Ooh, no time loss on this latest BookBin posting since I just finished this book last night. Loba’s on the ball this afternoon! Either that or she’s suffering a horrible bout of work-related procrastination…and has decided to channel Bob Dole and speak about herself in the third person. Loba is quirky like that sometimes.

So, John Scalzi is one of those sci-fi writers I’ve known about for quite some time but have never given a try…until now. Oh, I’m so very glad I finally gave him a go, because I think The Android’s Dream is possibly the most fun I’ve had with a modern sci-fi story since I read Robert J. Sawyer’s Calculating God last year.

Let’s start with the title. Getting a familiar tingle in your sci-fi nodule from the name of the book, combined with images of sheep? You should be. I’d love to explain to you what it’s all about, Alfie, but I’d hate to spoil the surprise or the accompanying goofy grin you’ll probably experience when you finally come to the explanation. It’s a good one though, denizens. Good and geeky.

That’s the perfect summation of this entire story, really. Good geeky fun. I was a bit worried at first. The opening of the book is rather puerile, depending upon an extended fart joke to get things started. After reading that, I honestly contemplated switching over to one of my other library books rather than wade in any further. I’m so glad that I chose to stick with Scalzi. Minus a stinker of a first chapter (haha), the novel is equal parts entertaining, silly, exciting, and satisfying. There’s political intrigue, intergalactic warfare, spying, religious tomfoolery, and a tad bit of cross-species sex that’s slightly off-putting but integral to the story nonetheless.

Also, either Ron Moore read The Android’s Dream prior to cooking up Crapica Caprica or else he needs to read it for some pointers. Scalzi’s depiction of human consciousness transferred into a purely technological existence is pitch perfect as well as succinct…two things that the rather off-key and long-winded Caprica could definitely use (not that I care either way…the dancing Zoe Cylon moment was such an affront to my nerdness that I baled after that episode and haven’t regretted the decision for one micron).

Hmm. All digressions aside, Scalzi slammed this one out of the galactic park. Minus requiring a little bit of editing for length (look who’s talking, right?), The Android’s Dream is well-paced and fun, with lots of different genre flavors all wrapped up in the pretty, shiny wrapper of science fiction.

Final Verdict: All the library seems to be doing for me lately is adding to my already ridiculously long book wishlist. Add another to the pile! The Android’s Dream is awesome and well worth another visit!