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Cover of Monsters of Ohio

Monsters of Ohio

JOHN. SCALZI (2026-11-05)

Subgenre
Age groupAdult 18+
Content ratingPG-13
Pages (Standard (250-400))
Setting
CSM age15

Content levels

ViolenceMild
Sexual contentMild
LanguageModerate

Trigger warnings

Economic Hardship

Protagonist archetypes

Ensemble CastSmall Town Ensemble

Synopsis

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.

Tags

Contemporary Science FictionSocial SFSatirical SFSmall Town FictionWeird Fiction

Is Monsters of Ohio appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 15 and up.

A quirky sci-fi comedy about a dying Ohio town facing economic hardship and strange events involving livestock. Likely contains moderate language and adult themes about corporate exploitation, but Scalzi's signature humor keeps it accessible.

What to know going in

This book has mild violence, mild sexual content, and moderate language. Content notes include economic hardship.

Publisher age: Adult·Our content rating: 15+

Publisher ages reflect reading level; our rating reflects content maturity — they can differ.

Who'll love this

Teens and adults will enjoy this funny, weird story about ordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances in a small town.