The Shattering Peace

Old Man's War, Book 7

By: John Scalzi

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

After a decade, acclaimed science fiction master John Scalzi returns to the galaxy of the Old Man's War series with the long awaited seventh book, The Shattering Peace

THE PEACE IS SHATTERING

For a decade, peace has reigned in interstellar space. A tripartite agreement between the Colonial Union, the Earth, and the alien Conclave has kept the forces of war at bay, even when some would have preferred to return to the fighting and struggle of former times. For now, more sensible heads have prevailed – and have even championed unity.

But now, there is a new force that threatens the hard-maintained peace: The Consu, the most advanced intelligent species humans have ever met, are on the cusp of a species-defining civil war. This war is between Consu factions... but nothing the Consu ever do is just about them. The Colonial Union, the Earth and the Conclave have been unwillingly dragged into the conflict, in the most surprising of ways.

Gretchen Trujillo is a mid-level diplomat, working in an unimportant part of the Colonial Union bureaucracy. But when she is called to take part in a secret mission involving representatives from every powerful faction in space, what she finds there has the chance to redefine the destinies of humans and aliens alike... or destroy them forever.

©2025 John Scalzi (P)2025 Audible, Inc.

Scalzi, that monster, throws us a curve...

As a long time fan of the series, this book was not at all what I was expecting. Neither in tone, nor in plot. And still it flowed well, followed the nature of the series and even answered many of the formerly mysterious parts of the universe he originally created.
Well written, and beautifully read.

The narrator is annoying

She's fine when voicing the main character. But any of her other characters are... Painful to listen to. It sounds like she's constipated most of the time, with a smattering of 'little girl playing with dolls'. The ONLY reason I continue to listen is that I've listened to the rest of the series and am vested in the story. If she continues to work with it, I won't be.

4 hours later... It gets worse. The writing of this book sucks. He should have left the story as it was.

How does one block all books read by this woman? Her performance is bush-league, and that's me giving her the benefit of the doubt. She should find another job

Another Great Scalzi Tale

John Scalzi doesn’t disappoint. This is another terrific story with engaging characters and story. As always, it ended far too quickly.

Outstanding story by the Master John Scalzi

If you have never read any of the Old Man’s War series you can start with the newest chapter The Shattering Peace. And then allow the narrative arc to sweep you off your feet by starting the first novel in the series Old Man’s War. The series is 20 years old and John is always earthy and authentic. He cares about you the reader and crafts amazing stories to share.
Tavia Gilbert does an amazing job reading as she did Zoe’s tale and shared in reading with the recently departed William Dufris who read the bulk of the stories. It reads fast and just when you finish you can start the very first book and jump right in.

Good, but not as good as the previous books.

The narrator was fine, but not great. A little too exaggerated for me. The story also was good, but not great. Definitely read if you're in to the Old Man's War series. But more simplistic than I'm used to.