Starter villain by John Scalzi

As you would expect from a Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novel (2024), ALA Alex Award (2024), and Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Science Fiction (2023), Starter Villain is an engrossing book. It has all the hallmarks of Scalzi’s science fiction: it is light-hearted and whimsical, satirical and thought provoking and very easy to read at 265 pages.

The reader first meets Charlie who is trying to hold it together working as a substitute teacher, battling overdue bills and step siblings who want to sell the house he is living in with his two adorable cats, Hera and Persephone. He has a dream of owning a pub but is unable to meet the criteria for a loan. Then his billionaire uncle dies, leaving his supervillain business to him. What follows is a hilarious series of events as Charlie tries to come to grips with international movers and shakers who want him dead, talking dolphins and sentient cats, bombs and missiles, and an island lair full of deadly secrets. His previous career was a journalist, but nothing could prepare him for the strange and dangerous world that he faces.

This is a novel for readers who love cats; Hera is a highlight of the story, and the talking dolphins are a treat, although some readers may object to their foul language. Those who like satirical humour will enjoy Scalzi’s take on big business and the type of people who own multimillion companies, and the scenes where eager young entrepreneurs try to sell their ideas are hilarious.

Starter villain is a unique light-hearted story highlighting the villainy of big business, animal rights, unions and cloning. Readers may also enjoy The Kaiju Preservation Society, another of his distinctive novels.

Themes: Science fiction, Animals - Moral and ethical aspects, Humour, Satire, Big business.

Pat Pledger