I read my first Scalzi novel around a year ago. I loved the humor, sometimes dark humor and the thriller aspect. Afterwards I bought a few more of his books. Then I saw this one. I wanted it immediately. It also has some dark humor. I didn't laugh out loud as much as Kaiju. It also had some unbelievable parts, but presented in a way that they are wildly believable. I love the characters and felt like even the dolphins were fleshed out nicely. It was suspenseful and engaging. I'm looking forward to continuing to explore more with this author.

Thanks to Tor & NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm guessing that this is a bit of a departure for John Scalzi; it's really more action/adventure than sci fi (although, to be fair, there are hyper-intelligent cats and other animals in the story). Scalzi is a pretty good storyteller and keeps the pace rolling, from Charlie's inauspicious existence as an out of work substitute teacher/aspiring barkeep to his ultimate villainhood. And it's pretty funny.

If you think James Bond meets Minion movies + cats, dolphins, and whales (throw in a stabbing henchman for good measure) sounds like a good time, you'll probably enjoy this book. There are some good present-day issues presented (fair labor practices come to mind) and it's a fun romp.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for the eARC of Starter Villain!

I was pretty much sold on this book when I saw the cover. But then I was double sold when I read it was about super villains with talking cats.

It sounds ridiculous and honestly, it is. But I think that is what I enjoy about Scalzi's books. They are perfect palate cleansers in between heavier fantasy/sci-fi reads. This book and The Kaiju Preservation Society are both still within the SFF realm while bringing levity and comedy to genres that tend to lean more towards serious.

Starter Villain is perfect for fans of classic James Bond villains with the vibes of Dr. Evil from Austin Powers. It is a short, self-contained story and wraps everything up nicely with the typical action movie flair and double crossing.

If talking cats don't convince you to read this, I am not sure what will!!

I must confess that I didn’t read Kaiju Preservation Society as neither the premise nor beginning grabbed me. But this one I was interested in immediately: a snappy title and a cat dressed in a suit and tie? Count me in! And Starter Villain did not disappoint, delivering what I consider to be Classic Scalzi: fun, funny, (yes, those are separate qualities) snarky, quirky, fast-paced, with timely topical references, some pauses for thought, and plenty of passages to highlight (I love both Scalzi’s fiction and blog writing). Oh, and, of course, one character who says “F*ck” more than even I’m comfortable with (and I cuss more than anyone I know personally), although which character has the potty mouth may surprise you…

Okay this was fantastic. So many twists were untwisted and re twisted that at times I was guffawing out loud about how I had been played.
Basically the story of a guy who inherits his uncles estate and job which happens to be villian, volcano lair included. But make it more Austen powers than James Bond.
Some of the funniest banter and most entertaining characters I’ve read in a while. Everything about the dolphins and the cats was just perfect. And a wholly satisfying ending.

Received an eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my third standalone Scalzi and my opinions are about the same for each. The ideas are great, but there is something about the execution that always gets me a little and keeps it from being a favorite book. However it was different with this book. Usually I feel like they don’t land the ending, but with this book, it was the middle that lost me and the ending that brought me back. Expect the usual ridiculousness that is Scalzi and you will have an enjoyable read.

Okay readers, prepare yourself. This is the BEST book I've read this year! I know it's not a cozy mystery and I usually review cozy mysteries, but I make an exception for John Scalzi's novels.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good mystery. I also love comic fantasy and science fiction, with Discworld and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy being among my favourites. A couple of years ago I discovered John Scalzi and he's quickly risen up my list of favourites. Last month I read Scalzi's The Kaiju Preservation Society and absolutely loved it. Well let me tell you Starter Villain is even better. Why? Sentient cats and a$$hole dolphins! That's why!

Charlie's life isn't going too good. His parents are both dead, he is barely surviving as a substitute teacher and he's about to be evicted from his childhood home. When his Uncle passes away, and he's asked to attend his funeral, what could possible go wrong? A lot! Suddenly Charlie is thrust into a world of villains, and not the cute kids movie kind! What follows it the adventure of a lifetime, as Charlie tries to survive a world of villains, and a pod of the sweariest dolphins you will ever meet.

Doesn't this sound awesome? Well guess what? It was. It is an absolute delight a second. It's action packed and shows the best and worst side of being a villain. With many wrong turns, Charlie tries to navigate the villain world and every mis-step is absolutely hilarious!

With an ending you won't see coming, John Scalzi's newest novel simply delights. It will have you rooting for the underdog and hoping Charlie doesn't get thrown into volcanic lava! Whether you are new to comic fantasy or you're a seasoned reader of the genre, you must pick up Starter Villain.

