Greetings, fellow bookworms! Today, we dive headfirst into the world of John Scalzi’s latest novel, ‘Starter Villain’, an absolute riot of a read that is nothing short of a delightful rollercoaster ride into the heart of absurdity.
Inheriting a supervillain business from an enigmatic uncle is no easy feat, especially when it includes the likes of undersea volcano lairs, diligent minions, convoluted plots to seize world dominance, sentient cats, and, oh, did I mention an international network of rivals gunning for you? This is the reality that our everyman hero, Charlie, finds himself catapulted into, leading to one ridiculously enjoyable tale.
Blurb
Following the bestselling The Kaiju Preservation Society, John Scalzi returns with Starter Villain, another unique sci-fi caper set in the strangest of all worlds, present-day Earth.
Inheriting your mysterious uncle’s supervillain business is more complicated than you might imagine.
Sure, there are the things you’d expect. The undersea volcano lairs. The minions. The plots to take over the world. The international networks of rivals who want you dead.
Much harder to get used to…are the the sentient, language-using, computer-savvy cats.
And the fact that in the overall organization, they’re management…
My Thoughts
Starter Villain story is pure, unadulterated fun! I want to say the author had as much fun writing it as I did reading it, but knowing authors, he’d probably deny that. This comes right on the heels of The Kaiju Protection Society, another Sclazi comedy where an everyman is thrust into blockbuster escapades that test and bring out the inherent hero in him.
Scalzi’s masterstroke lies in his tongue-in-cheek portrayal of villains who aren’t your typical antagonists. Instead, they bear an uncanny resemblance to the shadowy figures we suspect operate behind the scenes of today’s capitalist society. Money, in all its glory and infamy, serves as both the villain and the hero in this wild adventure. Witnessing Charlie take these characters head-on offers a satisfaction that’s hard to match.
But the star of this literary joyride? Unquestionably the superintelligent, management-level cats. The concept harkens back to fond childhood memories of the movie ‘Cats vs Dogs’, albeit with the right side on top this time. These feline characters may have just set a new standard for pets in fiction!
However, what truly elevates ‘Starter Villain’ is Scalzi’s flair for quick-witted dialogues. Charlie’s attempts at labor negotiations with dolphins are nothing short of hilarious and are a testament to Scalzi’s mastery of dialogue. This scene alone would make an excellent teaser for a potential movie adaptation.
Though I had some reservations about the denouement, the ending left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Let’s just say my cats are getting an extra portion of tuna tonight.
To wrap up, ‘Starter Villain’ by John Scalzi is an uproarious escapade that combines the ridiculous, the hilarious, and the downright absurd to deliver a story that will leave you in fits of laughter. If you’re in need of an escape from the mundane, I wholeheartedly recommend hopping on this wild ride.
Stay tuned for more bookish ramblings!
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