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)

meh

overall, I enjoyed this novel, I didn't love it though. Wil gives a fantastic performance and that is always enjoyable. I have an issue with story though as it begins to feel forced about 2/3 of the way through. At the end I feel like the story was a beta release to be finished later. Don't get me wrong, this book was great just not as fantastic as some of Scalzi's other novels.

A refreshing take on the genre

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

The characters are a bit shallow, the situation devastatingly simple, but the dialogue and sequence of plotpoints is one of my favorite scifi stories to date.

This book was written about 8 years too early; before it was cool for Hollywood to be in love with itself again. Now, with movies like La La Land taking Oscars and actors inciting major social change on a national scale, Agent to the Stars is all the more pertinent.

It contains all the typical Hollywood backstabbing, sleazy celebrities, and fast-talk you'd expect from the locale, but doesn't vilify anyone. Its the story of an agent who thinks he has it all figured out, and actually does until his boss throws a huge curve-ball his direction that tumbles into a tumbling laugh of near-catastrophe.

The only negative I can think of is ignorant optimism and resulting believability. The protagonist is hopelessly kind-hearted while putting on a ruthless disguise, yet he is successful and somehow surrounded by people with the exact same personality traits. Many plot points rely on the inherent goodness in all people, even those who have proven to be nothing but self-centered.

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

I work a lot with dogs and have studied animal behavior. The scene in which Ralph flabbergasts the animal trainer and goes on to pick up on the "Roof, Root, etc" joke had me in knots.

Which scene was your favorite?

Who doesn't like a good flashback to watching a giant meteorite land in your pool?

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

We're not alone...but someone should probably explain that reality TV is mostly fiction.

Best comical Scalzi book I've listened to so far

I found this book to be a pleasant quick read. I found this book to be better than two of Scalzi’s other comical books, Red Shirts and The Android’s Dream. Although I’m probably in the minority, the characters were just more interesting to me and the story was just better in my opinion. The humor in this book was note overwhelming but the laughs here and there added to the story. The only point against this book was it seemed to end fairly quickly with a montage of what happens next, this seems somewhat common in Scalzi books.
As always Will Wheaton is a fantastic narrator.

Wonderful light-hearted fun listen

The story showcases Scalzi’s talent for combining drama and humor. “Agent to the Stars” and “Fuzzy Nation” (also narrated by Wil Wheaton) are the two books I recommend as starters to people that are unfamiliar with John Scalzi’s books. Wil Wheaton is one of my favorite narrators on Audible. Wheaton + Scalzi is a great combination.

Half a book with a summary at the end

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I enjoyed the book...until it just stopped.

What was most disappointing about John Scalzi’s story?

He didn't finish it! It's sort of a "and everyone lived happily ever after" ending. Very disappointed.

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

Well read dialogs.

Slow Start but great end!

The narrator lacked a little on carrying his voices for characters so sometimes it was hard to follow the dialogue. But the story's end was great!

Fun and Entertaining!

This was such a fun book! I love this author. I have read one other book of his, Locked In (also an amazing book). Agent to the Stars was a fun easy read. Will Wheaton also did an awesome narration. I've listened to him on several other books and he always gives a great performance which I think adds to the novel.

Thoroughly enjoyable

A fun and light read. Humorous and insightful, it takes the premise as well as the reader on a ride through the more accessible corridors of Hollywood on its way to a satisfying (if somewhat rushed) conclusion.

Wheaton is the Agent to the Stars

Would you consider the audio edition of Agent to the Stars to be better than the print version?

Didn't read the book, just listened to the audio version on a driving vacation.

What did you like best about this story?

Character development was logical. No "surprises," just people reacting to an unusual situation. Good approach. Great characters. Not overly complex, but not simple.

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

Easy to listen to him tell the story. Good inflection. Good variety in voices. Good pace

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

Laughed and got choked up in places.

Any additional comments?

Bought this because of the title and narrator. Not disappointed at all.

Classic well written enjoyable

Great story & narration brought the characters to life. Sci Fi done with a very human twist