Astounding Award for Best New Writer (formerly the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer)
1 appearances
-
Edition 34 (2006) Winner
John Scalzi
ジョン・スカルジ
Jon Sukaruji
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1969-05-10 （Fairfield, California, U.S.）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Covina, California → Glendora, California → Azusa, California → San Dimas, California → Bradford, Ohio
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Science fiction novelist, Blogger, Critic, Creative consultant
- Active Years
- 1990-
- Affiliations
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (former president)
- Memberships
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
- Influenced By
- Robert A. Heinlein, Orson Scott Card, Joe Haldeman
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago | Undergraduate | Philosophy | Bachelor of Arts | 1987–1991 | United States |
University of Chicago
Undergraduate
/ Philosophy
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Period:
1987–1991
Year of Graduation:
1991
Country:
United States
Graduated with a BA; did not complete a thesis project. Served as editor-in-chief of The Chicago Maroon during 1989–1990.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer | — | — | Associated with Locus/Hugo community | Won |
| 2008 | Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer | Blog 'Whatever' | Fan Writer | Worldcon (Hugo Awards) | Won |
| 2009 | Hugo Award for Best Related Work | Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded: A Decade of Whatever 1998–2008 | Related Work | Worldcon (Hugo Awards) | Won |
| 2013 | Hugo Award for Best Novel | Redshirts | Novel | Worldcon (Hugo Awards) | Won |
| 2018 | Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel | The Collapsing Empire | Science Fiction Novel | Locus | Won |
| 2023 | Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel | The Kaiju Preservation Society | Science Fiction Novel | Locus | Won |
| 2023 | Robert A. Heinlein Award | — | — | The Heinlein Society | Won |
John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer
2006
Organization:
Associated with Locus/Hugo community
Result:
Won
Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer
2008
Work:
Blog 'Whatever'
Category:
Fan Writer
Organization:
Worldcon (Hugo Awards)
Result:
Won
Hugo Award for Best Related Work
2009
Work:
Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded: A Decade of Whatever 1998–2008
Category:
Related Work
Organization:
Worldcon (Hugo Awards)
Result:
Won
Hugo Award for Best Novel
2013
Work:
Redshirts
Category:
Novel
Organization:
Worldcon (Hugo Awards)
Result:
Won
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
2018
Work:
The Collapsing Empire
Category:
Science Fiction Novel
Organization:
Locus
Result:
Won
Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
2023
Work:
The Kaiju Preservation Society
Category:
Science Fiction Novel
Organization:
Locus
Result:
Won
Robert A. Heinlein Award
2023
Organization:
The Heinlein Society
Result:
Won
Awards & Nominations
Geffen Award
2 appearances
-
Edition 9 (2007) Winner
-
Edition 18 (2016) Winner
Prometheus Award
1 appearances
Hugo Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 70 (2023) Winner
Works
Major Works
Old Man's War
2005 Military science fictionA military SF novel about a 75-year-old man who is recruited into an interstellar military program and given a new, enhanced body to fight in humanity's wars for colonization.
MilitaryIdentityAging and rejuvenation
Redshirts
2012 Metafiction / Science fictionA metafictional science fiction novel that satirizes and explores the fate of expendable background characters in TV-style space operas.
MetafictionFate and free willParody / Humor
The Collapsing Empire
2017 Space operaA space opera centered on a collapsing interstellar transportation network (the Flow), focusing on political, economic, and personal conflicts across an interdependency.
Empire / PoliticsEconomicsTechnological fragility
The Kaiju Preservation Society
2022 Science fiction / EntertainmentA humorous science fiction novel about a covert organization dedicated to protecting giant creatures (kaiju) and the unexpected consequences that follow.
KaijuConservation and ethicsScience and adventure
Starter Villain
2023 Science fiction / EntertainmentAn entertaining contemporary-tinged science fiction novel exploring the perspective and development of a would-be villain.
Heroes vs villainsSelf-awarenessHumor
Bibliography
- Agent to the Stars (1999/2005)
- Old Man's War (2005)
- The Ghost Brigades (2006)
- Redshirts (2012)
- The Collapsing Empire (2017)
- The Kaiju Preservation Society (2022)
- Starter Villain (2023)
Adaptations
- Short stories adapted for Netflix's Love, Death & Robots (e.g., "Three Robots")
- Credited as creative consultant on the TV series Stargate Universe
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Humorous narrative voiceConversational, accessible proseBlend of hard SF elements and entertainment
- Recurring Motifs
- Military and warfareTechnology and ethicsHumanity seen from occupational viewpoints
Legacy
John Scalzi is a contemporary American SF author known for his influential blog and multiple Hugo and Locus awards. His accessible, humorous works have reached broad audiences and crossed into popular culture through adaptations and screenwriting/consultancy.
Academic Societies
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
In Popular Culture
- Stories adapted for Netflix's Love, Death & Robots, extending presence into animated media
- Influence on online culture via the 'Whatever' blog
Quotes
-
When I decided to start writing novels, I wanted to write in a genre I already knew and loved as a reader. So, it was either going to be science fiction or mystery. I decided to flip a coin. Heads was science fiction. Tails was mystery. The coin came up heads.
Source: Interview, Dayton Daily News (2016)
Trivia
- Runs the personal blog 'Whatever' since 1998.
- Signed a 10-year, 13-book deal with Tor in 2015 reportedly worth $3.4 million.
- Several short stories were adapted for Netflix's Love, Death & Robots.
- Served as SFWA president from 2010 to 2013.