Starter Villain

‘Starter Villain establishes Scalzi as SF's leading humourist’ – SFX

Locus and Hugo Award-winning author John Scalzi brings us a turbo-charged tale of a family business with a difference – as Charlie discovers upon inheriting it. This one comes with a hidden headquarters, minions, talking cats and villainous rivals worthy of James Bond.

Warning: anti-hero in training. Risk of world domination.

Inheriting his late uncle’s business proves complicated. It’s also way more dangerous than Charlie could ever have imagined. Because his uncle’s supervillain status was a secret – until now. Divorced, broke and emotionally dependent on his cat, Charlie wasn’t loving life. Although they weren’t close, news of his Uncle Jake's death didn’t help. And that was before Jake’s rivals (seriously vengeful ones) ambushed his funeral. Now Charlie must decide if he should stay stuck in his rut, or step up to the family trade – enemies, minions, hidden volcano lair and all.

Even harder to get used to are the operation’s sentient, language-using, computer-savvy cats – and the fact that they’re management. If Charlie does say yes to all this, his lifeline could become a death wish. Because there’s much more to being an Evil Mastermind than he suspected. Yet could this also, finally, be his chance to shine?

‘Talking spy cats and unionised dolphins – what’s not to like?’ – New Scientist

‘Prepare to be delighted and surprised’ – Daily Mail

‘The book had me hooked from page one’ – London Weekly News