In "Agent to the Stars" by John Scalzi, aliens seek the help of a Hollywood agent to improve their image before making contact with humanity. The book humorously explores the challenges of this unconventional first contact scenario, blending comedy with insights into Hollywood and the complexities of human-alien interactions. Scalzi's writing style is described as light, funny, and engaging, with a mix of absurdity and heartwarming moments that keep the reader entertained throughout the story.

Characters:

Characters in the story include a relatable Hollywood agent and comical aliens, with secondary characters embodying typical Hollywood personas, though they may lack distinctiveness.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is characterized by a lighthearted, satirical style, filled with witty dialogue and popular culture references, making it an entertaining read.

Plot/Storyline:

The story revolves around a Hollywood agent tasked with assisting a grotesque alien race in making a peaceful introduction to humanity, dealing with the challenges of representation and public perception.

Setting:

The setting is predominantly contemporary California, particularly Hollywood, which plays a significant role in the narrative and its satirical critique of media culture.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally fast and comedic, though it features occasional slower parts that might interrupt the overall flow.

Headsets are a godsend; they allow you to speak on the phone while leaving your hands free for the truly important things. My hands were currently occupied with a blue rubber racquetball, which I was ...

Notes:

The story features an alien race, the Yherajk, who look like gelatinous blobs and smell terrible, leading to their image problem.

Hollywood agent Tom Stein is tasked with managing the Yherajk's public relations for their first contact with humanity.

The premise plays with the stereotype of aliens being scary, contrasting it with a humorous representation of the Yherajk seeking help from Hollywood.

The novel satirizes Hollywood and its obsession with image and fame, highlighting the absurdity of the film industry.

Agent to the Stars is John Scalzi's first novel, written in 1997 as a practice project.

Scalzi published the novel online for free before it was officially released in hardcover in 2005.

The book mixes humor with serious themes, addressing issues like civil rights and the Holocaust through character backstories.

Wil Wheaton narrated the audiobook version, adding to the book's appeal with his performance.

The author uses pop culture references throughout the text, showcasing his knack for witty dialogue and satire.

The storyline showcases Scalzi's trademark humor and engaging character interactions, despite some critiques of character depth.

From The Publisher:

The space-faring Yherajk have come to Earth to meet us and to begin humanity's first interstellar friendship. There's just one problem: they're hideously ugly and smell like rotting fish.

So getting humanity's trust is a challenge. The Yherajk need someone who can help them close the deal.

Enter Thomas Stein, who knows something about closing deals. He's one of Hollywood's hottest young agents. But although Stein may have just concluded the biggest deal of his career, it's quite another thing to negotiate for an entire alien race. To earn his percentage this time, he's going to need all the smarts, skills, and wits he can muster.

Other Tor Books

The Android's Dream

Agent to the Stars

Your Hate Mail Will Be Graded

Fuzzy Nation

Redshirts

1. Lock In

2. Head On

The Interdepency Sequence

1. The Collapsing Empire

2. The Consuming Fire

Old Man's War Series

1. Old Man's War

2. The Ghost Brigades

3. The Last Colony

4. Zoe's Tale

5. The Human Division

6. The End of All Things

Ratings (19)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (10)
Liked It (4)
It Was OK (3)

Reader Stats (37):

Read It (22)
Want To Read (12)
Not Interested (3)

What can you read after
Agent to the Stars?

See the list (100 books)

About the Author:

JOHN SCALZI is one of the most popular and acclaimed SF authors to emerge in the last decade. His massively successful debut Old Man's War won him science fiction's John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His New York Times bestsellers include The Last Colony, Fuzzy Nation, and Redshirts;which won 2013's Hugo Award for Best Novel. Material from his widely read blog, Whatever, has also earned him two other Hugo Awards. Scalzi also serves as critic-at-large for LA Times.

He lives in Ohio with his wife and daughter.

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