Charlie's life is at a low point - divorced, working as a substitute teacher, living in his Dad's house until his siblings can force a sale, and lacking any friends other than his cat Hera. When he learns that his estranged uncle Jake has died, this means nothing to Charlie until an odd woman arrives to offer him the chance to keep his house if he hosts Jake's funeral. One attempted corpse stabbing and home explosion later, Charlie learns the truth - Jake was a villain in the secret-volcano-lair mold, and Charlie is now his heir, complete with all of the enemies that includes. Of course, it also includes hyper-intelligent cats, remote luxury hotels, and unionizing dolphins, in an adventure that is hilarious and also trenchant. Scalzi's humor flows with anti-capitalist rage, and some scenes begs to be read aloud to everyone nearby in order to share the joy. Important note - when the dolphins show up, put all drinks/ snacks down, because you will laugh so hard you may choke (or, if you're me, spit water all over my ereader at least three times in six pages). The cats are delightful and so perfectly catlike that it's hard not to glace at every passing fuzzball wondering which ones have real estate portfolios they are hiding from their humans.

4.5

I feel like John Scalzi writes only 2 types of sci-fi - the kind that is thought-provoking and intriguing, where you can imagine the science being part of life in the future, and the kind that is completely off the walls, batshit insane. This book is of the latter and I am totally here for it.

This book consists of sentient cats, union demanding dolphins, a volcano lair in the Caribbean, a villainous organization, and a very fast paced story. After taking a bit to get through the first few chapters, I easily flew through the rest of it. There's just so much crazy shit going on that it's very easy and compelling to keep reading to find out what will happen next. The main character, Charlie, in thrown into the world of secret organizations and villains who try to run the world after his uncle dies, and does his best to keep up with it all. It's easy to see how Scalzi took inspiration from our world now, and it's easy to believe that many of the uber-rich could be sitting around doing and talking about these exact things (minus the sentient cats and dolphins). Speaking of the dolphins, their first interaction with Charlie was one of the funniest things I've read in a very long time. There's also a lot of double-crossing, and even if you think you've got it figured out you probably don't. Definitely recommended for anyone who loves Scalzi, humorous sci-fi, and books that'll keep you guessing.

Also how can you not love that cover?

4.5 stars

I have only recently discovered John Scalzi (I know I know, where the heck have I been), and I have quickly become a huge fan. This book is exactly what I have come to expect from him. The fun characters, the humor, the suspense, it’s all here. This is ranking among my favorites as of right now. I loved every minute of it.

An entertaining and unusual fish-out-of-water story about a man who inherits his uncle’s evil empire. Fast-paced, amusing, and starring some cats, I enjoyed this.

Starter Villain is a fun read. It taps into a whole host of action/adventure tropes (for example, those we’ve found in the Bond movies), and turns many them on their head. What do you do when you inherit an evil empire, rather than build it yourself? Why do villains become villains? Also, how do they villain? Why do some supervillains have goals and plans that seem, ultimately, to be self-defeating? All of these and more are addressed in Scalzi’s novel, as Charlie blunders his way through his epically changed reality, and also his villain orientation.

The book’s a little off-the-wall, with hints of Douglas Adams-esque invention and tone. It was fun to follow Charlie navigate his newfound influence and power, despite being ideologically opposed to pretty much everything around him. His attempts to reinvent the wheel, to shift the focus of the organization are met with plenty of opposition — some realistic, some violent. The novel includes a fair amount of action, international intrigue, and plenty of on-point commentary on certain sectors of society (tech-bros, for example, and also the super-wealthy elite).

If you’re looking for an amusing diversion in these trouble times, then I think Starter Villain could be exactly what you’re looking for. Recommended.

Also, the cats are great.

John Scalzi is hilarious. If you haven't read him before, I highly recommend Old Man's War--it's funny and fascinating. Scalzi is a science fiction author, and he gets very creative while remaining accessible. This new book, Starter Villain, is about a down-on-his-luck kind of guy who inherits a mysterious bequest when his estranged uncle dies. There are talking cats. There are talking dolphins. There are villains. There's satire of capitalism. There's violence and danger. There's so much humor.

When our hero, Charlie, meets the talking dolphins, he has some great lines about dolphin-human relations:

"I can’t imagine a dolphin actually wants to spend its life being hugged by a parade of drunken podiatrists and preteen girls..."
"Jeanine and I took a sunset cruise (I know) that promised dolphin sightings (I know), but the cruise directors didn’t consult with the dolphins, and none showed up."

This line satirizing corporations summed up the theme of the book best:

“None of this was about you as Charlie Fitzer. It was about you as a potential variable."

