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  • Agent to the Stars

  • By: John Scalzi
  • Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
  • Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (15,948 ratings)

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Agent to the Stars

By: John Scalzi
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
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Editorial reviews

Wil Wheaton, a Star Trek: The Next Generation alum, is a canny choice for narrator of this intersection of science fiction and Elmore Leonard-esque Hollywood farce. In addition to being a rather prominent footnote in sci-fi history, Wheaton’s also got a great voice — sonorous, with an inflection similar to a late-night radio DJ who’s bemusedly sharing an anecdote on air between tracks. His voice also carries a hint of that lilt peculiar to many native Angelenos, which comes in handy when he exaggerates it to Valley Girl-proportions to portray starlet Michelle Beck, former cheerleader and current box office draw.

Hollywood agent Tom Stein is the book’s hero, and when the story begins, Michelle is his most important client. That is, until Tom meets Joshua, an extraterrestrial whose alien race hires Tom and his boss, superagent Carl Lupo, to represent them. The Yherajk have decided their best hope for a peaceful first contact between their race and all of humanity is to out themselves via the movies, and they know if they want to make it in Hollywood, they need good representation.

Wheaton’s voicing of Joshua, who has traveled to Earth as the Yherajk’s representative, is another highlight. Joshua, like his kinsmen, looks like a gelatinous blob, gives off a noxious odor, and slithers around amorphously. He’s also incredibly educated when it comes to human pop culture, having logged countless hours watching sitcoms. Wheaton delivers Joshua’s line, “We look like snot. And we smell like dead fish,” in a nasally deadpan that suits a one-liner-delivering alien to a T.

Even when Scalzi veers into semi-philosophical territory — as when he explores why an alien race would choose a Hollywood debut over staging their premiere in Washington — Wheaton keeps the narration moving with his just-right character voices. Look out for the both silly and spot-on sounding Quebecois accent he uses to portray Roland Lanois, an art-house film director with a critical role in the novel, and for his Buddha-like turn as Gwedif, a Yherajk storyteller. —Maggie Frank

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)

What listeners say about Agent to the Stars

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Delicious read!

Excellent story and fantastic narration. This was my first audio book in a long time that I really felt I could not put down. The performance made me laugh out loud in ways reading the book did not. Like many of John Scalzi books, the plot twists in unexpected ways and you are able to like most of the characters who are revealed to be more than who they first appear to be.

A grey choice for a fun, light listen.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Nice, But Predictable and Easy Listen

If you're looking for something kinda silly, not too challenging, but still well-written, this is your book. I figured out the direction of the story very early on, so I was a bit disappointed - the "twist" was not a twist at all. But, the narrator is terrific, perfect for the book, and the writing is decent, so I kept it on during my daily walk. Actually, I needed something like this, I'd been listening to too many tough, and depressing books about the Middle East.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great as always!

scalzi is briliant as always. witty and neat humor and some serious undertones to be shure ;)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fun and amusing lightweight Sci-Fi romp

I enjoyed this fun story and really enjoy Wil Wheaton's narration. It was a bit predictable but I still enjoyed it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So original

I laughed often and loudly while listening to Agent to the Stars. Fast paced and clever, with Wil Wheaton doing a great job. Original story and characters, that while often funny were poignant at times as well. Loved it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fun.

Story was fun and far-fetched. Wil Wheaton did a great job. If you're looking for an easy and entertaining listen then this is the perfect book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A delightful conceit

An agent to the stars... Literally. Because how better to become famous than to hire a great agent?

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fun concept, great narration, predictable story

What made the experience of listening to Agent to the Stars the most enjoyable?

The narrator, Wil Wheaton. I actually chose this book because of him! He always makes the characters come alive so well.

What about Wil Wheaton’s performance did you like?

Wil has a real talent for conveying snide comments and sarcasm in a way that highlights the humor the author is going for. He simply IS the protagonist. And the alien. And the diva. AND, AND, AND. He's delightful.

Any additional comments?

It's a fun book, and an enjoyable escape. Because of it's predictability and meandering in spots, I wouldn't say it's great literature ... but then again, it's Scalzi's first novel and one shouldn't expect "Ready, Player One".

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Why isn't this a MOVIE????

An amazing ride. Well paced from start to finish. An original take and vast departure from any other story of first contact.

So, WHY is this not a movie??????

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excelent story

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

Yes. It's a novel take on the first contact story.

Have you listened to any of Wil Wheaton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First time I've heard a Wil Wheaton performance. I didn't realize it was him until I read the notes. Very well done and good character voices.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The very end.

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