John Scalzi (he/him)

One of the most popular science fiction authors, John Scalzi's debut, "Old Man's War," won him the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His New York Times bestsellers include "The Last Colony," "Fuzzy Nation," "Redshirts," which won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, "The Kaiju Preservation Society," and "Starter Villain." Material from his blog, Whatever, has earned him two other Hugo Awards. He lives in Ohio with his wife and daughter. His most recent novel is "The Shattering Peace," the long awaited return to the "Old Man's War" universe.

Awards: Hugo Award, Locus, John W. Campbell, Audie, Seiun, Kurd Lasswitz

A Little Attitude and a Lot of Swagger

Three masters of attitude-driven storytelling discuss what it takes to create characters who command the page with charisma and swagger. They'll dive into how they craft unforgettable voices, writing characters who pop off the page, and why a little attitude goes a long way.

Koffler Room 218 (Seats 142, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sat, Mar 14, 10:00 am - 10:55 am
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Sales & Signing Koffler/Commons (following presentation)

Panelists: Tochi Onyebuchi, John Scalzi, Martha Wells
Moderator: Betsy Labiner
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Judith Marro

Rotten to the Core

Join three powerhouse authors as they explain how they craft narratives where hard-won stability crumbles and characters face impossible choices. They will explore the mechanics of world-building, the psychology of survival and the narrative tension that comes from watching everything unravel.

Koffler Room 218 (Seats 142, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 15, 10:00 am - 10:55 am
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Sales & Signing Koffler/Commons (following presentation)

Panelists: John Scalzi, Martha Wells, Adrienne Young
Moderator: Leighton Quarles
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Judith Marro

Laughing Along the Way

Not every story needs to be grim to have weight. Sometimes the best way to explore big ideas is with a wink and a laugh. In this session, three masters of wit: Edward Ashton, Julie Leong and John Scalzi, will discuss the art of weaving humor into speculative fiction without losing emotional stakes or narrative tension.

Student Union Kachina (Seats 100)  
Sun, Mar 15, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: UA Campus Store Book Sales (Mall) (following presentation)  

Panelists: Edward Ashton, Julie Leong, John Scalzi
Moderator: Vickie Lan
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Bourn Companies, Jean Orrico

Books:

The Shattering Peace

Old Man's War Book 7
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
Tor Publishing Group
September 2025
ISBN 9780765389190
288 pages
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When the Moon Hits Your Eye

Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
Tor Publishing Group
February 2026
ISBN 9781250348432
336 pages
Buy now