The Sagan Diary

By: John Scalzi

Narrated by: Stephanie Wolfe, John Scalzi

Length: 1 hr and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Jane Sagan: Soldier. Killer. Lover. Dreamer.

In John Scalzi's best-selling Old Man's War series of science-fiction novels, we see this warrior woman as the other characters see her: silent and strong, from the outside. But now The Sagan Diary shows us Sagan from another point of view - her own. As she prepares to leave military life and join her new husband and adopted daughter on a colony world, Sagan reflects on her life, in her own words - recalling friends, battles, and experiences; illustrating all the violence and wonder of her times; trying to fit "an entire life into this compressed space".

For fans of Scalzi's works, it's an intimate and surprising glimpse into one of his most popular characters. As read by Stephanie Wolfe, it's unlike any other science-fiction story you'll hear this year.

©2006 John Scalzi (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Just okay

It gives a bit more insight into the mind of Jane, but feels like it's trying too hard to be poetic.

A Diary Point-of-view!

Yes, again, I struggled at first. Then Jane was sharing; and I was again ready to read the whole thing and to feel for Jane.

Missing something….

While I did enjoy the insight of the details with the Administrator, the rest was rather slow and hard to stay interested in. I have totally loved the previous books, and look forward to the following ones. But, this one didn’t really do it for me. The narrator was so emotionless and dry that I kept having to rewind and re-listen to parts to catch what was said.

Brilliant

Absolutely brilliant! The innermost feelings and thoughts of a main character laid bare. You feel and live with the character so that she becomes a real being, three-dimensional and alive. Again, Brilliant!

Wonderful

This isn't so much a story as it is poetry. It's beautifully evocative, thoughtful and graceful.

A nice add to the Old Man's War books

Although far from essential... It adds a nice voice and a few great points on first love. It fills in nicely the love between John and Jayne that seems to be missing in the Last Colony.

Jarring 1st person perspective shift

Challenging VocabularyStyleChange. Jane's internal dialogue transitioning from warrior to wife, mom. Worth wading through.

I see why John Scalzi was so proud of this! Beautiful!

The first chapter was slow but each chapter pulled me in deeper to the the mind of this amazing character. The dimensions clarified what was understood about her but exploded who she was like light hitting a prism. This was beautiful.

Very Good: Cerebral and emotional

Any additional comments?

This isn't really a 'story', in the usual sense: nothing actually happens, although events in earlier books are alluded to. This is more of a reflective meditation on Jane Saga's life as she prepares to change it utterly. It made me think about my own life and identity in new ways, which I value. For all the depth of emotion and thought, it is often also surprisingly funny

he really did put all of his effort into this.

I found his writing of style to do very interesting, the way that he talks about Jane and how death follows her so closely was very interesting. I did have trouble with staying interested in certain chapters. I have felt that he's changed his style a little bit and every book, or perhaps what he is writing about is what makes it seem like his style changed. it is however a short story and for that it's worth the money. I have only run through the old man's War Series so I'm not familiar with the rest of his writing, I do find that I'm still interested in him as a writer though and will recommend this book.