Book Review: After the Coup by John Scalzi (Old Man's War series)

In a universe of harsh interstellar conflict, the practice of interspecies diplomacy—when possible—is important. So being a Colonial Union officer attached to an interplanetary diplomatic mission sometimes means taking a fall. Literally.

John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War was one of the most popular SF debut novels of the last decade; its sequels are The Ghost Brigades, The Last Colony,and Zoe’s Tale. Other novels include The Android’s Dream and Agent to the Stars. His collection of material from his weblog The Whatever, Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded, won the Hugo Award in 2009. He won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 2006, and was elected President of the Science Fiction Writers of America in 2010.
From amazon.com

John Scalzi, a renowned sci-fi author, has crafted a captivating short work titled After the Coup. Set within the expansive universe of his acclaimed series, Old Man’s War, the narrative follows the familiar character of Harry Wilson.

The story commences with a mission to engage in diplomatic negotiations with the Korba, a novel species that has seized control of their planet. The Korba employ a unique fighting style that initially manifests as a physical confrontation but gradually transforms into a test of diplomacy and comprehension. Scalzi skillfully employs this concept to illustrate the amusing yet poignant instances of misunderstandings that arise between diverse species in a world teeming with life.

Scalzi’s writing style is characterized by its clarity and engaging readability. The dialogue is witty and sarcastic, a hallmark of his signature voice. The humor in After the Coup serves as a refreshing counterpoint to the seriousness of space politics, lightening the mood while simultaneously enhancing the overall narrative. However, at times, the humor veers into excessive silliness, potentially diminishing the significance of the underlying themes.

One of the story’s greatest strengths lies in its effective character development of Harry Wilson. Through his thoughts and emotions, Scalzi delves into the essence of humanity, even in an alien setting. The author explores how humans can harbor arrogance and believe themselves superior to others, a theme that is further emphasized by Harry’s perspective. Nevertheless, the brevity of the story limits the exploration of certain character arcs, leaving some aspects of their journeys underdeveloped.

The Korba aliens are intriguing characters, but their fight ritual falls short of complexity. It appears as if they serve as mere obstacles for the humans to overcome, which deviates from the realistic portrayal of alien societies. This simplistic depiction is somewhat disappointing.

While the political intrigue in After the Coup is subtle yet significant, the book’s limited length prevents a comprehensive exploration of its implications. The reader yearns for a deeper dive into the moral dilemmas surrounding human expansion and interference in other countries’ affairs.

This story is a delightful fusion of action, humor, and science fiction. It serves as an excellent introduction to Scalzi’s captivating universe and showcases his writing prowess.