What a fun read. I excitedly enjoyed “Agent to the Stars,” by John Scalzi, even though it’s not what I would usually have picked to read. It was a change of pace from what I usually get into but it was a good deviation from the regular.
I give John Scalzi’s book agent to the Stars a (4.5) out of (5) coffee mugs.
It definitely has a California vibe to it, a modern read, and I could see how this would popular among the YA crowd as well. It’s a witty science fiction modern book.
What really kept me reading were the characters. They were very well thought out and very realistic and having lived in California myself, maybe it transported me back to a younger part of my life. I also used to work in the television production scenery in the Chicago land area, so I’m a little bit familiar with the culture of production and television. And that’s also where I think Scalzi was able to do something original.
He set the scene to be in a Hollywood production world of agents and movie stars, and he turned that into an original sci-fi twist where an alien is embedded into that culture.
The Interactions with the alien are very memorable and hilarious. It’s rare that I find a book that makes me laugh out loud as I’m reading it but this one definitely did that. Multiple times.
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As a matter of fact after finishing “Agent to the Stars,” I went on to read two other titles by John Scalzi that I will review with due time . For now I leave you this classic from John Scalzi a book that will keep you turning pages, laughing wondering what will come next, and enjoying the journey of being taken into the Galaxy and universe of this alien creature, created by none other than, John Scalzi.
“If Stephen King were to try his hand at Science Fiction he’d be lucky to be half as entertaining as John Scalzi” – Dallas Morning News
I couldn’t agree more! This book is very hip, very entertaining, and it definitely kept me turning the page even though I had never read anything by this author, and I’m not even accustomed to this genre. I highly recommend it.
Agent to the Stars – Summary
Tom Stein is a well-known agent in the celebrity world, managing a small group of Hollywood stars. His most notable client is Michelle Beck, an ambitious yet not-so-bright blonde who aspires to be a serious actress despite her lack of talent. Tom’s superior, Carl Lupo, instructs him to let go of all his clients to focus on Joshua.
Interestingly enough, Joshua is a Yherjak – an alien species resembling shapeless amoebas that communicate through scent and have an extremely unpleasant odor. They’ve journeyed to Earth via an asteroid for first contact. Given their uncanny resemblance to Hollywood’s typical depiction of alien monsters, it’s clear that they’re in for quite the experience here on Earth.
Joshua hides at Tom’s house and bonds with Ralph, an elderly dog whom Tom had been caring for, after Ralph suffered a heart attack. To keep Joshua occupied, Tom starts getting him hired for roles, and Joshua quickly becomes the most sought-after canine actor in Hollywood, thanks to his remarkable abilities.
Later, after a disastrous reading for a part in a Holocaust drama movie, Michelle is accidentally smothered while making a special effect mask for a sci-fi movie. Realizing that the Yherjak could heal her by bonding, similar to how Joshua bonded with Ralph the dog, he conspires to take her to the ship. This causes an uproar among the Yherjak, as bonding with a sentient member of a species is considered the most atrocious act.
Additionally, it is revealed that Michelle committed suicide. However, upon further inspection, it is discovered that Michelle had suffocated by accident. After this realization, the Yherjak agree that Michelle should be brought back. As a result, Michelle reemerges as a mental amalgam of herself, Joshua, Carl, and Ralph the dog.
Thank you for Reading Agent to the stars by john scalzi with us. For more poetry or Literature related content, visit our blog at The Ritual.
Tom comes up with the idea of casting Michelle in the Holocaust film “Hard Memories”. After meeting Tom’s grandmother, Sarah Rosenthal, a Holocaust survivor, Michelle immerses herself in her memories and delivers an exceptional audition.
The movie becomes a huge success, and Michelle is awarded an Academy Award for Best Actress. During her acceptance speech, she gradually reveals her true form, a normal and clear gelatinous shape, while advocating for acceptance regardless of appearance or form. Finally, the Yherjak, who have been kept hidden until now, are widely embraced and accepted.
You can buy it on Amazon, here.
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