Starter Villain

(Paperback)

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'Laugh-out-loud funny, intricately plotted and big-hearted' - SFX Warning: supervillain in training. Risk of world domination. Locus and Hugo Award-winning author John Scalzi brings us Starter Villain, a turbo-charged tale of a family business with a difference - as Charlie discovers upon inheriting it. This one comes with a hidden headquarters, minions, talking cats and villainous rivals worthy of James Bond. Divorced, broke and emotionally dependent on his cat, Charlie hasn't been loving life. Then he finds out his recently deceased Uncle Jake has left him a top-secret, international supervillain business. And, as if this wasn't problematic enough, Jake's vengeful rivals ambush the funeral. Charlie must decide if he should stay stuck in his rut, or step up to take on the business, the enemies, the minions, the hidden volcano lair . . . Even harder to get used to are the talking, computer-savvy cats - and the fact that they're management. If Charlie says yes to his inheritance, could this lifeline become a death wish Or could it finally be his chance to shine 'You will laugh so loudly you will wish you weren't reading in public' - New Scientist 'Prepare to be delighted' - Daily Mail 'The book had me hooked from page one' - London Weekly News

Reviews

Scalzis latest is a light-hearted story with a likeable fish-out-of-water protagonist and a lot of very smart cats. Theres also a dolphin labour dispute, some truly awful techbros, and a volcano island lair . . . Who could resist -- Rebecca Roanhorse, author of Black Sun
Laugh-out-loud funny, intricately plotted and big-hearted enough to touch even the grumpiest cynic, Starter Villain establishes Scalzi as SFs leading humourist * SFX *
Prepare to be delighted and surprised * Daily Mail *
Satire aplenty . . . Charlie has to handle the lethal machinations of rival villains and also a pod of talking dolphins with militant trade union tendencies in a novel that gleefully skewers the vanity and inanity of a certain kind of plutocrat * Financial Times *
Fun, short and tightly plotted * New Scientist *
In this clever, fast-paced thriller, Hugo Award winner subverts classic supervillain tropes with equal measures of tongue-in-cheek humour and common sense . . . The result is a breezy and highly entertaining genre send-up * Publishers Weekly *
This story of snark with a heart reminds readers that the logical conclusion of dogs have owners, cats have staff is that cats are management and never let anyone forget it . . . Readers of humorous fantasy are sure to love Scalzis latest as much as those cats; its also for those who enjoy seeing superhero stories folded, twisted and mutilated, and anyone wishing for a righteous villain lair surrounded by intelligent sharks. Highly recommended -- Library Journal, starred review
Irreverent and subversive . . . James Bond-level bad guys set in the everyday trudge of corporate life a la The Office * Entertainment Weekly *
Funny satire . . . the cats are the real heroes (obviously) * Good Housekeeping *
Scalzi again examines tropes in a tale of an ordinary individual being cast into an extraordinary situation with his trademark quick pacing, clever banter and ability to find humour in desperate situations . . . With a large print run and a clever premise, Scalzis latest will appeal to his legion of fans and draw in new ones -- Booklist, starred review

Author Bio

John Scalzi is one of the most popular and acclaimed SF authors to emerge in the last decade. His debut, Old Man's War, won him science fiction's John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His New York Times bestsellers include The Last Colony, Fuzzy Nation, The End of All Things and Redshirts, which won 2013's Hugo Award for Best Novel. Material from his widely read blog Whatever has also earned him two other Hugo Awards. He lives in Ohio with his wife and daughter.