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Starter Villain

By John Scalzi
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Starter Villain, award-winning author John Scalzi delivers a turbo-charged story where Charlie unexpectedly inherits his late uncle’s secret supervillain business. From a hidden volcanic lair to talking cats that manage the operation, Charlie faces deadly rivals and a world on the brink of domination. As a divorced, emotionally dependent man resistant to change, he must decide whether to embrace his new, dangerous role or stay stuck in his rut. This action-packed, witty tale blends espionage thrills with clever humour and a dash of familial drama.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers who enjoy humorous, clever sci-fi with a splash of espionage and fantasy elements. Fans of witty, character-driven thrillers and satirical genre twists will appreciate this book’s blend of action and comedy.

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Inheriting a family business is never easy, especially when it involves underwater volcanoes, minions, talking cats – and supervillains. Starter Villain is another page-turning adventure from New York Times bestseller John Scalzi.

Inheriting a family business is never easy - and this one includes a hidden volcano lair, minions, talking cats and supervillains. Starter Villain is another page-turning adventure from New York Times bestseller John Scalzi.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Locus and Hugo Award-winning author John Scalzi brings us a turbo-charged tale of a family business with a difference - as Charlie discovers when he inherits it. This one comes with a hidden headquarters, minions, talking cats, and James Bond-like supervillain rivals.

Warning: supervillain in training. Risk of world domination.

Inheriting his late uncle's business proves complicated. It's also way more dangerous than Charlie could ever have imagined. Because his uncle had kept his supervillain status a secret - until now.

Divorced and emotionally dependent on his cat, Charlie wasn't loving life. Although they weren't close, news of his Uncle Jack's death didn't help. And that was before Jake's rivals (seriously vengeful ones) ambushed his funeral. Now 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 sentient, language-using, computer-savvy cats - and the fact that in the organisation's hierarchy, they're management. If Charlie does say yes, this lifeline could become a death wish. Because there's much more to being an Evil Mastermind than he suspected. Yet could this also, finally, be his chance to shine?

Praise for John Scalzi:

'Hugely enjoyable, intelligent and good-humoured fun' - The Guardian

'Sheer geeky pleasure from start to finish' - Financial Times

'An escapist delight' - The Times

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critics praise Starter Villain for its light-hearted, fast-paced storytelling and intelligent humour. Rebecca Roanhorse highlights the likeable protagonist and smart cats amid a volcano lair and comic intrigue. SFX commends Scalzi as science fiction’s leading humourist, while the Daily Mail calls the novel “delighted and surprised.” The Financial Times notes the satire on vanity and powerful elites alongside talking dolphins with union troubles. Publishers Weekly describes it as a breezy, smart subversion of supervillain tropes.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529082951

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 21 September 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Tor

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 162.0mm

Height: 241.0mm

Weight: 468g

Pages: 272

Collections

Fantasy Fiction General Fiction Humour John Scalzi Sci-Fi & Fantasy Science Fiction

About the Author

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.

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