Why we’re excited
Mike Boyd comes back to Richland, Ohio, after decades away, meaning to leave again quickly. The town's main employer is shutting down, private equity is circling, and something very strange has happened to a local farmer's prize cow. Small-town economic gloom meets tentacles.
John Scalzi has spent recent years writing quick, funny standalones such as The Kaiju Preservation Society and Starter Villain, and this looks like another in that line, with a horror streak. No series knowledge needed. Pick it up if you like your monsters served with jokes about layoffs and a straight face about what happens to towns like Richland.
On our most-anticipated list since 22 October 2026. See all the most anticipated books →
What to know about Monsters of Ohio
We have reviewed one of John Scalzi’s books so far: When the Moon Hits Your Eye, which we gave 4 out of 5.
At 272 pages it is shorter than most science fiction books out in November 2026, where the typical length is about 384 pages.
From the publisher
A LibraryReads Hall of Fame Pick!
"This isn't the Ohio of my youth. Monsters and horror in every small town! This book made me laugh--and shudder. Wonderful chilling fun!" – R.L. Stine, author Goosebumps and Fear Street
Monsters of Ohio is a heartfelt exploration of a tentacular solution to the struggles of the modern world from the New York Times bestselling author of Starter Villain
Welcome to Richland, Ohio. Things aren't great.
The town’s biggest employer is closing shop, and Richland's on the brink. It's where Mike Boyd, with his own set of problems, finds himself returning to after decades away.
He's not planning to stay.
But Richland has other plans for Mike, his old friend Dave, and a newcomer Andi. They're caught in a swirl of local troubles, private equity, executive theft… and something extremely weird involving Jeremy Keller’s prize cow.
Welcome to Richland. Leave your expectations behind. Bring a tarp.
OTHER TOR BOOKS BY JOHN SCALZI
Agent to the Stars
The Android’s Dream
Fuzzy Nation
Redshirts
Your Hate Mail Will Be
A Decade of Whatever, 1998–2008
The Kaiju Preservation Society
Starter Villain
When the Moon Hits Your Eye
THE OLD MAN’S WAR NOVELS
Old Man’s War
The Ghost Brigades
The Last Colony
Zoë’s Tale
The Human Division
The End of All Things
The Shattering Peace
THE LOCK IN SERIES
Lock In
Head On
Unlocked
THE INTERDEPENDENCY SEQUENCE
The Collapsing Empire
The Consuming Fire
The Last Emperox
EDITED BY JOHN SCALZI
Metatropolis
Description supplied by the publisher.
We haven’t read Monsters of Ohio yet. When our review goes up, it will replace this page.
