John Scalzi wrote a book called The Android’s Dream that got me kicked out of bed for laughing. Old Man’s War is one of Scalzi’s earlier efforts. Less funny, but a solid work of military science fiction.

I’m a big fan of sci-fi, but military sci-fi usually leaves me cold. It’s so often about technology and gun-worship, instead of interesting situations, colorful characters and compelling plot.

Old Man’s War twists the basic formula by asking an unusual question. Would you join the army on your 85th birthday? Would you join if they could give you a body in its 20s? How would those decades of wisdom and experience make you a better or worse fighter?

The writing is solid and the concept interesting. I liked the narrator, a kind of surly curmudgeon we loved Clint Eastwood as in Gran Torino. Only without the racism. Once we get past the basic premise, it turns into a pretty standard military training and first missions story. I liked it, but didn’t love it. On the other hand, I’ll probably read one or two more in the series.

Old Man’s War comes in at #8 in my top ten fiction books I’ve read this year list.

Today’s post is the second half of my interview with The Orphan author Ian Scofield. You can find the project here, and part one of the interview here.  

Your Truly: How long do you spend writing every day? 

Ian Scofield: It varies, I have spent the whole day writing and some days I can’t manage to do any writing because I get distracted easily.

YT:  What resources for writers do you use, and recommend? 

IS: Well I have been using Scribophile (http://www.scribophile.com), it is a website where authors can go to post their work and get it critiqued in exchange for critiquing others work. The community there is great and I enjoy reading other’s work.

 YT. Do you have a regular job? If so, what do you do? Do you plan to leave it to be a writer once your project takes off? 

IS: Yes I do have a regular job.  I am a fulltime student but I am also a part time Public Safety officer.  I plan to continue through school as a criminal justice major then get a master’s degree in creative writing.  After that I want to do law enforcement for at least a little while before I become a fulltime writer if I can become a fulltime writer.

YT. What brilliant question haven’t I asked? And how would you answer it? 

IS: Well a question that I get most often other than the ones you have already asked is: what am I working on currently?  I am working on a post a post-apocalyptic novel about a virus that has targeted random people then targets almost all of the ruling class people around the world along with armies and other government workers.  A former Agency man, Cailin Remijan, is on a flight when the virus takes its final victims and when him and the passengers land they find a chaotic new world awaiting them in Boise, Idaho.

Thank you Ian for taking time out to educate and entertain. To readers and fans, what habit or idea of Ian’s do you plan to implement in your own writing?

I’m a fan of Anthony Bourdain from his show No Reservations, in which he displays many of the traits of who I want to be when I grow up. I spotted this paperback in a carrel at my local library, and had to check it out*.

The book is structured as a series of short stories that combine to tell the story of violently competent loser Bobby Gold. Despite his thuggishness, you kind of like the guy. The prose is tight with that beatish rhythm Bourdain uses in his show. Several scenes had me laughing out loud in that “wife kicks you out of bed because she’s trying to get some sleep” way. It’s a quick read, and worth the handful of hours you’ll give it.

Bobby Gold beats Bite Me out for the #3 spot on my list of favorite fiction books I read this year. I’m starting to wonder if Bourdain is capable of anything but quality regardless of what venue he puts his had to.

_______________________________

*No pun intended **

**Ok, pun definitely intended.

Alert readers will remember my review of Ian’s online book project The Orphan. I was able to convince Ian to give us an interview about the process and inspiration for his nontraditional approach to fiction writing.

to be a boy to become a knight, must decide whether they should help oppress Alexander’s roots or break away from Parthi and lead a rebellion against the only family he has ever known.