On the HahaFiction shelf
Agent to the Stars
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.
From the publisher’s blurb
“Showbiz is about to go interstellar”Read the full description at Pan Macmillan publisher description
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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.
A few distinguishing details
- First contact managed by a talent agent
- Friendly aliens with a severe image problem
More funny first contact & aliens
Sources & further reading
- Publisher
Publisher
- Publishers Weekly review
Review
- Free novel and author introduction
Author commentary
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