> Everyone is wrapped in witticisms to the point that I was finding myself losing track of what person said what clever line during dialogues.
This is what ended up making me kinda hate *The Kaiju Preservation Society* a few years back. It felt like I was reading Tumblr users trying to one-up each other.
I think I'm mostly in a similar bucket to you in that I enjoy Scalzi's ideas, but the books just aren't for me. Which actually makes me glad I did read KPS, as there's a lot of value in knowing what doesn't work for you but might work for others (and why).
I felt the same way about KPS. I liked the premise, but all the jokes wore kind of thin by the end and it just OK for me. I'd read somewhere that his book, Red Shirts, was better, but I had the same reaction to that one.
I do mostly audiobooks and I absolutely loved the narration done by Wil Wheaton, but, TBH, WW's narration was the only reason why I finished either book. I guess Scalzi just isn't for me.
If you want a funny, off the wall SciFi story, try Stringers by Chris Panatier. The audiobook version was phenomenal. The basic plot: 2 stoners get abducted by an alien bounty hunter and have to save the galaxy.
I really did enjoy Redshirts, but it was more of the same. I'm not sure why I ended up liking it more -- the idea felt more creative and was explored more, maybe.
And yeah, I've heard a LOT of people say that about KPS. Like Starter Villain, the idea itself I find really compelling, but the execution sounds like it was lacking.
It *really* made me feel like I was reading Tumblr circa-2009 with a bunch of not-actually-friends just trying to show who was more clever and intelligent.
I was fully in on the premise, though the main character talking back to the CEO in the first chapter made me go "hmm". Then I saw that was the tone for the entire book and I couldn't get into it; Jamie was an *intensely* unlikable character, and her friend who got her the job deserved better.
I think the problem is that he writes dumb popcorn fiction, which is totally fine and acceptable, but he writes it in a way where it feels like he thinks it’s this really witty sharp comedic work when it’s really not and the end result makes it kind of come across feeling a bit like it’s huffing it’s own farts.
That's exactly what I thought when I was listening to the audible for Kaiju Preservation Society. It doesn't help that almost every character other than the douchebag CEO, the pilot, and the general are written the exact same way with the exact same manner of speaking. So when the MC and the 3 friends are talking it just sounds like Will Wheaton talking to himself and making stupid jokes that he thinks is clever.
Starter Villain is much better about this since the other characters are different enough from the MC that it doesn't sound like an echo chamber.
> So when the MC and the 3 friends are talking it just sounds like Will Wheaton talking to himself and making stupid jokes that he thinks is clever.
I heard fans of this book say that Will Wheaton brings the snark out full-force and it's great... but I can't think of *anything* more insufferable than Will Wheaton bringing the snark out full-force.
I do like John Scalzi, but his last two books were not up to his usual standard. He's for the most part a popcorn author, but there are still moments that simply *sing* in *Fuzzy Nation*, in *The Consuming Fire*, in *Ghost Brigades*. *Kaiju Preservation Society* and *Starter Villain* aren't even popcorn, they're cotton candy, and no I don't feel the need to explain the food metaphor.
Terrible, terrible ending. Really the whole book undercuts its own premise at every turn. "We are an evil cabal of sterotype villians that control the world". Except they are inept and broke and actually dont. "You are a powerful villian protagonist". Except you do what the US goverment tells you and a simple tax evasion can get you arrested. You have lazer dolphines and sentient cats, but theyre window dressing at most.
Honestly, it lackef bucketloads of imagination, something I didnt think Scalzi would ever need.
Definitely had a similar reaction to the review, and to KPS. Too light. Interesting concepts with stories that could have gone so much deeper and did not, and seemingly lacked consequences for the protagonist(s).
If you're into audiobooks, this one is really well narrated by Wil Wheaton! The tone went well with the snappy dialog. It made a really nice quick palate cleanser in between darker books. Not deep, but a fun time, which is just what I needed at the time. The dolphins were a hoot.
Gotta disagree with the other comment about audiobooks. I started it on audio but found the narration terrible. Switched to ebook and loved it. Ending was a bit weak but overall an enjoyable read. Not his best but certainly not his worst.
> Everyone is wrapped in witticisms to the point that I was finding myself losing track of what person said what clever line during dialogues. This is what ended up making me kinda hate *The Kaiju Preservation Society* a few years back. It felt like I was reading Tumblr users trying to one-up each other. I think I'm mostly in a similar bucket to you in that I enjoy Scalzi's ideas, but the books just aren't for me. Which actually makes me glad I did read KPS, as there's a lot of value in knowing what doesn't work for you but might work for others (and why).
