Agent to the Stars

By: John Scalzi

Narrated by: Wil Wheaton

Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

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 they 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.

©2005 John Scalzi (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Narrator Wil Wheaton animates the slapstick text with a tone that is appropriate for the story of a young Tinsel Town agent whose other clients are either equally deranged or aren't making him much money.” ( AudioFile)

Definitely a comedy

This was a book I picked up on a whim. I was a bit burned out on my non-fiction books. And I needed to buy four audiobooks at once to get a $10 coupon from Audible. So Agent to the Stars ended up as one of the picks.

Reading the description (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 they smell like rotting fish.) reminded me of a Christopher Buckley novel. I love Christopher Buckley’s novels. They are funny, sharply political (against all sides) and almost always pull me out of reading funks. So I picked this up.

John Scalzi is just as funny as Buckley, but instead of the political subtext, this books uses a science fiction/entertainment subtext. You do not need to love science fiction to love this book, but it might help.

Will Wheaton (Wesley Crusher of Star Trek fame and recently regular cameo on Big Bang Theory), does an excellent job narrating. After listening to Wheaton narrate Ready Player One, he is becoming one of my favorite audiobook narrators.

I hate giving away too much of the plot on fiction books. But if you like humorous books, a little bit of (pretty clean) romance, a new take on the old stories (alien invasion) you will like this.

surprise

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. it was funny, entertaining, and light hearted. In my humble opinion, Wil Wheaton, the narrator made the book.

Good read, Wil!

Wil Wheaton gave a GREAT performance reading this story and the parts. He's really good at comedy and gives great inflections.

The story seemed well thought out and the hollywood parts researched good enough. But I have a bone to pick with Scalzi ... LATEX is not a mask making material you use for making molds on people's faces directly , John Scalzi. It's too thin and liquid in it's normal state and it shrinks. You'd have to apply layer after layer to build it up to a thick enough mold, taking days to do. It's latex foam injected into a final mold set that makes the appliances and it has to be cooked for hours in the mold. If you're using a spatula to put latex on it wouldn't set in 3 hours either, more like days and it wouldn't be a good thing to use if it was that thick. It's Alginate we put on faces to make molds because it sets in minutes, not hours. Sorry John, you lose a star for getting your info wrong. Today they use a lot of silicone for appliances.

Made staying up all night to drive a pleasure.

What did you love best about Agent to the Stars?

I got Agent to the Stars before an all-night drive. It kept me awake and happy for the whole time. I was enjoying it so much that I drove an hour beyond the end of my turn.

Excellent story, well paced

Unique, funny and thought-provoking. Scalzi's aliens are refreshingly different and intelligent. Wil Wheaton's performance is clear and easy to understand. Some of his character voices could use more distinction, though. Generally pleasant, but not outstanding narration combined with a cracking story. If I could give it four and a half stars, I would.

A witty and inspiring first contact story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book is most recommendable because of it's easy listening. It operates similar to a sit-com so don't expect it to be something it's not. I've only recommended it to friends who I know are ok with a little bit of colorful language as there is a fair amount of it. The witty banter and clever considerations almost break the fourth wall with their analysis and exploration of the possibilities of this fiction. Though most of the book has you laughing, there are a handful of inspiring moments that make you glad to be human.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Agent to the Stars?

The ending was incredibly well composed to be emotionally impacting and though it sort of slowed down in respect to the rest of the book, it was none-the-less very powerful.

What does Wil Wheaton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Wil Wheaton brings a range of emotions to the characters. He does a particularly good job with the high strung main character.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I had the most stupid looking grin on my face walking through the park listening to it as well as more than a far share of laughs. The ending gave me tingles.

Any additional comments?

The book is obviously science fiction, but the main theme is probably more anthropological than anything else.

Great story

I always like a book that adds some historical context to the story, and emotional pull to feel for the characters. Wil Wheaton is a great narrator ,he allows you to be the players in your mind.

I know, weird storyline, but it's a great book!

First of all, when I read the short paragraph describing what the story was all about; I thought weird? But, it was buy one get one free sale, so I bought it. I was pleasantly surprised. Whil Wheaton was the perfect narrator. Every character was well defined and acted out admirably. Whil had me from the first word until "the end".

Secondly, the author drew me in from the first paragraph, kept me on pins and needles, made me laugh and made me cry. This book was thoroughly entertaining! There was not a single boring part to be found.

I had been on a drought of books that I like. I'm a sci-fi/prepper/love story/mystery/action/fantasy/spy novel lover. So you see, there are tons of books for me to like and try. But, nary a one could be found. Agent to the Stars fit the bill. Now I will be looking for Whil Wheaton as a narrator and John Schalzi as an author. Thank God, for a new genera to satisfy my listening ears.

A pair of master storytellers.

The combination of John Scalzi and Wil Wheaton is a match made in narrator heaven. Scalzi's ability to combine the mundane and the absurd into a fun and thought provoking SciFi novel blends perfectly with Wheaton's colorful and lively delivery. Each character has a unique voice with out feeling forced or feeling that the narrator is doing voices like one might when reading to a child. My biggest disappointment with this purchase is that I waited so long to listen to it.

Hilarious!

If you like Carl Hiaasen's "Bad Monkey," this book is for you. If you also like John Scalzi's "Old Man's War" series then put "Agent to the Stars" at the top of your must-read list.