Review of Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Starter Villain by John Scalzi can be described as science fiction — humor-based, pointing to the weird and practically absurd, with a great amount of unadulterated cleverness, surprising plot turns, and, of course, rather fascinating protagonists dynamics. All things considered, it is quite serious and, at the same time, contrive a convincing system of values for the sort of comedy the author serves up, where high stakes lie hidden beneath a veil of playful nonchalance. Despite its quirkiness, Scalzi’s name for his universe and the serious issues of right and wrong, power and greed, and identity all blow through this novel on the winds of humor that distinguish this science fiction book. It is easy to read; the poem’s thought flow is fast and it does not take a reader long to finish it in three or less sitting at most.

Engaging Premise

The plot revolves around a protagonist who finds himself in a new world of Villainy though it’s quite different from how it is usually perceived. Behind the main character, a common man facing the everyday life challenges, a number of other-worldy creatures, speaking animals and hi-tech trickery await. In the book, the very concept of the ‘villain’ is turned on its head, as the audience is introduced to a group of highly business-minded villains that are neither terribly frightening, nor especially exotic; they are even somewhat comic in nature.

Scalzi delves into the idea of what kind of villainy is possible in a world that is insistently, outrageously, real. Due to the new position of authority the protagonist is compelled to face ethical dilemmas in the process of undertaking new tasks. The concept of the ‘villain origin,’ chosen for this spin-off, seems both timely and somewhat fun, more so when considering how the whole narrative playing with the themes of modern corporate culture and public morality.

Click Here To Read "Starter Villain" for free with a 30 day free trial

Sharp Humor and Satirical Undertones

If there is one aspect that characterizes Starter Villain it is its wit – the humor being, at times, bitter and snide. There are a lot of jokes and sarcastic remarks all throughout the book as Scalzi’s literary style includes humor, which as a sub-genre of science fiction can be both amusing and dark. Although, it is basically slapstick comedy the tone occasionally shifts to satirical, commenting on Corporate greed, ambition and the postmodern concept of power. Scalzi has a wonderful knack for mixing comedy with the dramatic and this book is a perfect example of that trait. The setting of the story is the corporate world of evil: the protagonist’s journey through it offers many grounds for comic reflection.

In its essence, the novel isn’t really overly-weighty. The humor is not used to minimize the tension but to increase the degree of levity, which makes the book inviting and exciting for everyone. One of the primary elements that defined the Scalzi’s work is the use of humor in combined with thought-provoking elements, which is reflected in many scenes that depict the protagonist as a person facing some moral dilemmas.

Compelling Protagonist

The main character is well liked mostly because of Scalzi’s writing and the depiction of the protagonist as an ordinary person. They are rather ordinary, flawed and utterly lost in the world into which they’ve been put. This fish-out-of-water concept make a lot of sense because it helps the reader view the world of villainy through a new set of lens. Add to that the whole theme of the protagonist evolving in that he/she learns to embrace their new role while still wrestling with questions of right and wrong and it becomes much more interesting.

The inner thoughts and feelings of the main character is perhaps one of the most powerful tools in this book. Scalzi does a good job in depicting the state of befuddlement, reluctance and grudging acceptance that tends to come with massive shifts in one’s lifestyle, or in this case, switching from a moral, law-abiding citizen to an evil doer. The vulnerably of the character makes the audience place their trust and sympathy in them, their intelligence and resourcefulness makes the audience intrigue.

Click Here To Read "Starter Villain" for free with a 30 day free trial

Well-Crafted Secondary Characters

The characters in Starter Villain are as colorful as the main character and all other villains and side characters are as bizarre as well. Clever animals, playmates, and evil characters with their own personalities, occupy the book and turn the pages. Scalzi annotates the epic features of the characters with deep, emotional and rather sincere touches. Despite the fact that these character may look ridiculous on the outside, their contributions to the main character’s arc are significant and elaborate.

It should be noted that the main characters are not the only ones who provide humor; the rest, also, are an opportunity to study something more. Such characters make the main character question one’s own beliefs on themes such as the ‘power’, the ‘duty,’ and the ‘evil’ in the world. There are some of these figures for which I must admit that no matter how strange they seem, they make sense in the context of the universe that Scalzi has created.

A Fast-Paced Plot with Unpredictable Twists

Starter Villain is quite fast-paced and that is one of the things I like about it. The events in the novel are delivered closely and continuously one after the other with little pause. It is for the same reason that every chapter Scalzi writes is relevant to the flow of the story, keeping the reader interested in the story. It maintains a fast moving, but not quite frenetic tempo, which helps the reader to savour the idiocy of the events that take place whilst also keeping up the pressure.

They are very dramatic and there is suspense in the plot which in turn makes the reader almost lose track of the real sequence of events. It is nice to see how, at various stages of the novel, Scalzi turns the plot in unexpected ways, while still keeping the reader satisfied with the developments. At times, the author includes twists and turns that give the reader shocking surprises yet does not confuse the reader all along.

