Sometimes, you see the cover of a book and know you will read it, and all will be right with the world. That was the case for me with Starter Villain, the latest novel from acclaimed science fiction author John Scalzi. What’s so great about the cover? Simple: It’s a cat in a suit. If you aren’t drawn to it, I can only assume you like dogs or iguanas or something, in which case I’m sorry but also congratulations for not needing to clean poop out of a box on the regular.
Scalzi has been a name in sci-fi for almost two decades now, since the release of his Hugo Award-nominated debut novel Old Man’s War back in 2005. He’s nothing if not consistent; you can always bank on Scalzi’s trademark wit and sharply crafted stories for a good time.
That trend holds for Starter Villain, which is a raucously fun read that will of course go over exceptionally well with cat people. Read on for our spoiler-free review.
Book review: STARTER VILLAIN by John Scalzi
The basic set-up for Starter Villain is simple: when struggling former journalist Charlie’s estranged billionaire uncle suddenly dies, Charlie inherits his supervillain business. Charlie wasn’t aware his uncle had such a business; he didn’t know much of anything about his uncle. But he has to get up to speed quickly, because his uncle’s former associates are closing in on his assets, the genetically engineered dolphins guarding the volcano lair are threatening a union labor strike, and Charlie’s previous life is in shambles. Oh, and there are lots of spy cats running around.
Starter Villain is a light, fun read that’s hard to put down. Since it’s set in our world and has a tight focus on humor, it’s not demanding at all compared to your usual sci-fi book, or even some of Scalzi’s meatier works. Instead, it’s easy to sink into and just enjoy yourself for a few hours. To use a somewhat common food metaphor, think of it as a quick burger-and-fries type read, as opposed to a hearty steak dinner that requires belabored digestion.
Charlie is a solid protagonist for this kind of offbeat story. He’s prone to laughing at the absurdity of his own situation, inviting the reader to follow suit. He reminded me of another Charlie, from Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, who is similarly whisked away to a world so beyond imagination that it often feels ridiculous.
Starter Villain bears a lot of similarities to Dahl’s book on premise, except that Scalzi’s book is aimed at adults, with a thicker layer of cynical humor dusted on top of the whimsy. Of course cats are good at real estate; why wouldn’t they be, have you met one? The dolphins have formed a union and have demands, but are too foul-mouthed to be productive. Tech bros pitch their business schemes to supervillains, hoping to secure financial backing despite their blatantly awful ideas. Then there’s Charlie’s uncle’s hyper-competent second-in-command Morrison, who is a perfect foil to it all. For her, these things are perfectly normal and Charlie just needs to get up to speed. It’s all good fun.
Starter Villain is an easy read that will…make you appreciate your cat more?
In spite of my insistence that this novel is a light read, it also has a surprising amount of heart. Charlie comes across plenty of colorful people as he’s swept into the secret world of supervillainy, but the relationship which really lies at the core of the book is the one between him and his cat, Hera. Prior to his sudden windfall, Charlie is mainly a loner; he’s not on great terms with his siblings, both of his parents have passed away, and he doesn’t have any friends to speak of. The story of Starter Villain is wacky and imaginative, but Charlie’s relationship with Hera gives it an emotional core. I was pleasantly surprised by how Scalzi pulled this off.
Something else that surprised me was how few science fiction elements there are. I’ve read a few of Scalzi’s other novels, and all of those were set in outer space. Tonally, Starter Villain almost reads like a comedy spy caper, with sci-fi elements like genetically enhanced animals included for flavor. It works, but set your expectations appropriately.
Generally speaking, I found this book to be very well-executed. The writing cuts straight to the point, and aside from a portion close to the end where it leans a little heavy on a whodunnit style explanation of events, it’s very well paced. Charlie and the rest of the characters are immediately engaging, and the descriptions and jokes all landed. The style is contemporary and at times blunt, so it may not be for everyone, but I enjoyed it. Scalzi has been writing for quite a while, and there’s a feeling picking up one of his books that you’re in the hands of a master who knows exactly what he’s doing.
Will Starter Villain change your life? Probably not, but it doesn’t feel like the sort of book that’s meant to. It’s delightfully entertaining, an escape from reality into a more whimsical world. Sometimes, that’s just what you want from a book.
Verdict
Starter Villain is an entertaining read, and so well-crafted that it’s easy to sink into the story, characters, and outrageous world John Scalzi has created. This is a book that prioritizes humor and having a good time, but still has plenty to say about things like the value of unions, capitalism, the ethics of genetic engineering, and the folly of tech bro culture. Those headier ideas are no less effective for the fact that they’re often delivered as part of a joke; in fact, they may be more memorable for it.
Starter Villain is out now from Tor Books, wherever books are sold.
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