I received an advanced reader's copy of Starter Villain by John Scalzi from Tor Books via NetGalley. Thank you, Tor!

In John Scalzi's newest book, Starter Villain, Charlie Fitzer has had better days. He used to be a successful business journalist living a comfortable life in the suburbs of Chicago. That was before the Covid pandemic caused the near-collapse of the journalism industry which resulted in Charlie getting laid-off. This in turn lead to his wife divorcing him, and with no job, no wife, and a sick father to care for, he decided to move back into his family home. Now, his dad is gone, and he's barely making ends-meet as a substitute teacher while fighting his siblings' desire to sell their father's house. This is a problem because, you know, he's currently living in it.

It is with these thoughts swirling in his head over breakfast one morning that Charlie hears an interesting CNN report. Jake Baldwin, Charlie's billionaire uncle he hasn't seen since he was five years old, has died. He remarks to his cat, Hera, how frustrated the news anchors seemed to be unable to give much of a report on his reclusive Uncle Jake's life and doesn't think much else about it. That is, until he is asked to represent the family at Jake's funeral. Charlie soon discovers there was a lot more to his Uncle Jake than he ever realized. He is quickly drawn into a world he thought only existed in James Bond movies, and it's up to him whether he sinks or swims.

John Scalzi has a gift for taking the hilarious and ridiculous parts of a somewhat realistic story and running with them. For example, let's talk about the cats in this book. First of all, I don't consider this a huge spoiler since they're mentioned right in the book's description, but there are cats in this story that are intelligent enough to use computers and own property through shell real estate companies. If you think about it, this isn't all that far-fetched. After all, some cats and dogs have been trained to use sound boards to let their owners know what they want. This could just be the next step, and it's the perfect example of Scalzi using something plausible and building it into something hilarious in the story.

The cats, along with some other intelligent animals I won't reveal, actually turn out to be integral to the story. To me, this just adds to the immersion. It shouldn't feel realistic to have intelligent cats, but it does! It actually adds credence to the world Scalzi is trying to build and get the reader to buy into. By the end of the book I would not have been surprised to learn some of the events in it were based on reality.

John Scalzi also scatters references to real people, places, and things into the story which adds to the believability as well. He references James Bond a decent bit because, let's face it, a group of villains trying to influence world events from behind the façade of legitimate businesses is totally a James Bond plot point. It's also something that a lot of people believe really happens. So, when it's suggested that the people in the book inspired the James Bond stories, everything just comes full circle in a funny way.

Finally, every time I would think I had this story figured out, Scalzi would throw a wrench (or explosion) into things that completely changed how I thought the story would end up. Even knowing that I didn't have the ending anywhere near figured out didn't keep me from being shocked by the twists it took. The only thing I see some people taking issue with are the asides Scalzi makes to certain political issues, but they still fit within Charlie's character. So, it didn't throw me off or negatively affect my immersion in the story. This book was definitely the quick, hilarious romp I needed, and I'm so happy I got to read it. I can't wait to pick up a finalized copy when it comes out.

I gave Starter Villain by John Scalzi four out of five stars. This book had me straight up laughing out loud at a few points, but it was still able to convey a believable story. Charlie isn't perfect, and everyone in the book has flaws. However, they are all more believable for those flaws. I almost felt like I got a peek behind the scenes of real espionage, both corporate and political. Plus, it has cats. You can't go wrong with cats. If you enjoyed Scalzi's other work, like The Kaiju Preservation Society, then you will love this book. I highly recommend giving it a shot!

What a FUN book! Charlie inherits his uncle’s parking business only to find he really inherited a super villain business. Cats who are spies (and can type their thoughts), foul mouthed dolphins who want to unionize, a volcano lair and a smart female assistant along with a bumbling SPECTRE like cadre of villains makes this a delightful novel to curl up with on a rainy day. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC but I will be recommending it because my opinions are my own .

Good stupid fun. it’s been a long time since I’ve laughed as hard I did while reading, but Starter Viallin had me cackling with every chapter and each new ridiculous hijink.

The premise of Starter Villain is ridiculous to a fault. Charlie Fitzer, ex-journalist and current down-on-his-luck substitute teacher, suddenly and explosively discovers that his estranged uncle who just passed away was secretly a supervillain with influence across he world. And suddenly Charlie’s his heir and next supervillain extraordinaire. Cue super secret villain societies, middle management cats, spy dolphins, and double-triple-quadruple-crossing. Scalzi knows when to bring the camp and does not shy away from over-the-top comedy and action. At 73k, this is an extremely quick read and perfect for a pick-me-up after a long day. The characters are fun, the banter is fantastic, and the story is the epitome of ‘crack taken seriously’. An extremely entertaining read. Overall, I rate this book a 4/5.

Review will go live on my blog 18 August 2023 (already posted on GR)

Starter Villain is another in the long, unbroken line of Scalia hits. This time the protagonist is a normal shlub, not unlike you or I. He is having a bad time of it and is surprised to,learn that his long estranged uncle has passed away. It turns out he has an inheritance and it is a lot more than he could have ever guessed.
It was overall well written.

A down on his luck man discovers his estranged and recently deceased uncle was actually a supervillain, and that he's left his criminal empire in his hands. This was a fun and humorous story, with an entertainingly droll protagonist who is thrust into a world far more sinister (and definitely stranger) than he ever imagined. A quick, solid read for those who enjoy humorous light sci-fi in the vein of James Bond.

As always, John Scalzi has written a fun rip-roaring read. Dialogue and characters are snappy, witty and enjoyable to be around. It's always a pleasure to be in whatever world he has created for any given novel of his.

Like all John Scalzi books, this is a very fun read. It goes by fast, and by the time you're most of the way through, you wish you had at least another 100 pages left.

Charlie Fitzer is a down on his luck substitute teacher who is kind to his cats, but doesn't have a whole lot else going for him. Then, his rich, distant uncle dies and his life changes as he inherits his uncle's business. The real one. No, not the parking lot empire, but the evil villain business.

What transpires includes a secret island lair, an evil villain conference, assassins, and more than a couple of plot twists along the way. All with Scalizi's impeccable comic timing and lively banter between characters. Loved this book, and I'm very appreciative of the ARC from the publisher and NetGalley!

Starter Villain is another in the long, unbroken line of Scalia hits. This time the protagonist is a normal shlub, not unlike you or I. He is having a bad time of it and is surprised to,learn that his long estranged uncle has passed away. It turns out he has an inheritance and it is a lot more than he could have ever guessed. I hesitate to write much more as I would not want to deny anyone the joy of reading this for themselves. I will add this, if you are a cat person, you will find yet another reason to love this book. I was given early access to this book by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review, provided here.

Starter Villain by John Scalzi is a delightful and humorous sci-fi adventure that follows the story of a man who inherits his mysterious uncle's supervillain business. As he navigates the complex world of villainy, he finds himself dealing with the unexpected challenges that come with it, including managing sentient, language-using, computer-savvy cats who hold high-level management positions.

Scalzi’s writing is witty, irreverent, and full of pop-culture references that make for an entertaining read. The story is fast-paced, and the plot twists keep the reader engaged throughout the book. The characters are well-developed, and their interactions are both hilarious and heartwarming.

The author cleverly explores themes such as the complexity of family relationships, the blurred lines between good and evil, and the absurdity of the world we live in. The book also highlights the importance of finding your own path in life and not being defined by the expectations of others.

Overall, Starter Villain is a fun and enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of science fiction, comedy, and superhero stories. John Scalzi once again proves his skill in crafting imaginative and entertaining stories that are sure to delight readers.