It’s been a long time since I last read these books. I remember the broad strokes but I had forgotten so many particulars. As I said in the Old Man’s War post, I’m really, really enjoying it.
Pretty much everything I said about the first book is true of this sophomore effort. Solid action, great story, hits you in the feels on the regular.
But here is the thing that really hit me hard with this one. I’ve got to give a little context.
Last year, John Scalzi was in the Phoenix area to do a book signing and I went. It was super fun. It was for Starter Villain. As John talked about all kinds of thing and answered questions, he ended up talking about how he does research and puts things in a real world setting. His example was that there is an even in Kaiju Preservation Society where the characters arrive at a place. ( I’m not spoiling this. ) and the weather for that day, is the real weather for that place that day.
Later as I was in line with my wife, waiting to get my books signed, I told her that I kind of felt bad. He’s bringing all this effort to the table and I’m just casually reading it for fun. I was kind of joking.
Well as I’m re-reading The Ghost Brigades this week, there is something really different now from the first time. This time I’ve read “The Making of the Atomic Bomb”. Now, not only do I know who Leó Szilárd is, he’s a hero of mine, to the extent that I consider people heros. My mind was blown as I was reading about a character named after him and it just clicked so many things together. I felt like this time around I didn’t come to the table from my side, so ill prepared as in the past. I wonder what else I’m missing. :)
Side note. I think if Szilard were alive today and had been living in the USA at the start of this year, he’d be gone by now.