When I think about people who define what a geek is to me, one of the first that comes to mind is John Scalzi. He inadvertently started bacon cat and got a law named after him (“Scalzi’s Law”). He’s a gamer, game designer, television producer, musician. And he’s a geek dad.
Oh, and he’s a pretty famous science fiction author.
Scalzi’s most popular book is Old Man’s War, which spawned an on-going series and potential television series. He’s written several other books, including Lock In and Redshirts. His writing is often satirical in nature, looking long and hard at aspects of our society and culture, while also remaining witty and hilarious.
Of particular interest this week, however, is the news that Scalzi has signed a landmark, decade-long deal with his publisher, Tor Books. This $3.4 million dollar contract covers Scalzi’s next 13 books, which include a new book in the Old Man’s War universe, sequels of Redshirts and Lock In, and, most interesting to all the geek parents and kids, three new young adult books, an arena Scalzi has, until now, not entered.
You can read more about the deal on Scalzi’s blog, Whatever, in one of his trademark self-interview style posts.
Scalzi has written for young adults. I seem to recall that his book, Zoe’s Tale (Old Man’s War series) was intended as young adult fiction.