Episode 10 of John Scalzi’s novel The Human Division breaks with form while holding with form. In the past 9 episodes readers have been treated to stories alternating between the Clarke and its crew and other events happening in the universe. This week we leave behind the Clarke, as per schedule, but travel home with a member of the crew–Hart Schmidt of the Diplomatic Corp.

Schmidt has returned to his home colony of Phoenix for the annual Harvest Day celebration, the one time a year he steps away from his job as assistant to Ambassador Ode Abumwe, to visit his wealthy, ambitious and connected family. As we all know from personal experience, nothing says family like the drama that ensues during the holiday season.

In previous stories Hart has been relegated to being a sidekick of sorts to Harry Wilson. “This Must Be The Place” gives Schmidt an opportunity to shine on his own and John Scalzi allows Schmidt to make the most of this opportunity, including reassessing who he is and what he does for a living.

While it is hard to see how John Scalzi will be able to wrap up the conspiracy in the three remaining episodes of The Human Division, this was a nice fleshing out of one of the more interesting characters in the story.

Hereafter there be spoilers.

Okay, now that its just those of us who are keeping up with the story as it progresses (and those peeking in), lets get down to it. What did you think about this week’s episode?

I personally liked it very much, though it has me concerned.

I’ve enjoyed Hart Schmidt in his various appearances. As a character he seems to have a good sense of himself and where he fits in the scheme of things and yet he pushes through, handling the dangerous, sometimes crap, assignments to the best of his ability. He and Harry Wilson banter well and I also enjoy seeing him with his boss, Ambassador Abumwe. Given that he isn’t often a central character we are not exposed to a great deal of depth and thus it was nice to spend an entire chapter getting to know Schmidt. Through the window of a family holiday we are exposed to Schmidt’s past, his upbringing, his status within his family and his own concerns and eventual embracing of what he has chosen to do for a living despite its minimal accolades. This was an engaging episode centered around character and I liked it very much. I think I was most pleased with the reaction of Hart’s father to his pre-meal toast. It could have been easy to leave it with his father being disappointed but it was refreshing to see his father instead give acknowledgment to his son standing firm and making a choice.

As for my concerns, we have ONLY THREE EPISODES LEFT!!! How in the world is this going to be wrapped up satisfactorily in only three episodes? My curiosity is at an all time high. There is obviously a conspiracy afoot to bring down the Colonial Union and thus far everything regarding the party or parties responsible has been hidden in shadows. Is this the last calm before a storm of climactic episodes or does John Scalzi have more unexpected plot threads to reveal? Every week I find myself looking forward to the next Tuesday, and this one is no exception.

The ride has been interesting thus far and I am anxious to see where it takes us next. Looking forward to seeing what the rest of you thought about his week’s journey with Hart Schmidt.