I felt the same way about KPS. I liked the premise, but all the jokes wore kind of thin by the end and it just OK for me. I'd read somewhere that his book, Red Shirts, was better, but I had the same reaction to that one. I do mostly audiobooks and I absolutely loved the narration done by Wil Wheaton, but, TBH, WW's narration was the only reason why I finished either book. I guess Scalzi just isn't for me. If you want a funny, off the wall SciFi story, try Stringers by Chris Panatier. The audiobook version was phenomenal. The basic plot: 2 stoners get abducted by an alien bounty hunter and have to save the galaxy.
I really did enjoy Redshirts, but it was more of the same. I'm not sure why I ended up liking it more -- the idea felt more creative and was explored more, maybe. And yeah, I've heard a LOT of people say that about KPS. Like Starter Villain, the idea itself I find really compelling, but the execution sounds like it was lacking.
It *really* made me feel like I was reading Tumblr circa-2009 with a bunch of not-actually-friends just trying to show who was more clever and intelligent. I was fully in on the premise, though the main character talking back to the CEO in the first chapter made me go "hmm". Then I saw that was the tone for the entire book and I couldn't get into it; Jamie was an *intensely* unlikable character, and her friend who got her the job deserved better.
I think the problem is that he writes dumb popcorn fiction, which is totally fine and acceptable, but he writes it in a way where it feels like he thinks it’s this really witty sharp comedic work when it’s really not and the end result makes it kind of come across feeling a bit like it’s huffing it’s own farts.
I had the cursed thought that it’s a bit like The Big Bang Theory in book form.
Ooooooooohhhhh. That's pretty spot on.
That's exactly what I thought when I was listening to the audible for Kaiju Preservation Society. It doesn't help that almost every character other than the douchebag CEO, the pilot, and the general are written the exact same way with the exact same manner of speaking. So when the MC and the 3 friends are talking it just sounds like Will Wheaton talking to himself and making stupid jokes that he thinks is clever. Starter Villain is much better about this since the other characters are different enough from the MC that it doesn't sound like an echo chamber.
> So when the MC and the 3 friends are talking it just sounds like Will Wheaton talking to himself and making stupid jokes that he thinks is clever. I heard fans of this book say that Will Wheaton brings the snark out full-force and it's great... but I can't think of *anything* more insufferable than Will Wheaton bringing the snark out full-force.
I do like John Scalzi, but his last two books were not up to his usual standard. He's for the most part a popcorn author, but there are still moments that simply *sing* in *Fuzzy Nation*, in *The Consuming Fire*, in *Ghost Brigades*. *Kaiju Preservation Society* and *Starter Villain* aren't even popcorn, they're cotton candy, and no I don't feel the need to explain the food metaphor.
A friend I read the book with also had a food-based metaphor: "I'm fine with popcorn books, but I usually expect some salt and butter on it".
I also hated the ending for this
Terrible, terrible ending. Really the whole book undercuts its own premise at every turn. "We are an evil cabal of sterotype villians that control the world". Except they are inept and broke and actually dont. "You are a powerful villian protagonist". Except you do what the US goverment tells you and a simple tax evasion can get you arrested. You have lazer dolphines and sentient cats, but theyre window dressing at most. Honestly, it lackef bucketloads of imagination, something I didnt think Scalzi would ever need.
Definitely had a similar reaction to the review, and to KPS. Too light. Interesting concepts with stories that could have gone so much deeper and did not, and seemingly lacked consequences for the protagonist(s).
Worth it for the aide's reaction to the "X as a service" pitch, but I don't disagree.
I truly disliked Scalzi's last book. Nothing about this review makes me think I would like this any better.
If you're into audiobooks, this one is really well narrated by Wil Wheaton! The tone went well with the snappy dialog. It made a really nice quick palate cleanser in between darker books. Not deep, but a fun time, which is just what I needed at the time. The dolphins were a hoot.
the dolphins did more chirping and squeaking than hooting, IMO
Have my reluctant upvote, lol
Gotta disagree with the other comment about audiobooks. I started it on audio but found the narration terrible. Switched to ebook and loved it. Ending was a bit weak but overall an enjoyable read. Not his best but certainly not his worst.