Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi

Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Short Version: A good, good story told in a fun--often funny--way.

Long Version: In the Author's Note, while Scalzi is describing the long, strange journey this novel took to get to this particular edition, he calls it the "book that won't quit." It took me maybe 50 pages to see why. This is one froody book.

The tone is great, the style is spot on, good satire/commentary on Hollywood's place in the world, everything about the alien race--their language, appearance, spaceship, ways to interact with humans/other creatures...just wonderfully imaginative.

In case you haven't read the blurb--an up and coming Hollywood agent is hired by a (by human standards) ugly, nauseatingly smelly alien race to help their "image" so they can make first contact with humanity. Why an agent, why not a President or something? 'Cuz the aliens know where real power and influence are centered. So, our hero has to balance his Hollywood weirdo clients, the aliens and a nosy journalist who won't leave him alone; while he comes up with a way to sell this species to humanity.

Funny, funny stuff on many levels and in different ways. But the book has a lot of heart, too. Just a pleasure to read.



View all my reviews

Having "The Talk" with your Kids (not *that* one)

I admit it, and it brings me great shame to do so...I messed up with my older two (despite my good intentions), and am trying to do better with my younger two, but it's so hard when their older brothers have it so messed up...

Parents, don't make the same mistakes I did... talk to them about Star Wars from an early age.



somehow this post feels like it should end with this:

This Must Be that New Math I've Been Hearing About...

Frodo's Pre-Algebra teacher showed this to his class today.

Technology in the classroom, ladies and gentleman.

The Dancer

In Case I Don't Get Something Else Written Up for Today...

Here's a short film/long commercial for your viewing pleasure. Way to go Mr. Bateman.

Trailer for the "Health Care Summit"

just had to share...

That Explains That

According to a New York Times/CBS News poll, 26 percent of unemployed adults blame George W. Bush for the high unemployment rate. The other 74 percent blame the fact that they majored in English Literature.

- Jimmy Fallon
12/17/09

Mamma .... Mamma ... Mamma ...

a little fun to brighten your day ... this is a real hoot (IMHO). You might want to click through to youtube and watch it full size.



Naturally, in response to this, one has to ask, "Am I really a guy who says 'a real hoot' without irony?" ugh.

Just Weird to Watch SNL Go Political and Agree with It

it happens occasionally, but still weirds me out each time.

There Ought To Be A Law...

No time for a real post today, between mourning the passing of Dollhouse and trying to dig myself out of a plot complication (namely, I have no idea what the core conflict of this 50K word beast needs to be and I'm almost 40% done), so instead, allow me to recommend the following post from Wire'd Geek Dad blog:
10 Geeky Laws That Should Exist, But Don’t, a list of things like Newton’s (a different one) laws of motion, Boyle’s Law, and Godwin’s Law that should be axioms by now. Numbers 1, 3, 8 and 9 are particularly good, and I just have to quote 7.
7. Starbucks’ and Peet’s Law: C₈H₁₀N₄O₂, better known as caffeine, is the most wonderful chemical compound known to humankind. If the field of chemistry had never identified or produced a single other useful compound, caffeine alone would be justification enough for its existence.

The Police Blotter Shakespeare

One of the best uses of my time recently has been following Roger Ebert's twitter feed (except when he gets political)...he posts the best links, I don't know how he gets anything done. One of the latest gems is "The Police Blotter Shakespeare" by Burke Hilsabeck, what would The Bard's (or whoever's) plays look like if they were on a police report?

Great fodder for procrastination.

Stewart on the ACORN scoop

watched this 2x now...still laughing...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Audacity of Hos
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Healthcare Protests

Couple of Things I'm Not Funny Enough to Write

...as much as I wish I was:

• Fantasy author Jim C. Hines list of 20 Neil Gaiman Facts--eat your heart out Chuck Norris
  

  1. Neil Gaiman once wrote a Nebula-winning story using only the middle row of his keyboard.
  2. Harper Collins has taken out a 2.5 million dollar insurance policy on Neil Gaiman’s accent.
  3. If you write 1000 words and Neil Gaiman writes 1000 words, Neil Gaiman has written more than you.
  read the rest



• Music Reviewer/Author Chuck Klosterman reviews the remastered works of The Beatles

  Like most people, I was initially confused by EMI's decision to release remastered versions of all 13 albums by the Liverpool pop group Beatles, a 1960s band so obscure that their music is not even available on iTunes. The entire proposition seems like a boondoggle. I mean, who is interested in old music? ...
  
  It is not easy to categorize the Beatles' music; more than any other group, their sound can be described as "Beatlesque." It's akin to a combination of Badfinger, Oasis, Corner Shop, and everyother rock band that's ever existed.
  read the rest

The Government Can

a little comic relief:

Celebrate the 4th with a lil' Constitutional Satire

for those who think contemporary Liberals and Conservatives don't agree on anything, this quick video shows they do approach the Bill of Rights similarly:

A Little Political Satire to Get Your Week Started

by Victor Davis Hanson at NRO:

The first 100 days of the Palin presidency, according to a consensus of media commentators, have proven a near disaster. Perhaps it was Palin’s scant two years’ experience in a major government position that has eroded her gravitas, or maybe it was her flirty reliance on looks and informal chit-chat. In any case, the press has had a field day, and it is hard to see how President Palin can ever recover from the Quayle/potatoe syndrome. Here is a roundup of this week’s pundit mockery.

LET THEM EAT MOOSE
"Ted Stevens may have gotten off," wrote Bob Herbert in the New York Times, "but he taught our Sarah something first — like using $100-a-pound beef for her state dinners. And what's this $50 mil for her inauguration gala? Since when do you fly in your favorite pizza-maker from across the country on our dime? Or send the presidential 747 for a spin over the Big Apple for a third-of-a-million-dollar joyride? Does Palin think she’s still in Alaska and has to have everything flown in from the South 48 by jumbo jet?"

read it all

(and no, I didn't get chained to my keyboard this weekend, just the opposite)

Too funny not to share

glad someone's finally standing up to 'El Jeffe'

What if Leverage Were a Sitcom?

too good not to share:


(h/t: Kung Fu Monkey)

A Joke I Identify Far Too Much With Today

The man told his doctor that he wasn't able to do all the things around the house that he used to do. When the examination was complete, he said, "Now, Doc, I can take it. Tell me in plain English what is wrong with me."

"Well, in plain English," the doctor replied, "you're just lazy."

"Okay," said the man. "Now give me the medical term so I can tell my wife."

Happy Maewyn Succat Day!

funny AND you don't have to put up with Henry van Dyke's lyrics