"Head On" by John Scalzi (BR)

[Ryan]

Hey everyone this is the buddy read discussion for "Head On" officially the begin reading date is July 10th but I was extremely excited to find out my local library had it in stock. I've been eyeballing this book for months so I jumped the gun and got it. I cant wait to hear your opinions as you read through the book along with you all. Please keep in mind the message from out moderator Allison below so everyone can have the best experience possible!

We usually ask that spoilers are hidden behind tags and chapter titles/numbers are referenced so people know when it's safe to click the spoiler! - Allison

[Meredith]

I'm in for the buddy read. I'll probably start reading this weekend, since I'm travelling next week.

[Rachel]

I’ll be reading sometime after the 14tg

[Ryan]

Thanks you two, yeah I’ve I’ve already started I do like it a lot and I’m excited to hear your thoughts as you go along!

[Ryan]

So this is my impression of the PROLOGUE:

(view spoiler)[
So going into this I knew it was robots controlled by people playing gladiators and trying to tear each others heads off.

Which is not wrong but the game “Hilketa” is an 11 on 11 team gladiator game, where you use medieval weapons to tear off the head of a “goat” or target on the defending team. Which the attack team then has to play Quidditch with someone’s head! ITS AWESOME!! There are also different types of robot bodies like scouts, tanks, and I’m assuming normal combat suits.

I found it very interesting how the sport of Hilketa is scrutinized about not being a true sport. But to me it appears to be similar to Nascar, they are simply using a machine to contest in the sport. The players also have pain feedback to their body which considering athletes use about 10% pain feedback, 10% of a decapitation is still a lot of pain.

I feel for Chapman, he knew something was wrong but tougher it out till the end! I’m excited to found out why he did, like why him?!?
(hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

Ryan, you can hide spoilers inside spoiler tags, which is what we usually ask people to do in the buddy read threads.

Replacing ( ) with < > this is how you do it:
(spoiler) text here (/spoiler)

It will look like this:
(view spoiler)[ text here (hide spoiler)]

[Ryan]

Sorry Anna, I will go in and edit it I’ve been using the iPhone app which didn’t really give me that option. Thanks!

[Anna]

Unfortunately you have to type it anyway, whether you're on desktop or app. Well I guess you can copy/paste from the html menu if you're on desktop, but I find it's easier to just type it.

[Ryan]

Anna wrote: "Unfortunately you have to type it anyway, whether you're on desktop or app. Well I guess you can copy/paste from the html menu if you're on desktop, but I find it's easier to just type it."

Thanks Anna I did fix the post thanks for watching out and teaching me this! Are you going to join in on the Buddy Read so far I love the book!

[Anna]

Thanks Ryan! I might be joining, depends on my mood when finish my current book.

[Meredith]

Just getting started and enjoying it. I think Scalzi’s style - zippy and lots of banter- is well suited to the police procedural.

Regarding the prologue, (view spoiler)[ I agree that is a cool detail about the different types of threeps used in the game. (hide spoiler)] Scalzi is good at working through minute details and implications of the worlds he creates. Have you read The Dispatcher? People come up with a gruesome ‘sport’ there that feels like Scalzi was exploring the idea of just what sort of dumb sh*t would people get up to in these changed circumstances.

[Suzanne]

I can totally see people getting into the game. And I agree, Scalzi's style works well for a police procedural type book.

[Ryan]

I agree I really have enjoyed the police banter, as well as the aggressive/sarcastic way Vann talks.

I have not yet read The Dispatcher but I’ve added it to my want to read list and it sounds really interesting!

This spoiler has to do with the end of Chapter 3.
(view spoiler)[ Okay I should have expected that Kaufmann was going to be found dead when he didn’t pick up the phone and texted back immediately. BUT I DIDNT, and as soon as they got in the room I realized I made the same mistake as Shane and Vann UGH!!! I’m very interested in seeing where it goes! (hide spoiler)]

Im glad people are enjoying the book it seems! I’ve been holding off going hard core reader mode so I can wait for others to start! Very excited to read more tomorrow!!

[Esther]

I am enjoying the book I am reading now but can't wait to get my hands on a new Scalzi!

[Ryan]

Okay did anyone else catch the misspelled word in ch. 5 page 90?

(view spoiler)[

“We he married or in a relationship?”

I mean I assume he meant “was he” but I also realize he’s probably exhausted from the night before and misspoke. But I’d assume someone would correct him if it was intentional. I don’t know what do you all think?

(hide spoiler)]

[Suzanne]

I'd guess you are right that it's a typo - spell check wouldn't catch it, and sometimes it is easy for editing brains to skip over stuff like that.

[Ryan]

So just finished Ch 5. And I have some comments or predictions for the future.

(view spoiler)[

So the fluids are wrong, which means either Chapman had them switch or someone switched them. But his caretaker had to administer the liquids and there was a person watching over him, which I’d assume will be questioned soon. If whom ever is covering up their tracks I think the caretaker is going to die.

Also the creepy anonymous sex robot coming to life!! I need to know more!!!

(hide spoiler)]

I really like the book it’s keeping me on edge!

