Originally posted November 3, 2024

This is a “must read”. Whether you are a fan of science fiction, humor, fantasy, or mystery you will find something here for you. From the cover of the hardback book to its end cat lovers will also find it fascinating. I found this book easy to read but difficult to put down.

Poor Charlie. A young man with no real job, no career hopes, barely enough money to live day to day. Charlie’s only dream is to purchase a local pub and have a future in the community.  But Charlie has no assets other than his share of a trust. Then, out of the blue, an uncle who has only contacted him once since he was five years old dies and leaves Charlie an unbelievable fortune. But it comes with strings attached.

This is the story of Charlie’s move from outside the poorhouse door to wealth so great one cannot imagine it. Along the way he meets thugs and killers, typing cats, talking dolphins, death, either real or faked, and whales that are spies. Charlie also sees his home explode and burn to the ground, is nearly the victim of a huge explosion, and sees The real question is can, or will, Charlie become a villain? Or will the other villains outsmart, outthink, or even kill Charlie?

While much of the book focuses on things that we may find unbelievable today, it also makes you wonder whether these things are either real today but hidden from us or if they are predictions of the future. Interspersed with this are occasional glimpses of reality such as a discussion of why war exists that is included in Chapter 15.

Do villains exist? Or could the name “villain” be misused? Each of these questions must be explored as you read Scalzi’s 2023 novel. And, at the end of the book, will Charlie become a “villain” or will he, instead, somehow become the owner of his local pub?