I acquired an electronic ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

John Scalzi is an author I always knew I’d like; however, for some reason or another, I’ve never really taken a deep dive into his material. I did meet him briefly at a book fair a few years ago and bought a copy of Redshirts for him to sign. That was a fun, Science Fiction adventure that played around with Star Trek tropes in an interesting way. I was interested in exploring his bibliography after reading it, but upon browsing it, I couldn’t find a good entry point.

Enter Start Villain, his latest effort, which TOR will be released in hardcover on September 19. The book is about a mild-mannered, divorced substitute teacher/former business journalist named Charlie. We’re introduced to Charlie on the day he’s scheduled to meet with a loan officer at a bank to discuss a sizeable loan that would allow him to purchase a local pub he and his father frequented. Prior to that meeting, he hears, by way of television news, that his billionaire Uncle he hasn’t seen since childhood has passed away. After the meeting, which doesn’t go so well, someone who worked for his uncle pays him a visit with an offer he can’t refuse. That offer leads to Charlie running his late Uncle’s business, which, as the title suggests, might be a bit shady.

Scalzi plays with James Bond tropes here much in the same way he did with Star Trek in Redshirts. Charlie is a fish-out-of-water to the highest degree. Charlie reminded me a bit of Thomas Lang from Hugh Laurie’s The Gun Seller (another excellent thriller/spy spoof) in that he was an everyman that seemed totally unqualified for the position he was in but somehow rose to the challenge. There are lots of surprises and twists in this one; I don’t want to give anything away. Just know that this was a wonderful read that you’ll undoubtedly be entertained by. And after you’re done with it, you likely won’t look at cats or dolphins the same way.

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.