Despite stating that he was done with the "Old Man's War" universe in the acknowledgments of The Last Colony, John Scalzi returns to the setting for another novel in 2008's Zoe's Tale. However, instead of advancing the overall plot of the setting forward, Zoe's Tale revisits the events of The Last Colony from the perspective of Zoe Boutin-Perry, adopted teenage daughter of former Colonial Defense Forces soldiers and current colonial leaders John Perry and Jane Sagan and idol/icon/goddess to the Obin, an alien race her father gave consciousness to.

By shifting the protagonist from a soldier or former soldier to a teenage girl, Scalzi goes for a much different feel than his prior "Old Man's War" books. Zoe faces much of the same drama modern teens do, worrying about making friends, her love life, and how to survive not having the latest technology. Zoe approaches these challenges in a believable and interesting way. Of course, some of the most interesting parts of the book are how she's different - such as being stuck in the middle of interstellar political wrangling between the Colonial Union and the Conclave, or having the entire Obin race devoted to her.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of Scalzi's books has been the sense of humor and witty dialogue. With a teenage girl taking center stage in Zoe's Tale, these come through even more. It's nice to read a book with high stakes and serious consequences that isn't grimdark, but instead manages to make me laugh regularly.

Zoe's Tale also does a good job of exploring and expanding upon the events of The Last Colony. Most of what we see in this book isn't a complete surprise, but it does a lot to explain some of the background threads of the previous book. Some of these elements include Zoe's romance with Enzo, the native "werewolf" life on Roanoke, and - my favorite - Zoe's complicated relationship with the Obin. Plus, we see more of the Consu, and I always enjoy them.

If you've read the previous "Old Man's War" books, I recommend reading Zoe's Tale. It could also make a good introduction to science fiction for the teenage girl in your life who might not normally be interested in the genre, as it can stand without having read the prior books. It's not labeled "Young Adult," but it could certainly pass for YA. Zoe's Tale isn't quite as good as Old Man's War or The Last Colony, but I still enjoyed it and recommend it.