Author Guide
John Scalzi Books in Order
Complete reading list for the Hugo Award-winning author known for accessible, funny SF — from the Old Man's War series to Starter Villain.
About
John Scalzi is an American science fiction author, blogger, and former president of the Science Fiction Writers of America. He is known for writing science fiction that is intentionally accessible — entertaining, clever, and often funny — without sacrificing genuine ideas. His debut novel Old Man's War (2005) began as a web serial and is frequently described as a modern successor to Heinlein's Starship Troopers but with less politics and more humanity. Redshirts (2012), a meta-satirical novel about expendable Star Trek characters who figure out they are fictional, won the Hugo Award for Best Novel. He is one of the most popular working SF writers and a prolific blogger at Whatever.scalzi.com.
Where to start: Old Man's War for military SF, or Starter Villain (2023) for the funniest and most accessible standalone. Redshirts if you love Star Trek.
Old Man's War Series
Military SF series. Each book largely standalone after Book 1.
1
Old Man's War
2005
Start HereSeventy-five-year-olds given young bodies to fight humanity's interstellar wars. The funniest and most accessible military SF debut of its decade.
2
The Ghost Brigades
2006
The story of the Special Forces — soldiers grown from dead people's DNA.
3
The Last Colony
2007
John Perry and Jane Sagan settle a new colony — which turns out to be a political pawn.
4
Zoe's Tale
2008
The events of The Last Colony from Zoe's point of view. Adds genuine depth.
Standalone Novels
1
Redshirts
2012
Hugo Award WinnerCrew members on a starship notice that whenever senior officers go on away missions, junior crew die. They investigate. Hugo Award winner.
2
Starter Villain
2023
Most RecentA man inherits his uncle's supervillain empire. Scalzi's most commercially successful standalone — funny, fast, and utterly absurd.
3
The Kaiju Preservation Society
2022
A pandemic pivot novel. A man joins an organization protecting giant monsters. Light, fast, and very fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best John Scalzi book?
Redshirts is his most critically acclaimed. Old Man's War is his most beloved. Starter Villain is the most fun and most accessible.
Do the Old Man's War books need to be read in order?
Old Man's War first. After that, Books 2-4 have some continuity but can largely be read in order without much difficulty. Book 4 (Zoe's Tale) is only essential if you loved Book 3.
Is John Scalzi similar to Terry Pratchett?
Thematically different but in terms of wit and accessibility, yes. Scalzi writes SF; Pratchett wrote fantasy. Both are notable for being simultaneously funny and genuinely thoughtful about the ideas they explore.