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Quick answer: If you loved Old Man's War, read The Ghost Brigades, Redshirts, Starship Troopers and The Forever War. All are fast, funny or thoughtful military science fiction about soldiers fighting in space.
John Scalzi's 2005 novel imagines a future where seventy-five-year-olds can join the colonial army and start again in new bodies. It is quick, witty and surprisingly moving, with sharp dialogue and big ideas. The books below share its mix of space battles, humour and questions about war and humanity.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ghost Brigades | John Scalzi | Adult | the sequel |
| Redshirts | John Scalzi | Adult | science fiction comedy |
| Lock In | John Scalzi | Adult | near-future mystery |
| Starship Troopers | Robert A. Heinlein | Adult | military science fiction classic |
| The Forever War | Joe Haldeman | Adult | time and war |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | Adult | young strategist |
| Armor | John Steakley | Adult | brutal soldier story |
| Hyperion | Dan Simmons | Adult | epic pilgrimage |
| Dune | Frank Herbert | Adult | political epic |
| Leviathan Wakes | James S. A. Corey | Adult | space mystery |
| Dauntless | Jack Campbell | Adult | fleet tactics |
| Ancillary Justice | Ann Leckie | Adult | AI and empire |
| Project Hail Mary | Andy Weir | Adult | science adventure |
| Ready Player One | Ernest Cline | Adult | gaming adventure |
| The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | Douglas Adams | Adult | comic classic |
1. The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
A special forces soldier made from a dead man's DNA fights a threat to humanity. A darker, stronger follow-up.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Redshirts by John Scalzi
Crew members on a starship realise they are minor characters in a television show. Funny and clever.
Best for: science fiction comedy.
3. Lock In by John Scalzi
A detective investigates a murder in a world with a new kind of paralysis. Smart and fast.
Best for: near-future mystery.
4. Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
A young recruit joins the infantry and fights alien bugs. Influential and provocative.
Best for: military science fiction classic.
5. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
A soldier returns from relativistic battles to a changed Earth. Powerful and anti-war.
Best for: time and war.
6. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Ender Wiggin is trained to fight an alien enemy. Classic, tense and thoughtful.
Best for: young strategist.
7. Armor by John Steakley
Soldiers in powered armor fight giant insects. Gritty and fast.
Best for: brutal soldier story.
8. Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Seven pilgrims tell their stories on the way to the Time Tombs. Ambitious and brilliant.
Best for: epic pilgrimage.
9. Dune by Frank Herbert
A noble family takes control of a desert planet. Dense, influential and thrilling.
Best for: political epic.
10. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey
A detective and a ship's officer find a conspiracy across the solar system. The start of The Expanse.
Best for: space mystery.
11. Dauntless by Jack Campbell
A hero is revived to lead a lost fleet home. Strong on strategy and command.
Best for: fleet tactics.
12. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
A former warship in a human body seeks revenge. Intelligent and original.
Best for: AI and empire.
13. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
A man wakes alone on a spaceship with no memory. Fast, funny and moving.
Best for: science adventure.
14. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
A teen hunts for treasure in a virtual world. Packed with pop culture.
Best for: gaming adventure.
15. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Arthur Dent escapes Earth's destruction. Absurd, witty and endlessly quotable.
Best for: comic classic.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Old Man's War: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more Scalzi begin with The Ghost Brigades or Redshirts. For classic military science fiction choose Starship Troopers, The Forever War or Ender's Game. For epic space opera pick Dune, Hyperion or Leviathan Wakes. For humour try The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. If you enjoy fleet tactics, Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet series is a long and satisfying choice. Old Man's War is the first of a six-book series, so there is plenty to read if you enjoy the universe. If you want the humour, pick Redshirts or The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. If you want the philosophy of war, pick The Forever War or Starship Troopers. If you want the big sweep of space opera, pick Dune, Hyperion or Leviathan Wakes. Many of these have excellent audiobooks.
Related: 15 Books Like The Poppy War You’ll Love: Dark Military Fantasy and Brutal War · 15 Books Like A Man Called Ove You’ll Love: Grumpy, Funny and Full of Heart
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Old Man's War about?
Seventy-five-year-olds can join the Colonial Defence Forces and fight aliens in new, young bodies.
Who wrote it?
John Scalzi.
When was it published?
2005.
How many books are in the series?
Six in the main series, plus related works.
Is it funny?
Yes, with witty dialogue, but it also has serious moments.
Is it similar to Starship Troopers?
It shares the military setting, but Scalzi is lighter and less political.
Do I need to read in order?
Yes, at least the first few.
What should I read next?
Try The Ghost Brigades.
Is Old Man's War a good starting point for military science fiction?
Yes. It is quick, funny and easy to follow, so it is a friendly entry point to the genre.
Is there a TV or film version?
A film adaptation has been discussed for years. Check current listings for news.