I acquired a evaluation copy from the writer. This doesn’t have an effect on the contents of my evaluation and all opinions are my very own.

The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi

Mogsy’s Ranking: 3.5 of 5 stars

Style: Science Fiction

Sequence: Ebook 7 of Outdated Man’s Struggle

Writer: Tor Books (September 16, 2025)

Size: 288 pages

Writer Data: Web site

I confess, my relationship with John Scali’s work has been a bit strained as of late. Books like Starter Villain or When the Moon Hits Your Eye have typically felt too breezy and even downright too foolish for my tastes, and so it was with some reduction after I heard he was returning to the Outdated Man’s Struggle universe a decade after the sixth e book, The Finish of All Issues. In spite of everything, I’ve at all times had a gentle spot in my coronary heart for that collection, with its sharp humor and humanistic themes. Finally, The Shattering Peace felt just like the welcome course correction I’d been ready for.

Very long time followers will keep in mind Zoe Perry, the adopted daughter of the collection’ protagonist John Perry and his spouse Jane Sagan, whose story was instructed from her perspective within the novel Zoe’s Story. Admittedly, fewer readers would most likely keep in mind Zoe’s finest good friend, the perky and quick-witted Gretchen Trujillo, who now options because the lead in her personal e book. Roughly a decade has handed for the reason that fragile ceasefire between the Earth, the Colonial Union, and the Conclave, which has stored the galaxy comparatively at peace. However now a brand new enemy has reared its ugly head, threatening the established order. A very smart and technologically superior alien species known as the Consu have ignited a heated civil battle between their factions, they usually’ve sadly dragged everybody else into their battle.

Gretchen, now a diplomat for the Colonial Union, has efficiently stored her head down for a lot of her profession. However now her star is about to rise when she is assigned to a covert mission to analyze a lacking colony, one with important historic ties to the event of human-alien relations, and what they discover there might have far-reaching repercussions for the precarious peace that’s been holding the galaxy collectively. The task additionally thrusts Gretchen into the trail of the Consu, whose cryptic philosophy and unstable methods would show to be an unpredictable catalyst—one that would unravel every little thing the Colonial Union is attempting to do.

Returning to the collection that first put his identify on the map, Scalzi additionally returns to kind, bringing again his model of interstellar politics that made Outdated Man’s Struggle such a success within the first place. There’s arguably extra substance and thoughtfulness right here in The Shattering Peace, although the e book nonetheless reads on the lighter aspect total. That mentioned, newcomers would possibly wish to suppose twice earlier than leaping in right here. Whereas the e book technically works as a standalone, a lot of its content material depends on the reader’s data of the broader universe and its tangled historical past. With out that context, lots of the references gained’t make sense, and it’ll even be more durable to understand the deeper stakes and emotional payoffs.

From right here although, Scalzi proceeds to construct a thriller that as a lot concerning the whys and hows of the lacking colony as it’s about sustaining the fragile steadiness required to maintain a galaxy from tearing itself aside. Alongside the best way, we get the same old wholesome dose of witty banter and quirky aspect characters which might be no shock to anybody acquainted with the creator’s model. Everybody will get a quick line or two, and so forth. They’re actually enjoyable to spend time with, however on the finish of the day, it’s additionally very surface-level and also you gained’t get a lot depth past their fast roles within the story.

Regardless of that, it’s not essentially a nasty factor. I’ve lengthy referred to the Outdated Man’s Struggle books as gateway reads into heavier science fiction—accessible house opera crammed with wonderful tales and characters that give readers a style of bigger and extra advanced concepts with out being slowed down in dense world-building and incomprehensible technobabble. And as a bonus, there are many laughs. I’m pleased to report The Shattering Peace matches that mould completely, delivering an easy-to-follow and fast-moving plot. Throw in some humor and intelligent dialogue, and what you get is a really readable and entertaining novel. Nonetheless, there’s no denying that the story feels smaller in scope for it, or that the premise shouldn’t be fairly as galaxy-shaking because the title suggests.

Finally, I loved The Shattering Peace and take into account it a profitable return to the Outdated Man’s Struggle collection—lighter than I’d hoped, however nonetheless extra substantial than I anticipated. I’m additionally pleased to see John Scalzi again to writing considerate and fascinating house opera, and in some methods studying this was a nostalgic reminder of every little thing that made me fall in love with this universe.