Of course when it comes to the bottom line, people are only variables. The book isn't deep or profound; in fact, it's quite silly. But the truths that come through gave me things to think about! I thoroughly enjoyed the novel.

Thank you to the publisher, Tor, for the advance copy of the ebook.

Funny, suspenseful, and full of villainy and cats. What more does a person need in a good book?

Thank you so much to Tor and the author for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

As a cat person I absolutely fell in love with this book just by seeing the cover and then the dedication. The story is creative and fast paced.
We start with a millennial named Charlie who is completely down on his luck. He lost his job as a journalist , lost his father , barely makes ends meet , and his half siblings all want to kick him out of the only place he has to sell it. But things can always get worse or more exciting when a mysterious woman appears with a deal. Suddenly Charlie is thrust into his uncle Jake’s world of capitalist villainy , sentient cats, and ….dolphin labor unions?

This book is definitely political satire with a lot of anti capitalist rhetoric but it is well written ,comedic, and entertaining.

If you need a fun uplifting read with cute and smart cats, you won’t want to skip this one !

I really enjoyed this book. I was skeptical going into it because I'm not usually a huge fan of comedy in books but I was pleasantly surprised. The way that John Scalzi is able to create a unique world, exciting plot, and talking animals is impressive and strangely thought-provoking. This felt like junk food for my brain in the best way possible so I highly recommend it.

This book is perfectly titled.
What happens when a relative whose last contact with you when you were 5, names you as his heir when he dies? And he turns out to be a Villian? With an Island? And Intelligent Cats?
Substitute Teacher Charlie starts learning fast. And not all is what it seems. This is a delightful romp with twists and turns.

Okay! This was such a fun book! I was first sold on it from the cover. I mean, who doesn't want to know more background on a cat dressed up in a suit?? Come to find out, cats really do have a say in the big world we live in, of course, unbeknownst to us! And the title?? Starter Villain, there are clearly things one can learn in "starting" things up in life, should one need!

This was a mash-up of fantasy (cat in suits), scy-fi, mystery and comedy and I was all in. We meet talking dolphins that have quite the "mouth" on them! Money galore, that one can never really spend, and the upper class, high finance men that basically rule the world. Then we have your basic substitute, male teacher that gets thrown into this world he knows nothing about. I was so humored.

Do yourself a favor and read this for pure enjoyment!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the advance e-book.

John Scalzi to me is a breath of fresh air. After reading The Kaiju Preservation Society I was excited to see a new title coming out from him - and this premise stole my heart!

His writing is fluid and hits on the right side of sarcastic and casual. I love how wide his audience can be with his writing as well.

Really fun title!

John Scalzi's irreverent writing continues to bring pure joy! I absolutely gobbled up Starter Villain, and loved the fantastical yet mundane elements. Talking dolphins? amazing. Talking dolphins who are unionizing? SIGN ME UP. The introduction of cats as spies was pure genius, and I loved the relationship between Charlie, Hera, and Persephone. I am promoting this book like a fiend, and I hope John Scalzi continues to write more.

This is probably my favorite Scalzi book I've read so far! I'll absolutely be recommending this to patrons who enjoy his other books. It was fun and silly without being juvenile. Escapism at its best.

Embracing the Unforeseen: My Encounter with "Starter Villains" by John Scalzi

As I cracked open "Starter Villains" by John Scalzi, I had no inkling of the wild adventure that awaited me. This book turned out to be a delightful amalgamation of wit and curiosity, pulling me into a world where the ordinary meets the extraordinary in unexpected ways.

The heart of the story beats with Charlie, a character whose life takes an unexpected turn after his estranged uncle's passing. Divorce and mundane expectations of inheritance pale in comparison to the reality Charlie finds himself in. His uncle wasn't just a relative; he was part of a covert villain network. Charlie is suddenly thrown into a web of intrigue and legacy that challenges his notions of family and identity.

Scalzi's narrative artistry shines as he masterfully navigates the tightrope between humor and depth. Amid Charlie's transition from a regular guy to an heir of villainous enterprises, a sentient typing cat steals the spotlight with its whimsical presence, leaving me both amused and contemplative.

The plot dances along with unpredictable twists and turns, never giving me a moment to grow bored. Scalzi's well-paced storytelling keeps me invested in Charlie's journey of self-discovery and unexpected alliances. Beneath the entertaining surface lies a tapestry of themes – from family dynamics to the far-reaching consequences of decisions – making the story feel richer and more resonant.

"Starter Villains" unveils Scalzi's knack for crafting relatable characters and weaving them into extraordinary tales. Whether you're a fan of speculative fiction or simply seeking a captivating read, this book offers a fresh perspective on inheritance, identity, and embracing life's unforeseen avenues.