Click Here To Read "Starter Villain" for free with a 30 day free trial

Themes of Power and Responsibility

In many ways, Starter Villain is light-hearted comedy book but there is a definite undercurrent of power, responsibility, and the battle between good and evil. In that way, Scalzi paints a theme of power and the way a person approaches it as he gives the protagonist a taste of what it means to hold power. The novel raises valid issues about evil, and he makes the reader rethink over various issues concerning evil and the traditional concepts of good and evil.

This being the case, it is the protagonist who faces the internal conflicts between his/her sense of morality and the professional needs of the new position that major on the emotional appeal of the plot. To this end, Scalzi doesn’t pull his punches when it comes to exploring the shades of grey that wrap this book up in South Africa, which makes it feel more complex, if a little more comedic, than your average science fiction yarn. These themes enable the reader take home certain issues to contemplate with after closing the book.

World-Building: A Mix of the Absurd and the Familiar

In Starter Villain there’s just the right touch of the common, paired with the utterly ridiculous. The satirical views Sborski brings to the large-scale and detailed world developed from today’s environment of corporate buildings, officials and ordinary life with talking animals, advanced technology and a wicked plot. This paradigm which opposes the real to the magical in a realistic way is one of the novel’s virtues that gives belief to the extravaganza of the novel.

To my greatest pleasure, Scalzi gives detailed descriptions of the organized world, but he does not overdo with descriptions or flood the reader with information. However, in the case of the dark fantasy novel, the particulars of this world emerge slowly and only as the protagonist progresses in his story, so readers will have no problem following along and getting lost in the tale.

Scalzi’s Signature Style

For readers familiar with John Scalzi’s previous work, Starter Villain delivers on the hallmarks of his signature style: clever jokes, laugh, and quick tempera, as well as combination of the comedy and the philosophical ideas. Scalzi somehow manages to make his prose simple and fluid while at the same time presenting the reader with the utterly preposterous. Creating strong characters, making the setting unforgettable and making the readers glued to the book from the beginning to the end is a simple evidence.

Subtlety does not equal simplistic, though Scalzi’s prose is easy enough to read. He has a way of simplifying ideas you do not think humans could comprehend and still it is captivating and his characters remain developed even when the novel is completely ludicrous at times. The kind of humor blended with deeper themes is what sets Scalzi as a writer and Starter Villain is an excellent example.

Click Here To Read "Starter Villain" for free with a 30 day free trial

Pros of Starter Villain

• Engaging and Unique Premise: The idea of looking at villainy in relation to corporate responsibility is engaging, and brings a new perspective to clichéd ideas.
• Sharp Humor: Despite this however, Scalzi does not take things to seriously and this is evident in the way he articulates the humor in the work while balancing it with a depth that captures the greater message.
• Relatable Protagonist: Such a shift from the ordinary man to the most unlikely of antagonist is rather believable, and thus the audience is likely to find the character quite likeable.
• Quirky Supporting Characters: The characters that are depicted within the story are unique such as the talking animals and the strange assistants which makes the story even more entertaining and interesting.
• Fast-Paced and Full of Twists: The storyline is fast-paced, full of switches that create interest in the reader and make him or her turn the page eagerly.
• Thought-Provoking Themes: Nevertheless, power, responsibility and morality are the real problems which are discussed in the novel so the reader receives something more serious to think about.
• Accessible Writing Style: It has to be noted that Scalzi writes in a very uncomplicated way but does not make the book feel juvenile to a certain extent.
• Strong World-Building: The combo of the realistic and the unrealistic approach to constructing the setting is the right choice as it adds value to the plot.

Cons of Starter Villain

• Predictable Moments: As in many novels, there are moments when the story becomes somewhat predictable at least if the reader is acquainted with the author’s work.

• Lack of Character Depth in Some Areas: A few of the secondary characters are amusing, but they could use more development or a history which would make them seem more three-dimensional.
• Tone May Not Appeal to Everyone: Due to the comical and jovial undertone of the novel readers expecting a more sober and intense sci-fi book may be let down.
• Fast Pace Might Sacrifice Depth: While the narrative of the novel is quite fast, it also has a downside; some plots or issues seem as they are overshadowed by the importance of other parts of the story.
• Shorter Than Expected: In this sense, the minor drawbacks of the novel’s narrative style are that, sometimes, the author fails to elaborate on the detailed description of the plot or the moments in his characters’ lives when it is patiently discussed by the readers.

Conclusion

Starter Villain by John Scalzi is a rather entertaining and rather tongue in cheek look at the concept of being evil in a world that is both completely ridiculous and yet completely normal all at the same time. I also appreciated its witty humor, the main character’s normalcy and the overall pacing of the novel which kept rising as it progressed and it also has substance with its themes. There are a few scenes that are rather clichéd and some characters that are not as developed as they could be but Starter Villain is still a good installment in the Scalzi’s bibliography, providing a good, entertaining, easy to read science fiction.

Click Here To Read "Starter Villain" for free with a 30 day free trial