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From: Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Re: "Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
Date: Tue, 6 May 2025 23:09:07 -0700
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On 5/6/25 22:46, Titus G wrote:
> On 7/05/25 15:41, BCFD 36 wrote:
>> On 5/5/25 16:20, Lynn McGuire wrote:
>>> "Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
>>>      https://www.amazon.com/Starter-Villain-John-Scalzi/dp/1250879396/
>>>
>>> A standalone science fiction book, no prequel or sequel.  I read the
>>> well printed and well bound trade paperback published by Tor Books in
>>> 2023.  A sequel would be cool.  There is a very nice short story at
>>> the end of the book.
>>>
>>> Charlie is down and out on his luck.  He lives by himself with his
>>> cat, Hera, in his Dad's old house.  His three older half siblings are
>>> constantly after him to sell the house so they can get their shares of
>>> the proceeds.  Charlie used to work as a reporter for the Chicago
>>> Tribune but he was laid off and then his Dad got sick.  After his Dad
>>> passed away, he now works as a substitute teacher.  Paying for the
>>> utilities and taxes on the house are difficult at best with his
>>> limited funds.  Especially since he and Hera like to eat occasionally.
>>>
>>> But, Charlie sees on CNBC Morning Squawk Box that his billionaire
>>> reclusive uncle Jake, a major owner of parking garages across of the
>>> USA, has passed away.  His uncle was his mother's older brother, his
>>> mother who passed away in a strange car wreck when Charlie was five
>>> years old.  And then Charlie's life goes wild as a beautiful woman
>>> contacts Charlie about him hosting the viewing and burial of his uncle
>>> in their hometown.  The viewing of his uncles body is very contentious
>>> with several obvious henchmen showing up to view the body.  One guy
>>> even tries to stab his uncles body to make sure that he is "dead this
>>> time".
>>>
>>> I love the cover of the book.  It conveys a mysteriousness about the
>>> book immediately.  I showed the book cover to my 83 year old mother
>>> who promptly said that she wanted to read the book next so she has it
>>> now.
>>>
>>> The author has a fairly active website / blog at:
>>>      https://whatever.scalzi.com/
>>>
>>> My rating:  5 out of 5 stars
>>> Amazon rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars (13.025 reviews)
>>>
>>> Lynn
>>>
>>
>> I listened to it while doing my organlegger job, driving from Boulder
>> Creek to Stanford and back, or BC to San Francisco and back, or BC to
>> Sacramento and back. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of interesting
>> twists. I can recommend it.
>>
>> I can't comment on the printing, binding, or covers since those don't
>> really come across well in audio format. But the narration was top notch!
> 
> How would the potential listener judge whether a book was worth reading
> if it did not have a cover?
> I understand that in the US (where Scalzi is), a blue tie represents a
> Democrat political party supporter. To begin with, what cat would wear a
> Windsor knot?

	
	Perhaps Krost, the Emperor of Cats from "Girl Genius". Mostly though he 
wears, if anything, open jackets. A talking cat in Japanese
manga/anime who dresses like a dandy. There is more than one I believe
in that category. Ties in the UK can indicate Public(private really)
School connections that may be useful in the worlds of Government and
Business in a very old fashioned way.

	bliss - who is out of the Orthopedic Boot and has to learn to
walk with normal shoes again. With a cane outside...
	What fun ambulation is.

	
>