The Collapsing Empire

I haven't read Scalzi in sometime, and it was good to come back to his style. He's one of my favorite witty dialogue writers, and this was no exception. The concept was exciting, the characters were interesting (even if I hope that far future societies don't go back to a religiously-based, hereditary monarchy... please tell me that's not our timeline), and the pacing is as quick and easy to read through.

I very nearly took away a star for using “squicked” in a non-ironic sense, though. Only previous enjoyment of Scalzi and his works stopped me. No way that word survives a thousand years. Right? We have too many dark timelines.