Starter Villain — John Scalzi

Recently, I purchased a stack of books for my husband, whose to-be-read pile sank to dangerously low levels. Amongst the new titles purchased to reinvigorate said pile was John Scalzi’s Starter Villian.

He devoured it whole. 

Then he presented it to me, saying: “You’re going to adore this book.” 

And you know what? I did.

The juxtaposition between an average dude named Charlie (aka a former reporter turned substitute teacher) being thrust into the role of “Villian” overnight is outrageously funny, especially when encountering other “Villains” who remind me of those found in cartoons or early seventies James Bond movies — complete with a death ray (of sorts), a volcanic island lair, and a supervillain league. Whilst Scalzi employed these classic tropes in Starter Villian — Charlie’s outsider perspective and twists Scalzi plants in the mystery makes them feel fresh. 

Rather than putting Starter Villian on a shelf in our book room, I’m setting it aside in my to-be-reread pile — because it was that fun to read! Albeit, you do need to suspend some disbelief, as some of the technological marvels seem to-good-to-be-true….but, as I write this….I’m recalling the nest of rabbits researchers genetically modified to glow in the dark and Scotland’s own clone, Dolly the Sheep. So, I suppose the science Scalzi wove into his plot isn’t as far-fetched as I previously thought….Which is only mildly frightening. 

In any case, I would recommend Starter Villian for anyone who enjoys a fun, full-throttle mystery with a fingerprint of science fiction on its fringes.

BTW: Starter Villian is in no way, shape, or form the flipside of the glut of superhero movies that have hit cinemas over the past decade. There are no capes, leaping tall buildings with a single bound, or alien technology at play — just ethically challenged people with a boatload of money to burn.

My 52 Weeks With Christie: A.Miner©2025