The Last Colony: An Old Man’s War Novel (Old Man’s War, 3)

The Last Colony is book three of best-selling author John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War series. First published in 2007, Scalzi is rereleasing his series to a newer audience and old-school fans who need an excuse to pick up more of his books. Scalzi returns to a story narrated by John Perry, the main character from book one. It is also the book that Scalzi shifts from a military science fiction tale into more space exploration, even though they only explore their colony planet. We also get to know more aliens and see their ‘human’ sides.

The Last Colony follows John Perry, who has retired from the Colonial Defense Force, Jane Sagan, originally from the Ghost Brigade, and their adopted daughter Zoe, the daughter of a traitor to humankind, Charles Boutin, as they help set up the new colony of Roanoke. Scalzi’s satirical style is prevalent from the name of the new colony to the portrayal of how humans colonize. With the introduction of alien individuals taking a bigger part in his story, Scalzi shows many of our shortcomings. The one thing that is not shown is descriptions of his aliens.