[Ryan]

Comments on Ch. 7

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Integrator sounds like an insane job, and kinda confusing I’d love to understand more of how it works. Like they say the integrator assist the person in control but does that mean two minds are in the head at once? Also can the integrator take back control of the body if someone if doing something they don’t want to happen?

Or is it like the person is instructing the integrator how to move and talk, it wouldn’t seem as fluid and real if that was the case.


I also felt like the MobilON executive used her Haden syndrome as a way of justifying her company as a representative of all Hadens. Also she seemed to use it on Chris to force a bond between them to sell him trying to make them sound like they are the same.

(hide spoiler)]

[Ryan]

Ok I don’t mean to call out all the mistakes but I found another one in ch. 9 pg. 147

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“Tayla reaches down and scritched donut”

I think it’s supposed to be scratched, but the idea that she reached down and utter a loud shrill cry!
(hide spoiler)]

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Re: your chapter 9 comment, Ryan (view spoiler)[scritched means to pet an animal vigorously with your fingertips. It's sort of slangy, but it conveys a particular pet/owner activity. I haven't read it so maybe it's not relevant regardless! (hide spoiler)]

[Ryan]

Oh! I did not know that I simply googled the word and it’s verb definition is what I stated. Thanks Allison!

[Meredith]

Ryan wrote: "Comments on Ch. 7 m..."

(view spoiler)[There’s more detail about Integrators in Lock In. I cant answer your specific question ‘cause I don’t remember all the details myself. :) I definitely recommend the book, it goes into a lot more detail about the lives of the Hadens that are being more skimmed over in this book.

Good thoughts about the MobilOn rep. I wonder if we’ll see her again or if she’s just there so Chris can show how protective he is of spaces created for Hadens. (hide spoiler)]

[Ryan]

Yeah I was interested to find out how lock in connects to this book I haven’t read the description yet but now I am definitely going to because I have more questions about the Haden’s and integrators!

[Ryan]

Oh my god I read the description!! It’s now on my very short list of books to read next!!!

[Meredith]

In that case you should also read “Unlocked” which is the ‘origin story’ of Haden’s syndrome, before you read “Lock In”. It’s short.

[Ryan]

This contains spoilers through ch. 16.

(view spoiler)[

Okay wow, that last page of chapter 16 had a lot of BAD NEWS!! I was like yay we’re getting somewhere with Salcido and the “supplements” but dang it it’s all down the drain, why scalzi why???

Also Amelia with MobilOn something more has to be involved! Also I liked how Chris’s parents basically summed her up to never really making money but being payed off by her parents. And why did Chris’s dad know so much about the sex bots like he immediately recognized the guys name and his company?

And CHAPMAN IS MISSING!!!!

(hide spoiler)]

Hope everyone is enjoying this emotional rollercoaster!

[Ryan]

Through chapter 18

(view spoiler)[

They sent a TANK TO KILL A CAT!!!! Not Donut!
Also they need to pick up new cat food.

Do you all think they moved their bodies? Or are they still in the destroyed house? That fire extinguishers in every room was a really good idea I would not have thought about that detail but it makes total sense! Good job Scalzi!

I knew I didn’t like Amelia but now I really don’t like her. Also come on Silva I get you love Chapman but blackmail the mob?!?!? That just sounds like a way to get yourself killed!

I wonder what free movie Tayla is going to make tony take her to?

(hide spoiler)]

[Ryan]

I finished it! I always enjoy John Scalzi’s books and this is no exception. I found it extremely interesting following two detectives in this world where human race is spilt and anyone can be anyone! It’s a combination of real life crime and cyber crime but when a percentage of humanity live in a cyber reality that line begins to blur. I felt the Vann and Chris are fantastic partner and though at first I had problems with Vann she grew on me and became quiet the bad ass!

This book has inspired me to want to read the Locked In and the short story Locked Out so I can better understand the universe and try to answer my list of questions while reading!

Please tell me what you all though!!

P.S. Threeps are freakin awesome!

[HeyT]

I read this in about one sitting and I enjoyed it very much. I don't think I'd love Agent Vann as much as I do if I hadn't read Lock In first and got her backstory. So even though it says it's a standalone I don't think it's as good without all the stuff you find out in the previous one.

[Ryan]

Yeah HeyT I am definitely interested in learning Vann’s backstory especially more about her time as an integrator but I won’t know if that’s in there till I read it!

[Rachel]

Just getting start d on this now - just 25 pages in - but I always enjoy Scalzi with a few exceptions so I’m expecting at least a fun jaunt

[Ryan]

Rachel it’s never to late, I enjoyed it a lot and I’ll be interested to see what you think!

[Esther]

I really enjoyed Lock In but felt Head On flowed more easily as there was less of a learning curve. I love it
There is something about Scalzi's snark and the way he develops his characters. I feel like I have new friends when I finish the book. And although some people remark on his over use of 'he said, she said' I don't notice because his dialogue seems so natural. The hair-cutting conversation with the parents was a gem.
I do like Vann and others who like her would definitely benefit from reading Lock In where you understand more of her background.

A quick question for those who haven't read Lock in - Is Chris male or female?

[Ryan]

Glad you enjoyed it! I felt Chris was a guy and I’m pretty sure he is but it also seemed like Scalzi wrote it in a way that it could be either.