A2S Review at Curled Up With a Good Book
Posted on March 14, 2009 Posted by John Scalzi 16 Comments
Since its publishing life has been so diffuse, Agent to the Stars is probably my least-reviewed novel, so it’s always nice to see it get noticed. Therefore, I was delighted to see a review of Agent at Curled Up With a Good Book today. The reviewer calls the book “one of the funniest, yet also kind of profound, novels I’ve read in a long time.” I can’t complain about that.
It’s a great read all right. I didn’t realize that was your first novel since I only stumbled across it a few months ago.
Yup. Wrote it 12 years ago.
I’ve gotten to know Cory Doctorow as a result of trying to get my teenage son to read for pleasure. I gave him an autographed copy of Little Brother, and that started the ball rolling. He read some other Doctorow books and wanted more, so I gave him this one, Agent to the Stars. He really liked it, and I’m giving him The Android’s Dream next.
This is bit uncouth, being shameless self promotion, but I have written one of those few reviews of Agent to the Stars. Thought you might want to know.
http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/2008/10/book-review-agent-to-the-stars-by-john-scalzi.html
You know, I should really curl up with a book some time soon. Stupid life getting in the way. I bought the new release of Agent to the Stars, and I STILL haven’t read Zoe’s Tale. Along with Metatropolis, you occupy 3 spots in my shame pile. Maybe I should stop web surfing, and actually go read or something…
Glad to see the stand-alone book getting some love. Sentimental favorite, very much so.
I agree with those folks that Agent to the Stars is a great book. I loved it. I didn’t hear of it until is was only available at exorbitant cost from Amazon, so I didn’t buy it, but fortunately my local library had a copy. It was on a shelf labelled something like “Great books that are often overlooked.”
I was thinking about it the other day. Have you been around real Hollywood agents? Do you think they really talk to one another like that? I loved the back and forth. It was awesome. And seemed very real – but I thought about it and it occurred to me that I have no idea what that environment is really like. Then I wondered how you knew to write it the way you did.
Sorry if that’s too many questions but this was running through my mind a couple days ago as I did dishes – and suddenly here is my opportunity to ask and be on topic.
Stoolpigeon:
I was a movie critic off and on for more than a decade, so yes, I’ve met my share of agents in Hollywood. Also, you know. I have one.
The fact that I live in Pomona made A2S just that much more fun.
I’m actually just reading the book that just wont quit at the moment – again – so I was interested to see it mentioned on your blog.
I also didn’t realize that this was your first work: I was lent the book by my brother in law, who I recommended OMW to. He bought just about your entire collection within about a month :)
I’m waiting for a friend of mine who *worked* in a Hollywood agency for an agent for a few years and knows more than she wants to about that end of the business to read it and tell me what she thinks!
I laughed all the way through it. Really enjoyed it.
John – my library (you get money too) does not have this book and the libraries budget is spent this year.
LOVED this book :). In fact, it was the first book by you that I read (since I could get it right off the ‘net, no waiting, to get a feel for this ‘new’ author I was reccomended). Read it, and was hooked!
I’ve just finished the book too, and loved it. Thanks for another great read.
I lent my copy to my cousin Chris, the USC School of Cinema & Television grad, over Christmas and he told me that it was “….hilarious, compassionate, and spot-on.”
JJB