BookBingeOld Man's War Books in Order
The short answer
John Scalzi · 7 books
- How many books?
- There are 7 books in the Old Man's War series, published 2005–2025.
- Is it finished?
- No — it's ongoing, but the next book doesn't have a release date yet.
- Where to start
- Start with Old Man's War (2005).
About 2,500 pages — roughly 40 hours of reading
At age 75 you can enlist in the interstellar army — and they'll give you a new body for the fight.
Here is the complete Old Man's War reading order — all 7 books by John Scalzi, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- Old Man's WarJohn Perry enlists, is transformed, and learns the universe is stranger and deadlier than Earth imagined.2005310 pages
- The Ghost BrigadesSpecial Forces soldiers grown from the minds of the dead.2006320 pages
- The Last ColonyPerry and Sagan take on a colonial governorship that's a sham.2007320 pages
- Zoe's TaleThe Last Colony's events from the teenage Zoe's perspective.2008320 pages
- The Human DivisionThe Colonial Union faces fracture as Earth rebels.2013512 pages
- The End of All ThingsThe final reckoning — humans against humans against everything.2015384 pages
- The Shattering PeaceA decade after The End of All Things, Colonial Union diplomat Gretchen Trujillo is sent on a covert mission that threatens the fragile peace between humans and their alien allies.2025288 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Old Man's War books are there?
There are 7 books in the Old Man's War series by John Scalzi, from Old Man's War (2005) to The Shattering Peace (2025). Together they run to about 2,500 pages.
Is the Old Man's War series finished?
No, it's ongoing. The most recent book is The Shattering Peace (2025), and John Scalzi hasn't dated the next one yet.
What is the first Old Man's War book?
Old Man's War (2005) is book one, at 310 pages. John Perry enlists, is transformed, and learns the universe is stranger and deadlier than Earth imagined.
Should I read the Old Man's War series in publication order?
Yes. For the Old Man's War series, reading order and publication order are the same — Old Man's War (2005) through The Shattering Peace (2025).
How long does it take to read all Old Man's War books?
About 2,500 pages across 7 books — roughly 40 hours at a page a minute. The longest is The Human Division (512 pages); the shortest is The Shattering Peace (288 pages).