There’s this book, see, that some family members were reading and told me if I wanted a really good laugh, this was it. Well folks, the time has come. Allow me to introduce you to Charlie Fitzer, hero of John Scalzi’s latest mash-up of sci-fi, fantasy and thriller: “Starter Villain”.

Yes, I laughed myself silly! How could I not? The bad-mouthed cloned dolphins have gone on strike, and the cats are kind of in charge. They type, by the way, whereas the dolphins chitter into a mic that translates into human-speak. On an island in the Caribbean that Charlie’s Uncle Jake essentially bought from the CIA, the dolphins, cats and some pretty savvy humans keep the world in working order. Or … they keep the world order in stasis. Any way you look at it, these creatures have got everything under control. But the villains?

These are big time bad guys, people, with tons of satellites and weapons at the ready, but hey, they’re also jealous, mean-spirited, and just not smart enough to outwit the cats … and Charlie. Charlie was just an ordinary guy, substitute teaching with his eyes on a prize: McDougal’s Bar. It’s the neighborhood gathering spot that Charlie and his dad used to frequent, and it’s for sale. But how do you convince your lawyer, a loan officer and your three half-siblings that you want to put the family house up for collateral?

It isn’t easy and it isn’t pretty, but it’s laugh out loud hilarious, as Charlie, the cats, the dolphins and their creators manage to wreak havoc among the villains and save the world-thank goodness! And if you think sci-fi/fantasy isn’t your thing, worry not, readers. The reality is all too real!