I was provided with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, cards on the table, I’m a John Scalzi fan, so I went into this expecting to enjoy it.

And I DID enjoy it, just not quite as much as I expected to. The premise is excellent (average Joe inherits Bond villain empire) and the parts relating to that are both clever and very well written, with Scalzi’s trademark witty banter fitting perfectly.

What soured it a little (and only a little) were the occasional bits that had super intelligent typing cats, and talking unionised dolphins - not that they were bad, per se, just that they felt like they were from a different story entirely, and changed the tone to something a bit more YA than I was expecting.

Still a great, fun read though, and one I would recommend to anyone wanting to see the other side of the Bond villain game!

I love John Scalzi's sense of humour and there were some parts in this where I actually laughed out loud. Not only funny, but unexpected and characterful (especially the cats and dolphins). My only problem with this book was that it felt like the story didn't go as far as the overall idea hinted that it could. If it were the first part of an ongoing set of books then maybe ok, but as much as I genuinely enjoyed it, I wanted the sitution to be explored further.

Starter Villain" by John Scalzi is an entertaining and action-packed adventure that offers a unique twist on the superhero genre. The story follows a down-on-his-luck schoolteacher who gets caught up in unexpected events.

Scalzi's writing style is casual and filled with witty observations, making the book an enjoyable read. The story incorporates many imaginative elements, from sentient cats and a volcano lair to multiple enemies, killer dolphins, and lasers.

One notable aspect of "Starter Villain" is its narrative approach, where the protagonist feels like a bystander in his own story. This perspective adds an absorbing layer to the storytelling, allowing readers to experience the events unfold through the protagonist's eyes.

If you're looking for a light-hearted and engaging read that offers a fresh take on superheroes, "Starter Villain" is worth checking out. Its blend of humour and action delivers an entertaining experience with a relatable protagonist and a mix of ordinary and extraordinary elements.

I got an ARC of this via Netgalley for a honest review.

I don't know how John Scalzi does it. He thinks up these serial scenarios; in this case someone that has inherited a Super Villain business (complete with volcano island lair, lasers, and cat) from their estranged uncle. But then he thinks "ok, if this strange thing was true, how would it work in the real world?".

It makes for something that is strange in concept seem believable, it gives the humour something to jump off from.

And it works, and it's hilarious, and there is a reason that John Scalzi is one of my favourite authors.

John Scalzi never disappoints, so it's with confidence i started reading.
The story is absolutely brilliant, Kid inherits a supervillain business, and has to find his way through it all. Hilarity ensues.
I had lots of fun with the quirky characters, it was an absolute pleasure. Sad it's over - but I'm sure Mr Scalzi is already knee deep into his next novel!

Fun! This was a laugh riot from start to finish which I recommended to friends before even finishing…a dangerous move but the ending justified this action. So, what happens if a secret supervillain passes away and leaves you all their empire? This answers that question with humour, talking cats, backstabbing associates and was a breeze to read. This I’d recommend for those seeking a weekend read - grab a drink, kick off your shoes and enjoy the hilarious outcomes that come from being the newest supervillain on the block.

5*

John Scalzi, for me, just can't miss. All the tropes of any well-known villain's operations, plus sentient cats? Yes, Scalzi, you had me at "hello".

Fans of tongue-in-cheek comedy with real bite and heart will love this story, reminiscent of Scalzi's previous work, including Kaiju Preservation Society.

I recommend this to anyone with eyes.

