STARTER VILLAIN

Author: John Scalzi
Date released: September 19th, 2023*
Category: Science-Fiction

Synopsis: Inheriting your mysterious uncle's supervillain business is more complicated than you might imagine. Sure, there are the things you'd expect. The undersea volcano lairs. The minions. The plots to take over the world. The international networks of rivals who want you dead. Much harder to get used to...are the sentient, language-using, computer-savvy cats. And the fact that in the overall organization, they're management...

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The UnReel Take:

Story: 7.0
Writing: 7.0
Characters: 5.0
Setting: 8.0

UnReel AR: 6.8

Bottom Line: Scalzi has a cult following but I’ve never been able to get into his work, so Starter Villain was something of a Hail Mary as a wannabe reader; luckily, it worked pretty well for me. This novella is more plot-driven than I typically prefer, but it makes sense in context. Scalzi’s trademark humor can be found in abundance, from hilarious funerals, striking dolphins, hyper intelligent cats, and a volcano lair. I did think the humor and over-the-topness grew a bit tiresome, but it was mostly a fun read.

Ideal Reading Location: Starter Villain can really be read anywhere but, if possible, try and have a cat in your lap while reading.

Drink Pairing: An Old-Fashioned. You’ll see.

Maybe your experience will be different!