Scalzi's books are getting me back into SF after several years off. I just really haven't enjoyed the direction most SF has taken the last decade or so and lost interest in reading most new SF novels. I gave up on short stories before that.

Old Man's War really caught my eye though. It reminded me of the type of Heinlein stories I liked. I've read the rest and enjoyed them.

Scalzi's a nice guy in person too. He goes to Penguicon in this area and is very approachable.