Stringers

 Chris Panatier's novel Stringers is a sci-fi novel with a protagonist who does not want to be a protagonist. It is written in a wry, modern tone that makes poop jokes and online references, and provides cover for Ben (the utterly normal person protagonist) to hide behind his feelings and avoid closely scrutinizing the world around him.

Have you ever wanted a protagonist who avoided scientific knowledge and thinking, even though he inexplicably has the ability to recall a lot of (true!) science facts? This is your guy. He and his stoner friend Patton get abducted by aliens and are gradually revealed to be unwitting participants in a huge, galaxy-spanning, civilization-obliterating scheme. Are they committing a heist? or the object of one? How many times can the book zoom out to a broader perspective, showing us how insignificant the views of a couple nobodies from Earth are? Or how consequential, given the actual reality of living in a universe where interstellar travel is possible (but not for human civilization, yet), faster-than-light travel is impossible (but there are ways to sneak around this barrier), and some aliens don't experience consciousness, memory, or existence in the same way as everyone else?

The sarcastic tone becomes self-reflective a few times --- for example, one of the antagonist/teammates who keeps finding a way to sneak into being crucial so that they don't get left behind, says in a rush of trying to depress everyone else (p 242-243):

"You know, there is an odd sensibility among some species --- one that you seem to share with humans for instance --- to see every person's story as an arc or a circle where, for some reason, they grow as life grinds them down, become wise and forgive. As if adversity is some kind of fertilizer for thesoul. It's like this fiction they put in their television shows --- now those are sick --- a million different angles an the theme that suffering si redemptive. Would you believe that some of them actually worship that idea?  Perverse, in my opinion. Yet there is a bias to only tell those stories, I think. People love a redemption story and so those are the ones we hear. ... I believe the opposite outcome is far more prevalent. Suffering begets suffering. ... Don't let happy myths about trial and redemption cloud the reality of the way things are. The Universe is life and death. Everything else is a nudge in one direction or the other. In the end, we only have ourselves."

I'd group this with John Dies at the End and If This Book Exists, You're in the Wrong Universe. A fine whirl through a sci-fi adventure, fun in the moment, but I probably won't reread it and I decided to pass it along to a friend to read next.

This post's theme word is viscid (adj), "sticky, glutinous, slimy." The final sequences take place in a drug-addled state of viscid hallicinations and horrors.

KPop Demon Hunters (sing-along)

I'd recommend that you watch the animated musical KPop Demon Hunters in its sing-along version, with a room full of singing child fans (English lyrics good, Korean lyrics need practice). The movie follows a k-pop trio whose connection with their fans establishes/strengthens a worldwide mystical shield that prevents demons from encroaching on the earth and stealing souls. The tone is playful and modern, with many smash-cut jokes lasting less than a second, and modern social and technological references: everyone has a smartphone that can take video and livestream music, trends are observed to the minute, and the k-pop dramatic choreography is accurate to the point that I am certain actual choreographers are being referenced.

Stylized violence and camera movement made some parts feel like a video game. The fact that teenage girls in a band are ravenous all the time, and are valorously depicted for eating as much as possible and for taking breaks to just hang out, seemed like great messages. Family and friend connections were emphasized; romantic connections were deemphasized but still present. Numerous "plotholes" are visible in this world, but it's a cartoon! Maybe it's normal for mega-concerts to start halfway through the opening song, feature pyrotechnic shows which convincingly appear to include onstage murder and disintegration, and end after a single number. The in-world fans don't seem phased at all!

Overall: a great way to spend a sweltering evening indoors, avoiding mosquitos and wondering if any song would ever get a second verse.

This post's theme word is recumbentibus (n), "a knockdown blow." The twiggy teens delivered one recumbentibus after another while harmonising at the top of their lungs and, occasionally, rapping in Korean.