Transparently in the same vein as Kaiju Preservation Society, though for my money much more successful, Scalzi's latest once more finds an affable, recently underemployed everynerd plunged into the remarkable world of a thing like what you've seen in films, where he flails relatably, before finding out that the real threat is not that dead cool thing, but the businessman, in his suit and tie. Last time it was Godzilla; here it's Bond villains, complete with volcano lair, cats and all the rest. As with Kaiju Preservation, much of the work has gone into creating interesting points of discrepancy between expectation and reality, without entirely exploding the myth - but instead of a whole scientific system that doesn't quite gel (I'm still not over those symbiotes being called parasites), here the mismatches are mostly for comic effect: instead of a fancy control room, the volcano lair has rooms which "could have been the conference room of any mid-priced hotel chain anywhere in the world"; the criminal masterminds can't use Zoom any better than any other senior management; the island's dolphin guards are unionised, and spectacularly foul-mouthed. It's still pounding nerd buttons like an electrode into a rat brain's pleasure centres*, and you'd get more nutritional value out of guzzling Haribo by the bagload, but what can I say? I laughed lots (especially at the tech bro sequence), I got quite misty-eyed once, and if you're a cat person, I think you'll enjoy it even more.

*You might think this image is gratuitously unpleasant, but it could have been worse - at least I didn't compare it to Ready Player One.

(Netgalley ARC)

This book is delicious. I couldn’t put it down. Charlie Fitzer, a down-on-his-luck substitute teacher, inherits his estranged uncle’s supervillain business complete with volcanic island lair, minions, and rivals who want him dead. Oh, yes, and there are sentient dolphins and computer-savvy cats, too. He needs to hit the ground running if he’s going to hold his own against an organisation of supervillains who want his billions. Who can he trust, his uncle’s (now his) personal assistant, his uncle’s chief rival, or his cat? This is lighthearted, amusingly quirky, and a fun read despite the body count, the explosions and the assassination attempts. Due for publication in September I had an e-arc from Netgalley. All I can say is place your advance order now. This is not to be missed.

I absolutely loved Starter Villain!
This Is actually the second book I've read by John Scalzi
The first one was The Kaiju Preservation Society which I really enjoyed, but I ended up loving this one so much more!

I can definitely see John Svalzi becoming a favourite author of mine!l and I'm definitely excited to read more of their work!

This book was so much fun!
I was laughing so much and I don't actually laugh that often while reading.
I also couldn't put the book down at all and i finished it really quickly and I'm now really sad it's over...

I definitely highly recommend this book!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I think it's official now: John Scalzi is now my emotional support corporatese comedy writer. If he single-handedly writes this genre into existence, I will be set for life with my beach reads about throwing billionares into piranha tanks.

I read through Interdependency trilogy with popcorn in both hands, was the first to jump on board with the Kaijus, and now I've read the advance copy of Starter Villain in one afternoon, putting it shamelessly at the top of my reading queue.

It was a glorious read: a loving nod to all Bond supervillain cliches in existence, but told in weary tones of somebody who is done with capitalism and is allergic to billionaires in particular. If you think you know what's coming, think again. You may know to expect an industry of cutthroat corporate espionage -- but one handled by sentient cats? A volcano lair in a tropical location -- but one patrolled by a proletarian mob of class-conscious dolphins who want union representation right? Villainous monologues over virtual calls -- but ones cancelled for poor cybersecurity practices? It was bonkers in a way that was entirely consistent with the genre conventions and the tone chosen, I had a marvellous time cackling over every ridiculous plot twist, because I was reassured there was a heart in the story, and it was in the right place. Plus, who doesn't want a cat who could write emails?

Many thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of Starter Villain.

John Scalzi is to SciFi what Terry Pratchett is to epic fantasy.
His storylines, even the more serious ones, are quirky. Starter Villain is not a serious story! It’s a daft romp with super-villains, (dis-)organised crime and genetically modified animals. So there’s lots of quirkiness and humour.
Charlie’s non-eventful, going-nowhere life takes a dive down the rabbit hole when his billionaire uncle dies and leaves Charlie his ‘business empire’ which seems to include a lot of people who want him dead!
If you liked Kaiju Preservation Society, you’ll enjoy this gentle poke at the James Bond genre.
My only gripe is it’s too short!

Reluctant super villain, foul mouthed dolphins who go on strike, super intelligent cats (that’s a debatable point as they already rule us) and the politics and machinations of evil organisations…. I loved it! The author states he had covid and it took him quite a while to recover physically and psychologically, having had covid myself 4 times I understand this but he has written a great book so I think he has made full recovery