Fuzzy Nation

By: John Scalzi

Narrated by: Wil Wheaton, John Scalzi - introduction

Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

In John Scalzi's re-imagining of H. Beam Piper's 1962 sci-fi classic Little Fuzzy, written with the full cooperation of the Piper Estate, Jack Holloway works alone for reasons he doesn't care to talk about. On the distant planet Zarathustra, Jack is content as an independent contractor for ZaraCorp, prospecting and surveying at his own pace. As for his past, that's not up for discussion.

Then, in the wake of an accidental cliff collapse, Jack discovers a seam of unimaginably valuable jewels, to which he manages to lay legal claim just as ZaraCorp is cancelling their contract with him for his part in causing the collapse. Briefly in the catbird seat, legally speaking, Jack pressures ZaraCorp into recognizing his claim, and cuts them in as partners to help extract the wealth.

But there's another wrinkle to ZaraCorp's relationship with the planet Zarathustra. Their entire legal right to exploit the verdant Earth-like planet, the basis of the wealth they derive from extracting its resources, is based on being able to certify to the authorities on Earth that Zarathustra is home to no sentient species. Then a small furry biped - trusting, appealing, and ridiculously cute - shows up at Jack's outback home. Followed by its family. As it dawns on Jack that despite their stature, these are people, he begins to suspect that ZaraCorp's claim to a planet's worth of wealth is very flimsy indeed and that ZaraCorp may stop at nothing to eliminate the fuzzys before their existence becomes more widely known.

©2011 John Scalzi (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Winner, Science Fiction, 2012

“[Scalzi’s] style and skill make it a highly entertaining read. It succeeds both as a new novel from a talented writer and as a tribute and gateway to Piper’s work.” ( Wired)

"It’s a wonderful book.... [T]he way that Scalzi puts that wonderful novel of Piper’s into a fresher context is cynically lovely.... Year’s best? Yeah, one of them." ( The San Diego Union-Tribune)

“A perfectly executed plot clicks its way to a stunning courtroom showdown in a cathartic finish that will thrill Fuzzy fans old and new.” ( Publishers Weekly)

For once, I liked the reboot better.

loved it. some changes to the details from the original but it worked amazingly. if you're familiar with the original "Little Fuzzy" you will not be disappointed

Wow. Wow. Wow.

What did you love best about Fuzzy Nation?

Engrossing story. Simply stunning performance.

What did you like best about this story?

This book draws you in slowly and Wheaton's narration does the same. It isn't showy and it seems very simple and understated at first but this book got me by the first third so bad that it just consumed all the free time I had this weekend! I'm actually glad it wasn't longer!

Which character – as performed by Wil Wheaton and John Scalzi (Introduction) – was your favorite?

Jack, the main character, is so lovably caustic.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, but you aren't getting anything else out of me.

Any additional comments?

If you like sci-fi or courtroom dramas this is likely to be a winner for you. It probably isn't for everyone. Wheaton's narration is solid but understated which is not everyone's preference. His pacing is excellent. He does a great job with the difficult creature voices but he makes no attempt at Jim Dale style theatrics. That said each character, and all dialogue, is easy to follow--no easy feat for Scalzi's fast paced banter.

A Wonderful return to older times of Sci-Fi

What made the experience of listening to Fuzzy Nation the most enjoyable?

The book truly made you fall in love with the Fuzzies, while enjoying the rapid development of the lead. For the length of the book its amazing how well the character development took place.

Also being that this is a rewrite and the original is included, it was wonderful to hear the different takes on the same story.

What other book might you compare Fuzzy Nation to and why?

Fuzzy Nation is very hard to compare to other books. It is pretty unique in many ways. I can say if you enjoy "buddy" books, or those that involve alien life that is truly different, then odds are you will enjoy this one.

Have you listened to any of Wil Wheaton and John Scalzi (Introduction) ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

After listening to Wheaton's performance in Ready Player One, I was impressed he was able to keep the same great performance going in a much shorter much different novel. I hope to hear many more book read by Wil Wheaton!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to this book in one sitting. Being that it was less than 8 hours long and kept a frantic pace throughout the entire book, it is very easy to get lost in.

Any additional comments?

Some may miss that this book, though it has 2 parts, is actually the same book twice over. However the book was rewritten, and there are many differences between the two. I personally recommend you listen to the older version of the book first, which would be part 2.

I was very surprised at the difference between the two books, they had many things in common, but were greatly different, yet in the end told the same story. It is truly rare to find this sort of thing, and its an experience well worth having.

Little Fuzzy Fans Unite

A rewrite to modernize the great H. Beam Piper story we all know and love! AND the audio version is read by Wil Wheaton! It's so worth the time! Thanks John Scalzi!

Funny, thrilling story, great performance

Well constructed, funny story with many unforseen (at least by me) twists. Enjoyed it to the fullest.

John Scalzi is a master of fun dialog in sci-fi

I'm sad now, because this was the last none-series John Scalzi book I had before I finished them all, now I have to find somewhere else to get my grounded and realistic sci-fi.

John Scalzi writes about situations that are real world, places them in a sci-fi landscape that he not only thinks out thoroughly, but probably over thinks, to the point of convoluted minutia, and then punches up the dialog to be snappier than a USA network show(sometimes even with the pop culture references)

As for Fuzzy Nation, if you want to have fun with a guy who is a complete @$$hole, but still comes off as lovable throughout, give it a read.

Easy listening

What did you love best about Fuzzy Nation?

I had an 8 hour drive home. Listening to this audio made time go by in a flash.

great remake

this was a great remake I enjoyed it from from the beginning always to the end thank you

Really fun book!

This book was so enjoyable! I kind of was on the edge about this one. The synopsis seemed too silly but I was so happy I took a leap!

As always, Wil Wheaton's narration was wonderful! I loved every book he narrates!

Any Scalzi fan will love this story!

Sometimes two wrongs do make a right...

This is a wonderful short story of the little guy winning over on an evil Corporation.