# Agent to the Stars

By John Scalzi

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/agent-to-the-stars-f549e32b/

Thomas Stein sells Hollywood talent for a living. His newest client is an entire alien species whose friendly intentions are obscured by its appearance and smell. Making first contact look appealing has to fit around the actors already demanding his attention.

## What makes it funny?

Before the aliens appear, Tom is bargaining over a star’s enormous fee while her hair and makeup requirements keep interrupting. He then studies the politics of where to sit at a meeting, only to discover that his boss has invited nobody else.

### The comedy at work

Scalzi gives an interstellar problem to someone trained to sell an image. Tom’s sarcastic first-person account makes office rank and celebrity vanity troublesome enough before he has to represent creatures that smell of rotting fish.

### Try this if…

For readers drawn to first-contact science fiction with the pace and verbal sparring of a Hollywood workplace comedy.

### Good to know

Scalzi makes the complete novel available to read on his website. The opening contains strong profanity.

## What to expect

- Genre: Science fiction
- On the shelf: First contact & aliens
- Kind of humor: Banter · Satire
- The atmosphere: Irreverent
- Format: Novel

## A few distinguishing details

- First contact managed by a talent agent
- Friendly aliens with a severe image problem

## Sources & further reading

- Publisher: [Publisher](https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/john-scalzi/agent-to-the-stars/9781529089868)
- Review: [Publishers Weekly review](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781596060203)
- Author commentary: [Free novel and author introduction](https://scalzi.com/agent)