Starter Villain, by John Scalzi

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


“Starter Villain” by John Scalzi is a light, fast-paced read filled with Scalzi’s characteristic wit and humour. I approached the book expecting an entertaining romp, but unfortunately, while it had moments of genuine charm, it often felt too shallow and predictable to leave a lasting impact. It’s a story that adheres closely to a wish-fulfilment fantasy setup — a relatively ordinary protagonist finds himself embroiled in a world of supervillains, talking cats, and evil corporations. However, the execution falls a bit flat.

Scalzi’s success with the Old Man’s War series and Redshirts lies in his ability to blend humour with substance, and in comparison, Starter Villain seems to lack the depth and complexity of his earlier works. The novel is full of zany situations, but it all feels rather surface-level, with little emotional heft or character development. Even with its quick pacing, the stakes never felt particularly high, and I found myself detached from the outcome.

That said, Scalzi’s humour shines through, and there are definitely laugh-out-loud moments. A particularly amusing element is the talking cats, who inject a level of absurdity that I imagine would appeal to fans of Scalzi’s quirkier side. Moreover, the dialogue crackles with the same snappy back-and-forth that readers have come to expect from the author.

Ultimately, Starter Villain is one of those books that’s easy to pick up and put down. It’s fun in the moment, but for readers who crave something with more complexity or deeper world-building, it might not be the offering that best represents Scalzi’s talents.

Three out of five stars.


Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam



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