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  • Starter Villain

  • By: John Scalzi
  • Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
  • Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (97 ratings)

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Starter Villain

By: John Scalzi
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
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Publisher's Summary

Inheriting your uncle's supervillain business is more complicated than you might think. Particularly when you discover who's running the place.

Charlie's life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan.

Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie.

But becoming a supervillain isn't all giant laser death rays and lava pits. Jake had enemies, and now they're coming after Charlie. His uncle might have been a stand-up, old-fashioned kind of villain, but these are the real thing: rich, soulless predators backed by multinational corporations and venture capital.

It's up to Charlie to win the war his uncle started against a league of supervillains. But with unionized dolphins, hyperintelligent talking spy cats, and a terrifying henchperson at his side, going bad is starting to look pretty good.

In a dog-eat-dog world...be a cat.

©2023 John Scalzi (P)2023 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Starter Villain

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  • Overall
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Fantastic as always

The Scalzi / Wheaton combo hasn't failed me yet. An original, light hearted villain novel with some appropriate sci fi with an awesome narrator.
Highly recommend

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Brilliant and Creative

Will Wheaton is one of the best audible narrators I’ve heard! & a unique and funny sci fi

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You just know it's going to be good

Scalzi - safe bet. WW narrating - safe bet.
That doesn't mean it isn't entertaining as hell, it's just that you know you'll get your money's worth at a bare minimum.

And you get so much more than the minimum *evil villain laugh*.
John Scalzi is such a clever writer. It comes across with such ease, as if he wrote it in one take. It's a breezy read with fantastic twists, humour, self awareness and cats.

Wil Wheaton may be considered by so many as a fantastic voice actor, but that would be under selling how much he adds to the story. It was if it was written with his cadence and tone in mind.

Pure joy.

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Great take

The story and audio are great. The author continues his version of villains as he did in redshirts. Damn funny and enjoyable.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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So Good

How does he make outlandish ideas seem so plausible? Wil Wheaton got the tone just right as usual

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a good laugh and totally enjoyable

Narrated wonderfully, this was a delightful listen. of course Cats are spy's and Dolphins are jerks... but this does them justice. an original tale that will be sure to make you smile.

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Great listen, interesting premise

This book feels like the introduction to a much larger story, but is still good in its own rights.

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Even better than KPS!

Brilliant story and narration as usual from the Scalzi / Wheaton combo!

Exciting and hilarious without too much pressure.

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You must have this book!

I’m in awe of the authors ability to turn villainy into a business model. Listening to this in the car has been hilarious and highly entertaining not just for myself but drivers around me watching my reactions to Charlie and his new friends. I want to know what happens next for Til and Tobias the stabber. I’m loving this authors books. Check out this one and his Dispatcher series today. It’s worth it.
Wil Wheaton was the perfect performer for this book. I honestly felt like I could see his face as he read through the book. Thanks Wil for shouting this out on your Instagram. Eagerly awaiting the author and performers next project. Hopefully, it will be together again.

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fun and quick listen

I've struggled to find a good book lately, so glad I somehow stumbled on this. very enjoyable and easy to listen to

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