Ex Libris WWEnd: Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Starter Villain by John Scalzi (Tor Hardcover and eBook, On-sale: September 19, 2023)

Bestselling writer John Scalzi has grow to be one of the crucial well-liked authors right now, identified for enjoyable and page-turning works of speculative fiction which have gained him followers far past the style. He continues to construct up accolades — lately his 2022 New York Occasions bestseller The Kaiju Preservation Society gained the Locus Award for Greatest Novel and the Ohioana Readers Alternative Award, and is a finalist for this yr’s Hugo Award. In September, he’ll embark on a nationwide tour, after which he would be the Visitor of Honor on the 2023 Budapest Worldwide Guide Pageant, a primary time for a science fiction writer. As well as, there are a variety of each huge and small display screen diversifications within the works for his books.

Now, Scalzi returns with one other memorable and distinctive caper set within the strangest of all worlds… present-day Earth. Starter Villain is a fast-paced, comedic journey that asks the query: How does a brilliant villain be taught… to be a villain?

Inheriting your mysterious uncle’s supervillain enterprise is extra difficult than you may think. Positive, there are the stuff you’d anticipate. The volcano lairs. The minions. The plots to take over the world. The worldwide networks of rivals who need you lifeless.

A lot tougher to get used to: the sentient, language-using, computer-savvy cats. And the truth that within the general group, they’re administration…

Be a part of John Scalzi on a hilarious tour by way of the ins-and-outs of an organization that simply occurs to be plotting world domination. A mix of the very best of villainy from James Bond and Marvel, blended with a contact of The Workplace and What We Do within the Shadows, Starter Villain is the proper escape learn this fall for followers of thrillers, science fiction, and naturally, cats… or anybody who has ever imagined what it’d take to grow to be the final word evil mastermind.

“Scalzi once more examines tropes in a story of an bizarre particular person being forged into a unprecedented state of affairs together with his trademark fast pacing, intelligent banter, and talent to seek out humor in determined conditions…. Scalzi’s newest will enchantment to his legion of followers and attract new ones.” — Booklist, Starred Evaluation

“[T]his story of snark with a coronary heart reminds readers that the logical conclusion of ‘canine have homeowners, cats have workers’ is that cats are administration and by no means let anybody overlook it. VERDICT: Readers of humorous fantasy are certain to like Scalzi’s newest as a lot as these cats; it’s additionally for many who get pleasure from seeing superhero tales folded, twisted, and mutilated and anybody wishing for a righteous villain lair surrounded by clever sharks. Extremely advisable.” — Library Journal, Starred Evaluation

“On this intelligent, fast-paced thriller, Hugo Award winner Scalzi subverts traditional supervillain tropes with equal measures of tongue-in-cheek humor and customary sense… The result’s a breezy and extremely entertaining style send-up.” — Publishers Weekly

John Scalzi writes books, which, contemplating the place you’re studying this, makes good sense. He’s greatest identified for writing science fiction, together with the New York Occasions bestseller “Redshirts,” which gained the Hugo Award for Greatest Novel. He additionally writes non-fiction, on topics starting from private finance to astronomy to movie, was the Artistic Guide for the Stargate: Universe tv collection. He enjoys pie, as ought to all proper pondering folks. You will get to his weblog by typing the phrase “No matter” into Google. No, severely, attempt it.