Short Book Review: If Cats Could Type

Starter Villain, by John Scalzi (Tor)

Charlie seems like an average guy, having given up his careeras a journalist for substitute teaching that barely pays for groceries and catfood. He’s kind and sweet, a sucker for a cute cat or two. His current dream isto buy a landmark pub, although it’s unlikely the bank will approve the loan.To make matters worse, his siblings want to sell the house they jointly own.Then hislong-lost Uncle Jake dies, and before Charlie realizes what’s going on, hefinds himself heir to a supervillain business and the target of his uncle’srivals, a cabal of rich, soulless multinational predators. Along the way,Charlie discovers a knack for negotiating with wisecracking sentient dolphinswho threaten a strike if their demands for better working conditions aren’tmet, intelligent spy cats who communicate via typewriters, and a terrifyinglycompetent henchwoman.

It's all brilliantly witty but with an undercurrent of thoughtfulness.Again and again, Charlie demonstrates how logic, common sense, and an utterlack of deference to bullies can and do prevail. The dialog is top-notch, asare the reversals and plot twists. Having grown up in a union family, Iheartily cheered for dolphin workers’ rights.

Fun reading for you and your cats.