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The Human Division #5
Tales From the Clarke
Captain Sophia Coloma of the Clarke has a simple task: Ferry around representatives from Earth in an aging spaceship that the Colonial Union hopes to sell to them. But nothing is as simple as it seems, and Coloma discovers the ship she's showing off holds suprises of its own...and it's not the only one with secrets.
43 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 12, 2013
63 people are currently reading
2180 people want to read
About the author
John Scalzi
188 books28.9k followersJohn Scalzi, having declared his absolute boredom with biographies, disappeared in a puff of glitter and lilac scent.
(If you want to contact John, using the mail function here is a really bad way to do it. Go to his site and use the contact information you find there.)
(If you want to contact John, using the mail function here is a really bad way to do it. Go to his site and use the contact information you find there.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
September 4, 2021
Diplomacy?
When Captain Sophie Coloma reports to the Colonial Union, after destroying her ship, the Clarke, she is told that her ship is being scrapped and she becomes decommissioned.
A Captain without a ship is no longer a Captain.
However, Captain Coloma is given a new assignment. A group of diplomats from Earth, are interested in purchasing a ship. Her job is to escort them around the ship. Give them an opportunity to look it over before they make a bid.
She delegates that chore to Harry Wilson. A member of her staff, who’s from the CDF. Although she sometimes doesn’t feel she can trust the CDF, giving Harry the job turns out to be smart.
While Harry is escorting the buyers around the ship, he discovers a secret.
When Captain Sophie Coloma reports to the Colonial Union, after destroying her ship, the Clarke, she is told that her ship is being scrapped and she becomes decommissioned.
A Captain without a ship is no longer a Captain.
However, Captain Coloma is given a new assignment. A group of diplomats from Earth, are interested in purchasing a ship. Her job is to escort them around the ship. Give them an opportunity to look it over before they make a bid.
She delegates that chore to Harry Wilson. A member of her staff, who’s from the CDF. Although she sometimes doesn’t feel she can trust the CDF, giving Harry the job turns out to be smart.
While Harry is escorting the buyers around the ship, he discovers a secret.
April 1, 2013
A fun entry in the story, though to me it felt a bit like filler -- I was hoping for it to move a bit faster, I guess, and I wasn't impressed by the totally unsubtle recaps of earlier episodes. It felt bitty and not so clever.
Still, the actual story is interesting and it's a good bit of Scalzi's writing in other ways.
Still, the actual story is interesting and it's a good bit of Scalzi's writing in other ways.
January 8, 2024
Reuniting with my favorite underdogs
- it's been way to long since I hung out with the B-Team. They have been missed.
How many more missions do they have to ace before they become the A-Team? Well?
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Hhm, fix a ship previously blown my a space missle and then sell it to a third party that doesn't trust you as far as they cannthrow you - with good reason. This was interesting. Like hearing gossip about drama that happened at another division in the office. What?! Noooo tell me everything.
Character Development/Favorite Character:
Captain Coloma is front and center in this installment which is refreshing. It's all about The Clarke and The Clarke was her baby basically.
Wilson stays being a favorite.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene::
Scalzi is one of the best at dialogue:
“I understand you’ve just returned from being a hostage,” Coloma said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Wilson said. “An unfortunate incident with the Bula. We ended up with six of their ships planning to blow us out of the sky. Ambassador Abumwe was part of the diplomatic team that got us released. They’re still ironing out the details of the ransom, I believe. Letting us go early was a sign of good faith. They have other things to hold over us.”
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤"she was now a captain without a ship, which meant in a very real sense she was no longer a captain at all.” (Captain Coloma)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Skip Drive
■ Earth as a super soldier farm
■Colonial Union vs Conclave
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
How many more missions do they have to ace before they become the A-Team? Well?
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Hhm, fix a ship previously blown my a space missle and then sell it to a third party that doesn't trust you as far as they cannthrow you - with good reason. This was interesting. Like hearing gossip about drama that happened at another division in the office. What?! Noooo tell me everything.
Character Development/Favorite Character:
Captain Coloma is front and center in this installment which is refreshing. It's all about The Clarke and The Clarke was her baby basically.
Wilson stays being a favorite.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene::
Scalzi is one of the best at dialogue:
“I understand you’ve just returned from being a hostage,” Coloma said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Wilson said. “An unfortunate incident with the Bula. We ended up with six of their ships planning to blow us out of the sky. Ambassador Abumwe was part of the diplomatic team that got us released. They’re still ironing out the details of the ransom, I believe. Letting us go early was a sign of good faith. They have other things to hold over us.”
