Syrup

In the cutthroat, image-obsessed world of Los Angeles, young slacker Scat (formerly Michael Holloway) stumbles upon what he believes is a million-dollar idea: a revolutionary new soda. Convinced this will be his ticket to overnight success and early retirement, he soon discovers that the corporate ladder is less a climb and more a brutal street fight. His brilliant concept, 'Fukk,' is swiftly stolen and rebranded as 'Pingo,' forcing Scat into an existential battle for ownership and recognition. He finds an unlikely, yet indispensable, ally in '6,' a ruthlessly intelligent and alluring marketing executive who sees potential in his raw, unrefined ambition. Together, they navigate the treacherous waters of advertising, celebrity culture, and intellectual property theft, exposing the absurd lengths to which industries will go for market dominance. Max Barry's 'Syrup' is a darkly comedic and incisive satire that skewers consumerism, fame, and the relentless pursuit of 'cool' in a world where ideas are commodities and authenticity is a marketing ploy.