The Kaiju Preservation Society
An alternative world with massive dinosaur-like creatures. What could go wrong? Read this sci-fi romp from John Scalzi with us this August.
Welcome to the SciFri Book Club page about The Kaiju Preservation Society. There’s lots of ways to participate: Read the book, join our community space, attend an event, sign up for our email newsletter, or send a message on the SciFri VoxPop app.
This August, the SciFri Book Club will read The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi. Set on an alternate-dimension Earth, Scalzi tells the story of a mysterious “animal rights organization” that seeks to protect giant animals known as Kaiju (yes, like Godzilla). The novel’s protagonist, left in a dead-end job after COVID-19, learns not only that Kaiju exist, but keeping them safe on this planet could save millions of people back home. This sci-fi romp brings an alternate reality into stark perspective, and shows how the most distant lives of creatures can have an impact on our survival.
The Kaiju Preservation Society brings together a range of topics, including conservation, ecology, physics, geologic time, Japanese monster culture, and more—and we’ll touch on these ideas throughout this Book Club season. You can get your copy from your local bookstore or on Bookshop.org.
This Book Club season kicks off Tuesday, August 1, and you can read along with us! We’ll be (loosely) following this schedule, but all our readers are welcome to join us at their own pace:
- August 1-13: Chapters 1-14
- August 14-31: Chapters 15-28
Plus, we’ll be hosting events throughout the month! Keep an eye out on our website or join our Events newsletter to be the first to know.
There are so many ways to dive in and participate! You can grab a copy of the book (and support the author and SciFri), read an excerpt from The Kaiju Preservation Society, join the discussion in our online Book Club community, sign up for our email newsletter, or RSVP for our upcoming Book Club events. Check out all the details below.
Grab Your Own Copy
If you’d like to purchase a physical copy, we encourage you to start local! Check out the SciFri Book Club partner bookstores and libraries—if you’re in the area, consider supporting your local bookseller or public library (plus, mention our Book Club for a percentage off your purchase at participating shops!).
If they don’t have the book in stock or you’d rather purchase online, you can support Science Friday by buying your copy on our Bookshop.org page.
Save The Date(s): SciFri Book Club Events
The Kaiju Preservation Society: Author Livestream and Q&A
What does it take to write a believable kaiju—as well as a charming group of scientists and explorers—onto the page? We’re welcoming author John Scalzi to discuss combining ecology, biology and cultural touchpoints to create new giants, and how he used a lifetime of scientific curiosity to write a sci-fi romp in five weeks during a global pandemic.
Join us online for a conversation with the author on the science topics featured in the SciFri Book Club pick for August 2023. Come with your queries and wonderings—we’ll be taking your questions in the livestream comments!
SciFri Book Club August community meeting: The Kaiju Preservation Society
Want to meet other SciFri Book Club members, talk about the book selection, and find more resources for deeper learning—all without leaving your home? Our community meeting is the place for you!
This discussion meeting will focus on themes and topics featured in The Kaiju Preservation Society. You’re welcome to join us no matter your reading progress—come chat with other science-interested folks about conservation, ecology, physics, geologic time, Japanese monster culture, and more!
Join Our Community Space
And as you start reading, join us on our online community space: the SciFri Book Club is on Mighty Networks, a platform where we can gather, read and discuss science books together. We’ve built this community space to create a better way for readers to stay connected with other Book Clubbers, and we hope you’ll join us there!
Read An Excerpt
Not sure this is the book for you? Want to read an excerpt before you commit? We’ve got you covered.
Tor Books, the publisher of The Kaiju Preservation Society, has offered SciFri Book Clubbers an excerpt of the book! You can read this sample on our website.