Entertaining second volume in this trilogy, which has its faults but just manages not to feel like it's the filling in a trilogy sandwich, or one pointlessly spinning wheel of a tricycle.
I enjoyed it, it was a page-turner, and Scalzi's writing is easy on the eyes, witty and fun. Felt a little cheated that the involvement of Cardenia/ Emperox Grayland II seemed a bit perfunctory. A bit "must put her through her paces to set up the Big Finale." Must remind the reader that she is Nice. Not always Right. But Right, more often than not. In fact all of the characters, bar one, seemed a bit grayed out, compared to the first novel -- doing exactly what they did there (bad to the bone, sex-obsessed, nice, take your pick ...). The one exception was the new "character" introduced in the last third or so (you'll know who I mean when you read the book1), who was at least fresh and interesting, and set up intriguing possibilities for drama in Volume 3.
I enjoyed it, it was a page-turner, and Scalzi's writing is easy on the eyes, witty and fun. Felt a little cheated that the involvement of Cardenia/ Emperox Grayland II seemed a bit perfunctory. A bit "must put her through her paces to set up the Big Finale." Must remind the reader that she is Nice. Not always Right. But Right, more often than not. In fact all of the characters, bar one, seemed a bit grayed out, compared to the first novel -- doing exactly what they did there (bad to the bone, sex-obsessed, nice, take your pick ...). The one exception was the new "character" introduced in the last third or so (you'll know who I mean when you read the book1), who was at least fresh and interesting, and set up intriguing possibilities for drama in Volume 3.
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