Starter Villain
A humorous adventure of family, legacy, and supervillainy
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Pan Macmillan
Published:31st Oct '24
Should be back in stock very soon
In Starter Villain, Charlie inherits a supervillain business filled with unexpected challenges, including rivals and talking cats, leading to a humorous adventure of self-discovery.
Inheriting a family business is a daunting task, especially when that business includes a hidden volcano lair, a cadre of minions, talking cats, and a host of supervillains. Starter Villain is a captivating adventure that follows Charlie, a man whose life takes an unexpected turn after the death of his Uncle Jake. Struggling with personal issues, including divorce and financial instability, Charlie is thrust into a world he never imagined: the international supervillain business left to him by his uncle. As he grapples with this new reality, he quickly realizes that his uncle's legacy is fraught with danger and intrigue.
The challenges multiply when Charlie discovers that he must contend with Uncle Jake's vengeful rivals, who are not shy about making their intentions known. With the help of his emotionally supportive cat, Charlie must decide whether to embrace this unexpected inheritance or retreat back to his mundane life. The stakes are high, and the pressure mounts as he navigates a world filled with talking, computer-savvy cats who happen to be in charge. Can Charlie rise to the occasion, or will his newfound responsibilities prove to be more than he bargained for?
Starter Villain combines humor, clever plotting, and heart, making it a delightful read. Scalzi's unique take on the supervillain genre invites readers to ponder the complexities of family legacy while delivering laugh-out-loud moments. As Charlie embarks on this thrilling journey, he must confront not only external foes but also his own insecurities, ultimately leading to a chance for redemption and self-discovery.
Scalzi’s latest is a light-hearted story with a likeable fish-out-of-water protagonist and a lot of very smart cats. There’s 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 SF’s 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 Scalzi’s latest as much as those cats; it’s 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, Scalzi’s latest will appeal to his legion of fans and draw in new ones -- Booklist, starred review
ISBN: 9781509835416
Dimensions: 197mm x 130mm x 19mm
Weight: 200g
288 pages