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤"she was now a captain without a ship, which meant in a very real sense she was no longer a captain at all.” (Captain Coloma)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■ Skip Drive
■ Earth as a super soldier farm
■Colonial Union vs Conclave
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Short Stories by 2025
February 1, 2025
The plotting here is just amazing. There is a lot going on but it never feels overwhelming or much of a muchness. I'm not sure whether I'm more excited to be reading it as a serial, or to re-read the whole thing once it's done.
I bought a copy.
I really should give a read-through. The details are fading from my mind.
I bought a copy.
I really should give a read-through. The details are fading from my mind.
February 12, 2013
Poor Capt Coloma is having a trying time. Since her ship the Clarke was involved in averting a war & is sent to scrap, she's been through an inquiry & gets a new assignment in this installment. Of course, it's not what it appears to be in the beginning & what should be a simple enough opportunity to sell a ship to a contingent from Earth turns into another twist in the story skein. Of all the problems that unfold, the fact that the people from Earth are probably not who they say they are exactly is of great concern. And it's Wilson who uncovers this quizzical situation in an unintentional way via the Cubs. I really loved that. What follows in revelation made me as nonplussed with her commanding officers as Capt Coloma but she did get something she wanted (more or less) in the end. Can't wait for the next.
June 28, 2014
Scalzi is ever so nicely tying the previous chapters/episodes together into a pretty decent narrative. This one was a spy story that brought together the Captain of the Clarke & Wilson while still keeping us tied with Abumwe. The baseball storyline was genius and being a baseball fan made it even more entertaining for me.
Scalzi has me turning the pages and wondering what he has in store for us next and that, ladies and gentlemen, is a good thing.
Scalzi has me turning the pages and wondering what he has in store for us next and that, ladies and gentlemen, is a good thing.
February 12, 2013
I'm really digging the premise as well as the pacing. I find myself looking forward to each week's release.
Good stuff.
Good stuff.
February 12, 2013
Oh, yeah. That's what I'm talkin' about. Vintage Scalzi. Just enough SF to qualify as such; lots of humanity--and that sardonic. Moves the story forward, too.
A good read.
A good read.
July 28, 2016
It may just be because I grew up in Chicago, but I found this laughing-out-loud funny.
June 28, 2021
In the first story in this series, the Colonial Union spaceship, The Clarke, is damaged foiling an alien plot. In this story, we see its captain pulled into another conspiracy as she and her crew get the job of selling an old freighter to the earth in an effort to build some good will for the Colonial Union. But nothing is ever as it seems in this series and it will take brains and ingenuity to bring this mission to a successful conclusion.
June 30, 2019
This could have been one book, but instead each "episode" is bought separately as it's own book. I don't mind, they're instantly uploaded from the library. :)
February 12, 2013
So i find my self in an odd position, i already have little doubt i am going to love this story when i have finished the whole thing, but right now i am in a situation where i must revue each chapter on it's own marrits and in that situation most of these chapters are middling at best. Tales from the Clarke was ok. Not great on it's own or even through the lens of the other episodes. Its plot did do a lot to advance the story but the rapidity at which it did so felt wrong, perhaps setting up the plot here and resolving it in another episode would have been better. But for bettor or worse John Scalzi seems to want each episode or chapter if you will, to incapsulate one complete plot element. Something he does not feel obliged to do in his non serialized works.
That being said i am genuinely enjoying this story and eagerly await each weeks new installment. When all 13 are in front of me expect a five star revue where i recant every criticism i level here. The beauty of John Scalzi's work has never been in the individual parts but in the whole they create when you have stepped back to see what you have just read and what it all means.
That being said i am genuinely enjoying this story and eagerly await each weeks new installment. When all 13 are in front of me expect a five star revue where i recant every criticism i level here. The beauty of John Scalzi's work has never been in the individual parts but in the whole they create when you have stepped back to see what you have just read and what it all means.
February 15, 2013
So far so good. Can't wait for the next episode.
And I really think this kind of serial publishing works in digital formats. Each vol is short and totally not challenging readers' patience. I mean, I could do novels but lots of young people can't cuz they're too used to TV series, online films, instant downloads and social media, all of which take no more than 30 minutes. It's hard to make they spend hours reading a story. So I imagine these people would love reading short stories that are related to one another. It's like watching CSI or Eureka.
But ironically, though this form of publishing is supposed to be friendly to those who're not patient enough to do intensive reading for a whole book, to be able to understand what this series is about one still needs to finish at least 2 novels first (actually just the Last Colony will do but I think it's better to include Old Man's War as well). However, this is commercially reasonable because there's a guaranteed base of readers, of which I'm one.
