countless alien nasties remains popular, and its influence has shaped various modern science fiction novels. John Scalzi, author of Old Man’s War, wears the influence with pride – going so far as to thank Heinlein in the novel’s acknowledgements.

At the beginning of Old Man’s War, on the day of his 75th birthday, John Perry does two things: he visits his wife’s grave and he signs up with the Colonial Defence Force (CDF). The CDF’s choice of elderly recruits is a deliberate strategy: the force possesses the science to regenerate ailing bodies, and the more seasoned applicants can offer invaluable life experience. For their part, old folks who were waiting to die are jumping at a final chance for adventure in a younger and enhanced body. With only a finite amount of planets suitable for colonising and numerous alien species keen to stake their claim, the CDF needs as many soldiers as it can get to protect its own colonies and establish new ones.

We follow Perry as he is sent into space to complete his training and embark on his tours of duty. He is sent to the farthest-flung corners of the universe, where he and his company encounter and battle all manner of aliens. But Perry eventually becomes disillusioned, and starts to question the point of all his actions and the reason for all the fighting.

Old Man’s War closely follows the structure set up by Starship Troopers and the other military sci-fi classic, The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman: recruit, training, fighting, promotion and more fighting. However, Scalzi fills in the gaps with his own creations to make his book something more than a replica. Scientific devices such as the BrainPal (a neural interface which allows for communication with other soldiers) and Skip Drive, a form of faster than light travel, provide some solid substance to the novel. A lot of the science and technology within are explained simply and clearly by the characters (more often than not, over their lunch time break). Some readers may find the direct “this is how it’s done” explanation a bit simplistic. However, it is effective. The brisk pacing of the novel, in combination with Scalzi’s engaging writing style and enthusiasm for the story, adds freshness to a familiar format.

---