Starter Villain

Charlie Fitzer's life isn't going according to plan. He's a divorced substitute teacher and failed businessman living in his deceased father's house, and things seem unlikely to improve—until his estranged uncle Jake dies and leaves Charlie something unexpected: a supervillain business empire complete with volcanic island lairs, talking intelligent cats, and a whole lot of deadly corporate intrigue. Suddenly thrust into a cutthroat world of James Bond-style villainy operated like a Fortune 500 company, Charlie must navigate assassination attempts, hostile takeovers, and the bizarre logistics of running a villainous enterprise he never asked for. Scalzi delivers a clever, fast-paced comedy that skewers both spy thriller tropes and modern corporate culture with equal enthusiasm. The novel explores themes of late-stage capitalism, inherited power structures, and what it means to be a "good" person in systems designed for exploitation—all while maintaining a light, humorous tone that never takes itself too seriously. The genetically modified dolphins and sentient cat unions are just bonuses. With its everyman protagonist, witty dialogue, and satirical edge, this is an irresistibly fun romp that asks: if you inherited a villain's empire, would you try to change the system from within, or would the system change you first?