by John Scalzi.
This book is a pleasant ripoff of Heinlein, with better humor, better writing, better plotting, and a better touch of the perversely funny.
Not as touching or moving as Heinlein at the top of his game; no Fridays or Jubals or glorious star-named twins. But good.
Also, check out this opening:
I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife’s grave. Then I joined the Army.
C’est magnifique, non?
Also, I really like the conceit that only old people are allowed to sign up for the war. Logically speaking, there’s an excuse for it, but it really doesn’t make any sense when you get right down to it. Nevertheless, I really liked it as a hook, and it set up the end of the book, which I also stand behind as a hell-yeah. Expect a review of the next book within, um, mere months!