Jack Holloway is an independently contracted prospector on Zeracorp XXIII, a company-owned planet with enough valuable raw materials to make a man rich if he is skillful, careful, and lucky; otherwise, he might wind up dead or just broke and shipped back to Earth on the next beanpole launch. Jack likes to antagonize people – he used to be a lawyer – including his supervisor and ex-girlfriend; so Jack’s something of a loner, except for his good dog, Carl, whom he has taught to detonate explosives. Jack is also the first human to meet the planet’s most intelligent life form. Trouble is, he and the company Zaracorp lose all rights to and profits from the planet if a native sentient species is discovered, and Jack just found a deposit of sunstones that could net him billions. What’s an anti-hero to do?
In his Author’s Note, Scalzi explains, “Fuzzy Nation is a reimagining of the story and events in Little Fuzzy, the 1962 Hugo-nominated novel by H. Beam Piper….Think of this as a ‘reboot’ of the Fuzzy universe, not unlike the recent J.J. Abrams ‘reboot’ of the Star Trek film series, (but hopefully with better science).” John Scalzi packs more action and laughs in 17 pages than most writers can with 200. Furthermore, he abides by the laws of logic, physics, and foreshadowing.
Fuzzy Nation is about as close to perfect as a book can get. It’s fast-paced, funny, part xeno-planet hard SF, part first contact, part courtroom dramedy, with scenes of aaawww cuteness contrasted with ones of adrenaline-laced tension. It has reversals, revelations, and a satisfying conclusion that leaves room for a sequel. Strongly recommended. ~~ Chris Paige
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