first time i've read scalzi. his first ever novel, written to see if he could write, yes, he can. it's reasonably paced, funny, slightly kooky and yeah pretty well thought out.
aliens who look very ugly and smell awful want assistance being introduced to humans, where would they go. 
hollywood.
i don't know, this book has everything going for it yet i was disappointed, i will have to read another scalzi novel to make my mind up about him but for no real reason i can think of this one didn't do it for me.