And I really think this kind of serial publishing works in digital formats. Each vol is short and totally not challenging readers' patience. I mean, I could do novels but lots of young people can't cuz they're too used to TV series, online films, instant downloads and social media, all of which take no more than 30 minutes. It's hard to make they spend hours reading a story. So I imagine these people would love reading short stories that are related to one another. It's like watching CSI or Eureka.
But ironically, though this form of publishing is supposed to be friendly to those who're not patient enough to do intensive reading for a whole book, to be able to understand what this series is about one still needs to finish at least 2 novels first (actually just the Last Colony will do but I think it's better to include Old Man's War as well). However, this is commercially reasonable because there's a guaranteed base of readers, of which I'm one.
February 13, 2013
John Scalzi's great new serial sci fi novel is now a highlight of my week - the new episode downloads to my Kindle every Tuesday morning, and I listen to William Dufris' wonderful narration on the way to work (and home). Fun times!
September 9, 2017
I enjoyed the series more as I went through each episode. At first I struggled because it seemed like random stories set in this universe. But as it continued and I realized it was interwoven story lines I enjoyed them more. The main characters were enjoyable. It's pretty traditional sci fi fare but still worth the read.
April 1, 2018
It’s hard to review these because it’s like reviewing individual episodes of a mini-series. Some stand out more than others but all are essential to the plot as a whole. It is fun to start seeing how the pieces are starting to fit together and the mystery is quite intriguing. Haven’t figured it out yet. Looking forward to the next installment.
July 21, 2021
I good addition the the Human Division universe - but too short!
It's great to get another glimpse of the characters we've come to know. Especially Harry Wilson. But the story only wets my appetite for another novel length publication in this series! What will happen to the CDF? And Earth? And the Conclave? Inquiring minds want to know!
It's great to get another glimpse of the characters we've come to know. Especially Harry Wilson. But the story only wets my appetite for another novel length publication in this series! What will happen to the CDF? And Earth? And the Conclave? Inquiring minds want to know!
October 28, 2023
Captain Coloma has been reduced to a second-hand spaceship dealer, showing her clients around a seventy-year-old decommissioned ship. But there's more going on than meets the eye. She has to get to the bottom of some strange goings on before she casts off, or her ship, crew, and clients could be taking a long walk off a short pier.
May 22, 2024
( Format : Audiobook )
"We've got a problem."
Captain Coloma's ship, The Clarke, was too badly damaged to repair so her next ship, old and decommissioned, came with her orders: to sell it to a group of Earthlings. And we meet again diplomat Abumwe and wily Wilson.
Another fun, fast read from the Human Division series (5)., again masterfully performed by William Dufris.
Recommended.
"We've got a problem."
Captain Coloma's ship, The Clarke, was too badly damaged to repair so her next ship, old and decommissioned, came with her orders: to sell it to a group of Earthlings. And we meet again diplomat Abumwe and wily Wilson.
Another fun, fast read from the Human Division series (5)., again masterfully performed by William Dufris.
Recommended.
June 12, 2019
This book was more fun, and felt like the first since book 1 that actually merited the time. Here we're no longer reading a practice sketch for building this universe but are again actually getting a small piece of an interesting episode. Not as good as book 1, but still fun.
May 9, 2023
A continuation story following All We Need Are The Heads. Back from near destruction the captain of the Clarke is under investigation about the actions taken in the previous story. In the meantime Harry Wilson gets a plum assignment and the crew finds something not quite right about it. Recommended
October 14, 2024
I love all Scalzi books. Is that enough said? Maybe not but his stories weave and twist and draw you in . And when they’re written in serial format you just can’t wait for the next chapter. Or the next thing you know you’ve spent 20 dollars on a series of books. But they are worth it.
January 17, 2019
Not up to usual standards.
October 15, 2020
Entertaining!
November 23, 2020
A very good short story. I like Harry Wilson, he's deliciously daring.
June 23, 2021
Loving these stories
January 5, 2022
Really liking this series.
January 24, 2024
Another chapter of the whole
February 21, 2024
A fun episode with intrigue!
Who knew sports knowledge would be so critical? Heh. A great journey and exciting plot. I’m really enjoying the characters.
Who knew sports knowledge would be so critical? Heh. A great journey and exciting plot. I’m really enjoying the characters.
October 14, 2024
The CDF wants to sell a ship to earth. Harry Wilson, is given the job of touring the potential buyers team around the ship. Odd thing happen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews