Questions for author John Scalzi

[Tom, Supreme Laser]

Hey all,

We'll have the pleasure of once again chatting with John Scalzi next week for the video show.

We did ask him some of your questions at Comic-con (and we're still working on getting that interview posted).

For this episode we want to focus on The Human Division but of course, your free to suggest we ask him anything, and we will range beyond just that book.

Commence the questioning!

[Michael]

What is your approach for balancing the structural needs of a serialized novel for The Human Division's initial incarnation with the eventual collected novel for the print edition?

Are there any serials which you kept/are keeping in mind while writing The Human Division or that inspired your approach for the novel?

[Casey]

Here are two questions:

This is the fifth book within the Old Man's War universe. Do you feel your approach and style of storytelling has changed as the series progressed? If so, how? If not, why?

When you first wrote Old Man's War, did you set out to intentionally write a series or did it organically evolve as the story unspooled?

Edited because I was temporarily a moron and forgot sentence construction.

[Ulmer Ian]

Maybe my question from the last thread was posted too late so I'll ask again:
The Android's Dream was awesome and there's supposedly a sequel coming. Ask about it. :D

I read Old Man's War and it had some cool ideas, but it's obvious that military scifi just isn't my thing. So I hope he revisits the wacky Android's Dream universe more. :)

[victor]

since i've only read old man's war from this series my questions might be addressed in later books but if not:



While reading OMW i found that John Perry was particularly gifted and/or lucky as a soldier (given his background as a writer), what was your reasoning behind making him so proficient?

[Kate]

Deja vu
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...

If you didn't ask him my questions at comic con... same ones again?

"Tor.com are serializing his next novel, before I get excited (well, more excited) will it be available internationally? (Asked in an even toned and non-confrontation spirit).

In The God Engines one of the secondary character's gender is never revealed. Props on the near seamless avoidance of pronouns, but what was his reason for doing this?"

Otherwise just tell him he's cool.

[Casey]

This question isn't specifically related to this book or the Old Man's War universe but I still would be curious to know his answer.

Question:
If you could read one last book before you die, what would it be?
And no fair choosing a mammoth tome for the sake of length alone, I expect content to be the driving engine to this answer.

[John (Nevets)]

Zoe's War was my introduction to the Old Man's War series. I thought you did an absolutely brilliant job of both making that book accessible to the new reader, but also not rehashing so much info that a veteran to the series would be disappointed. And i still feel that same way after going back and reading the rest of the series. How difficult was it to achieve that balance?, and is that something you are efforting to do in the new continuation as well?