Chapter 1 - Pangolin
Carla’s assignment, an art exhibition, a ride in a limo, Tomaj enters the lion’s den. Revised in 2022. Click here to see the 2012 version.
Chapter 2 - Tumblemas
Too many dogs, charity fundraising, a birthday surprise, forgotten cinema. Revised in 2023. Click here to see the original version
Chapter 3 - Auxiliaries
Exomunde, computer literacy, the preoccupied chemist, young love.
Chapter 4 - Interview
Generational accents, an actor’s ambition, one-night stand, blue elephant, captive in one’s own home.
Chapter 5 - Nightlife
Accountability to something more terrifying than public opinion, house rules, video game life-hacks, an exclusive club, parenting, fish stakes, past/future orgasm, Mr. Ursus loses.
Chapter 6 - Confrontation
A shot is fired, Birdie names herself, reality is not for you, the good years, rendezvous at Piazza Pineapple, grief-induced delusions.
Chapter 7 - Chimera
A new epistemology of time, typo, a whole other class of rich jerk, sweet sixteen, big chicken, suck a duck egg.
Chapter 8 - Squandering Lox
Great design is all around us, the Dewey decimal system, problematic scene I will probably edit for the omnibus, 4th strike, contortion, shovels over the wall.
Chapter 9 - Trespassers
Bugaboo of the back stacks, how to get girls, a pile of stones, an old tree-stump, spy game, cocaine and apricots.
Chapter 10 - Enthralled
A copse of trees, a marvelous engine, Moon’s face, Carla’s handler, routine maintenance.
Chapter 11 - Family
The dictator’s development, anarchist ghosts, a trick with mirrors, whale-bone bread, leet hacker, ideal audience.
Chapter 12 - On My Own
New identity, friendship concluded, I was detained, how to show that you’re ready to work, something gets stuck in the mundemoober.
Chapter 13 - Replacements
Drunk FM, fooling around with boys, extra-curricular intention, the new Vesper, the original Vesper, the authentic Heather.
Chapter 14 - The Actor
Everything can’t work, a not-insubstantial fortune, one nice suit, there are no leagues, not into ownership, kids are square, keep him spinning.
Chapter 15 - Violence
Too-big coincidence, Bobo’s a no-show, a freakin’ closet, a dad in repo, smoking again, apprehending a thief, rooftop confession.
Chapter 16 - Parley
Pangolin manifestation, message from the Slurgh, a dance, a drug, through the blades.
Chapter 17 - Static
A bag of balloons. Concussion. Recap via lampshade. Virtual reality. Zap.
Chapter 18 - One of Us
Post-coital break-through. Moonlighting. A challenge. Broken elevator. Waiting.
Chapter 19 - The City of Stairs
A light yoke. A simulation. Pink cloud. The allure of unanswered questions. A rhythmic droning. Potato sack. Pursuit.
Chapter 20 - Hey
Shift change. New look. Nine duck xylophone. Classical mechanics. A letter. Heeeeeey. Underwater. Milkshake. The end.