John Scalzi’s books in order
Whether you’re looking for your new favourite sci-fi writer or you’re already a fan, here’s everything you need to know about John Scalzi’s books and series.
John Scalzi is an incredibly popular, award-winning science fiction writer. He’s the author of the Interdependency trilogy and the Old Man’s War series, as well as a number of fantastic standalone sci-fi novels and novellas. He also runs his own blog, Whatever, which provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of a science fiction writer. Whether you’re new to his work, or you’re looking for your next read, here are all John Scalzi’s books in order.
For even more science fiction, don't miss our pick of the best science fiction books of 2023, and all time.
John Scalzi's standalone novels
Starter Villain
by John Scalzi
John Scalzi brings us a turbo-charged tale of a family business with a difference, as Charlie discovers when he inherits it. It’s also way more dangerous than Charlie could ever have imagined, because his uncle had kept his supervillain status a secret. Divorced and emotionally dependent on his cat, Charlie wasn’t loving life. Now Charlie must decide if he should stay stuck in his rut, or step up to take on the business, the enemies, the minions, the hidden volcano lair. But there’s much more to being an Evil Mastermind than he suspected. Yet could this also, finally, be his chance to shine?
The Kaiju Preservation Society
by John Scalzi
In New York, Jamie is a driver for food delivery apps, looking for any opportunity to escape his daily schedule. Then, after making a delivery to old acquaintance Tom, he gets the chance to escape more than just his delivery gig. Tom works for an animal rights organisation – but not any that you've heard of. Known as the 'Kaiju Preservation Society', Jamie unwittingly signs on with Tom to venture to the Earth of an alternate dimension, where massive dinosaur-like creatures called 'Kaiju' roam a human-free world. But they’re in trouble – the Society are not the only ones who have found their way to the Kaiju world. . .
The Interdependency series books in order
John Scalzi’s series The Interdependency is a space opera trilogy based around ‘The Flow' – stable wormholes that have allowed humanity to establish a galactic empire through faster than light travel.
And thanks to the leader of the Interdependency, The Emperox – an inherited title whose role is now largely ceremonial – it was a relatively peaceful civilization. But when it looks like The Flow isn’t as stable as it seems, things inevitably start to unravel.
The Collapsing Empire
by John Scalzi
In the distant future, humanity has left Earth, but its new empire is threatened by disaster – can it be saved? The far corners of the empire are dependent on each other for resources, but the extra-dimensional pathways through the stars are changing course which could plunge the colonies into deadly isolation. The new Empress of the Interdependency must battle lies, rebellion and reason to save civilization.
The Consuming Fire
by John Scalzi
As the extra-dimensional pathway between the stars continues to fail, the Interdependency is on the verge of collapse. Billions of lives will be lost unless Emperox Grayland II, the leader of the Interdependency, takes desperate measures. But there are those who see this as an opportunity to ascend to power – will a power struggle turn into civil war?
The Last Emperox
by John Scalzi
The pathways that connect the stars are collapsing rapidly, accelerating the fall of civilization, and will leave billions of people stranded. The evidence is insurmountable, but many people are in denial and even seeking to profit from this disaster.
Emperox Grayland II finally has control over her empire, but as she works to save her people, others are desperate to topple her from the throne . . . Will she save civilization?
The Old Man’s War series books in order
Old Man's War is a six novel military science fiction series (with associated novellas). It’s centred around the idea that, upon hitting age seventy-five, you're shipped off-planet and retrained in the military. Then your consciousness is transplanted into a new body, genetically modified for combat. And you’re told to kill a whole lot of weird aliens for various reasons.
Old Man's War
by John Scalzi
Earth’s military machine can transform the elderly, restoring their youth. So when seventy-five-year-old John Perry is looking for a fresh start, he signs up for the army. But youth doesn’t come for free, and he is required to commit to two years of hazardous service in space. He’ll fight for his life on the front line, and discover just how dangerous the universe really is.
The Ghost Brigades
by John Scalzi
Three hostile alien racers have united against humanity in a plan masterminded by the traitor Charles Boutin, an ex-Colonial Defense Force scientist. Jared Dirac is a super-soldier created from Boutin’s DNA, and he may be the only one who can stop his plan. But when he fails to recover Boutin’s memories, he’s sent to train with the Ghost Brigades, elite troops who have been cloned from the dead.
The Last Colony
by John Scalzi
When John Perry and his wife were offered the chance to lead a new frontier world, they couldn’t say no. But once they arrive on their new planet, they realise they’ve been betrayed. A war is raging, and Perry must struggle to keep his terrified colonists alive. And the planet may yet reveal fatal secrets of its own . . .
Zoe's Tale
by John Scalzi
Zoë Boutin-Perry's life has never been ordinary, being the adopted daughter of two former super-soldiers. So she’s not phased by upping sticks and moving to another world. But this time is different. Because Zoë and her parents have been betrayed by the authorities and are stranded on a hostile planet.
The Human Division
by John Scalzi
The Colonial Union has always protected its citizens from the truth about the dangerous universe around them, but now their eyes have been opened. An alien alliance has formed against the Union, and it wants the incensed people of Earth to join. Lieutenant Harry Wilson must preserve the unity of humanity’s colonies in the wake of a terrible revelation. But will this be an impossible mission?
The End of All Things
by John Scalzi
Lieutenant Harry Wilson of the Colonial Union’s Defence Force has an urgent new mission. A sinister new group is playing human and alien factions off against each other, and no-one knows why. The Defence Force is weakening and relations with Earth have broken down – can Wilson keep the peace?
The Lock In universe books in order
Head on is the second book set in John’s Lock In universe, following Lock In. Lock In refers to Haden’s Syndrome, a highly contagious virus that spreads across the globe. It leaves an unlucky minority of people fully conscious, but unable to use their bodies – so locked in.
Luckily, Hadens (the name given to those suffering from this) can navigate the Neuronet and pilot Threeps, robotic-humanoid bodies, in order to keep interacting with the world.
Head On
by John Scalzi
In a post-virus world, a daring sport for those with Hayden’s Syndrome is taking the US by storm. Using robotic bodies, the players compete to obtain their opponents head and carry it through the goalposts. But then a player drops dead on the field. Was it an accident or something more sinister? That’s what FBI agents Chris Shane and Leslie Vann are determined to find out.