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The Android's Dream is a deep tale of diplomatic intrigue where competing element from Earth and the Nidu Empire try to unravel decades of relations. At the center of it all is a sheep breed called Android's Dream. The plot is fast moving with excellent character development. While the story is primarily told from Harry Creek's perspective (a hero from and early war that's now a low-level diplomatic person [the breaker of bad news to alien diplomats], former detective, and general computer geek); secondary and tertiary characters have their moments to expand the story; each with their own little bit of personality and history (I loved Brian Javna and Andrea Hayter-Ross, and excellent twist). Timeline wise this story set prior to Old Man's War (noticeable due to the lack of nanotechnology).
Rating wise this was a solid 4.5 star book. Mr. Scalzi set a nice pace that while predictable, has interesting twists that always open another door. This makes for a believable story that almost seems to have come from the Washington DC we all love. Harry Creek is a perfect hero, offsetting with some excellent villains (Narf-win-Getag and Acuna). Since the storyline is closer to our time (I placed the story about 100 years in the future, give or take 50) the technology is very believable and doesn't overwhelm a story about people and the things they do to get ahead. However, since Amazon only permits me to use whole number, I'm going to round it down to 4 stars, not meaning to take anything away from this story, but it did stir me as strongly as Old Man's War did.
Btw, trivia for those that are interested, Mr. Scalzi's Android Dream name was selected from Phillip K. Dicks Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. While no characters are named Deckard, the plot twists almost as much as Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.
Rated by buyers 
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I will start by saying, "Wow!" This book was the most fun I have had reading in a long time. It is just wild.
There are no androids in this book, nor is dreaming of any importance. The title means something completely different, but I will not spoil the surprise for readers. What is in this story is political intrigue and plots, scheming and betrayal, ruthlessness and shifting alliances, status-seeking and espionage, all on an interstellar scale. In the future, humans have spread out into the galaxy, and met many other species. We have colonies, they have colonies, and there is plenty of competition.
One species that has a prominent role in the book is the Nidu. The Nidu are extremely caste-oriented, with many clans vying for dominance. The people of Earth, and the government of the United States, become pawns in this power-game. Who will survive? Who will win? What does a small-town pet-shop owner have to do with any of it? Can two deceased people play a major role in any of this? All of these questions get answered in this great science fiction thriller.
John Scalzi has done everything right in this novel. It was 398 pages, and I could have easily read twice that, given the quality. The characters are three-dimensional, diverse, and just plain interesting. The good guys have flaws, and most of the bad guys have at least some redeeming qualities. One of the bad guys, a Gnach named Takk, is fascinating, in his physiology, culture, and personality. He also delivers several great surprises. The pace of the novel is fast; it starts out mildly absurd and fun to read, and that just carries through until the last page. My weird review title actually will mean something to a reader who finishes it. The culture of Nidu is described well, and is definitely alien. The future American culture and government are quite foreseeably realistic.
I have read many good books, many of them being science fiction, in my life, and just in this year. This one ranks right up there with the best of them, and is certainly one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I have had. I have read four other John Scalzi books (Old Man's War, The Ghost Brigades, The Last Colony, The Sagan Diary), and I am part way through Agent to the Stars. The only one that is not five stars is The Sagan Diary, which is a solid four stars, in my view. He knows how to write, and is establishing himself as a rival to the greats, like Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, and Robert Heinlein.
Is there anything wrong with this book? There was not for me, but some readers might be uncomfortable with some of the coarse language used. It is not replete with expletives, but they are not uncommon. Some of the violence would not be for the squeamish. If this were a movie -- and I would definitely see it if it were -- it would be rated R.
-- Chris McCallister, author of Coming Full Circle
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Scalzi has written a pretty funny book about interstellar diplomacy where genetically modified sheep acts as a centrepiece. Do not give it up after reading the somewhat vulgar opening scene, where a well timed fart causes a diplomatic crisis. This book is actually better than it pretends to be. But, as is not unfamiliar to Scalzi, it does go a bit overboard at times. However this only makes the book stroger, imho, because we are forced to realise the this is entertainment for its own sake. Not some deeply thought out philosofical considerations being novelised.
If you want a good space-operatic novel with lots of humour and cool things, this is it. If you want deep thoughts and heavy philosophy, go somewhere else.
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If you have read any of John Scalzi's books, you will not be disappointed with this one. The story kept me up turning pages late into the night.
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It starts with a fart joke and just gets better from there. This book is a fun romp and I enjoyed the intricacies of the plot. It's clever and funny while maintaining the sense of urgency that drives the characters. All in all, a good read.