Our universe is ruled by physics and faster than light travel is not possible — until the discovery of The Flow, an extra-dimensional field we can access at certain points in space-time that transport us to other worlds, around other stars.
Humanity flows away from Earth, into space, and in time forgets our home world and creates a new empire, the Interdependency, whose ethos requires that no one human outpost can survive without the others. It’s a hedge against interstellar war — and a system of control for the rulers of the empire.
The Flow is eternal — but it is not static. Just as a river changes course, The Flow changes as well, cutting off worlds from the rest of humanity. When it’s discovered that The Flow is moving, possibly cutting off all human worlds from faster than light travel forever, three individuals — a scientist, a starship captain and the Empress of the Interdependency — are in a race against time to discover what, if anything, can be salvaged from an interstellar empire on the brink of collapse.
I know, I’m a horrible person. I have yet to read anything by Scalzi. Oh, I want to, but apparently so does everyone else. Getting my hands on Old Man’s War has proven disturbingly difficult. I’m going to keep trying though.
Robert
Reading Over The Shoulder 
Don’t give up! (or to quote “Galaxy Quest”: Never give up! Never surrender! 😀 )
Scalzi’s novel are fast, fun and intelligent, and your efforts in getting to them will be rewarded.
Happy reading!
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