This novel is a reboot of the H. Beam PIper "Little Fuzzy", a novel enjoyed by many and certainly one I have fond memories of. John Scalzi has actually taken up the premise and kicked it up a notch. This is masterful enjoyable reading with plenty of surprises.

The basic premise of Little Fuzzy is kept where Jack Holloway a Sunstone prospector discovers this new species and comes to suspect they are sapient. The Zarathustra Corporation which has rights to the planet have a vested interest that no sapients are found since they would lose their rights to the planet.

How this plays out and the confrontations take on new angels in this book. For one Jack Holloway is much more of a self-interested jerk in this one though while still likable screws up relationships around him. These tensions in his character play out throughout the novel where you are not quite certain about his character strengths and flaws. There is also more thinking out about the consequences of the corporation vs. little fuzzies. In particular case law relating to other human-sapients finds and how it affected this universe. Most of the plot elements ring true and the new characters introduced add to the novel. There is also some fine humor in the novel especially one scene involve the watching of one of the Star Wars movies.

John Scalzi said he wanted this book to be a reboot like the new Star Trek film and I think he succeeds at that. Old trekkies can love both the old trek and the new movie, the same can be said for fans of the original novel - at least in my case since I really liked both of them since they both have their strengths.

The original novel is in the public domain despite the fact that it was written in 1962 and is certainly recommended. The old and the new complement each other which is certainly what I believe the author hoped for.

As an author I have quite enjoyed John Scalzi's previous novels and I place Fuzzy Nation at the top of his works along with Old Man's War and I would really give this novel 4.5 stars.