Starter Villain

John Scalzi’s Starter Villain, published in 2023, is a satirical science fiction novel that explores themes of money, power, good, and evil as 32-year-old Charlie Fitzer uncovers his uncle Jake’s nefarious enterprises. Scalzi, a Hugo award winner and former president of The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, has written both fiction and nonfiction, including books on finance, video games, politics, and astronomy. His use of humor is a defining feature of his writing style.

This guide refers to the 2023 Tor Books e-book edition.

Plot Summary

Charlie Fitzer, a 32-year-old divorced former business reporter turned substitute teacher, learns of the death of his estranged uncle, Jake Baldwin. Jake, a billionaire parking garage tycoon, died of pancreatic cancer. Charlie's circumstances starkly contrast with his late uncle's opulent lifestyle. Following his layoff and divorce, Charlie returned to his childhood home in Barrington, Illinois, to care for his ailing father. He lives in seclusion with his cat, Hera, in a family home co-owned with half-siblings eager to sell. Barely making ends meet as a substitute teacher, Charlie's dream of acquiring a local tavern, McDougal's, is dashed when a local bank denies his loan application.

After the loan rejection, Charlie finds a stranded kitten on his way home. Struck by the resemblance to his discovery of Hera, Charlie takes the kitten, whom he names Persephone, home with him. Upon arriving, he encounters an expensive black car outside and a mysterious, well-dressed woman on his porch. Mathilda Morrison, Jake Baldwin's right-hand woman, offers Charlie financial compensation to represent Jake at his funeral, as well as full ownership of his childhood home.

Reluctantly agreeing, Charlie faces a disastrous funeral, marked by inappropriate sentiments expressed through flower arrangements and suspicious attendees ensuring that Jake is really dead. After restraining an attendee, Tobias, from stabbing Jake's corpse, Charlie returns home, only for his house to explode moments later.

Expressing sympathy, Morrison advises Charlie to follow his cats. Hera and Persephone lead Charlie to another house, fully equipped with cat-friendly amenities. Hera communicates with Charlie via an oddly designed computer. Tobias arrives with an invitation to the Lombardy Convocation, an annual gathering of villains. Morrison and Hera reveal Jake's villainous activities, including creating genetically modified espionage cats like Hera and Persephone.

With Jake's enemies targeting him, Charlie seeks refuge on Saint Genevieve, Jake's Caribbean "volcano lair," where Charlie acquaints himself with Jake's enterprises. Charlie encounters talking dolphins in a labor dispute, Jake's satellite disrupting and rain-making laser, and Evan Jacobs, an ex-CIA agent who comes to the island to fake his death.

At the Lombardy Convocation, held at the Grand Bellagio in Lake Como, Italy, Charlie encounters Anton Dobrev, one of Jake's few friends. Despite the Convocation members' coercive tactics, Charlie refuses to join the organization, questioning their financial desperation.

Dobrev requests a meeting with Charlie later that evening. During their discussion, Dobrev reveals that Jake concealed several hundred billion dollars’ worth of stolen Nazi treasure in a storeroom on Saint Genevieve for the Convocation and that Charlie's mother was murdered because of it. Suddenly, an explosion rocks the hotel, and two masked gunmen infiltrate through the roof. Charlie rushes back to his room to protect Hera. After a brief confrontation, Charlie discovers one of the gunmen is Evan Jacobs. The second gunman, Tobias, shoots Jacobs and frames Charlie for the murders of Dobrev, Jacobs, and five other Convocation members.

Charlie, Morrison, and Hera retreat to Saint Genevieve Island. Gratas, the newly appointed head of the Convocation, confronts Charlie, demanding roughly $100 billion and access to the storeroom. Charlie rejects the demand, prompting Gratas to deploy missiles that obliterate the main port on the island. In response, Charlie retaliates by destroying one of the Convocation member's satellites. Eventually, they reach a compromise: Charlie agrees to grant the Convocation access to the storeroom in exchange for their assurance to leave him and the island undisturbed.

The remaining Convocation members arrive on the island and enter the storeroom. However, Gratas and Tobias ambush and eliminate all of them. As Gratas begins to open the crates, he discovers they are all empty. Frustrated, Gratas, Tobias, and Charlie return to the port, where Gratas demands that Tobias eliminate everyone present. Tobias confesses to working for Morrison, leading to a confrontation. Gratas starts to leave, and as he does, he kicks Hera. In retaliation, Hera attacks Gratas, causing him to fall into the water, where the dolphins ultimately kill him. Witnessing this, Charlie realizes he no longer desires to take over Jake's business.

Dobrev arrives, revealing himself to be alive, and Charlie realizes that he was merely a pawn in Jake and Dobrev's elaborate scheme to dismantle the Convocation. As Morrison and Dobrev deliberate on what to do with Charlie, Hera takes responsibility for him. She generously offers Charlie her house, explaining that she must remain to help arrange placements for the other spy cats.

Upon returning to Barrington, Charlie discovers that a division of his uncle's estate, known as "Hera Holdings," has bequeathed him Hera's house, several investments, and McDougal's Pub, amounting to approximately $11.75 million. A year later, as things return to normal and the pub operates smoothly, Charlie is greeted by Hera and Persephone after work, and they joyfully walk home together.