1 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/outernet.png]] |
2 | -> ''We are not alone. We might wish that we were... But we're definitely not.'' |
3 | |
4 | There are some things that exist solely to [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]], [[SubvertedTrope subvert]], [[InvertedTrope invert]], and generally deconstruct any tropes they come across. This series does that for [[TropesInSpace Space]] and ScienceFiction Tropes. |
5 | |
6 | The series follows fourteen year-old Jack Armstrong, his friends Merle and Lothar (Loaf) and two {{Shapeshifting}} aliens trapped in the form of a dog and cat. After Jack receives [[MacGuffin The Server]], an alien teleportation/database system, the three humans are recruited to prevent [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast The Tyrant's]] evil plan to steal The Server and thus control the Outernet. (Which is just the outer-space version of the internet). It has some surprising plot twists towards the end. There are six books in the series. |
7 | |
8 | !!Tropes present in this work: |
9 | * AlienAnimals: A lot of cats and dogs are members of two rival races of shapeshifters in disguise. |
10 | * [[AlternateUniverseReedRichardsIsAwesome Alternate Universe Loaf is Awesome]]: In one book, Merle travels to an alternate universe where Loaf is a dashing freedom fighter named "Lothar." |
11 | * {{Alternet}}: The Outernet is a galaxy-wide internet that can teleport people as well. |
12 | * BigBad: The Tyrant. |
13 | * BiggerOnTheInside: The gang optimistically suggest that the van-sized Trigger might be this but they turn out to be wrong. |
14 | * CasualInterstellarTravel: The Outernet can teleport people across the galaxy instantly for free. |
15 | * DeadpanSnarker: Loaf, Googie, and the Server's interface, known (ironically) as Help. |
16 | * DeathWorld: The Planet Aaaaaargh (with six A's), home to the eyeball-popping razor-toothed ear-drillers. |
17 | * TheDreaded: The Tyrant is ''THE'' most feared being in the galaxy. On a less selective basis, his top enforcers the Bugs are these as well. |
18 | * ElvisHasLeftThePlanet: The gang find an old, fat Elvis performing on Arcadia. |
19 | * FallenHero: [[spoiler: The books always sadly note that Loaf's GoodCounterpart from a BadFuture universe]] was a brave and heroic freedom fighter. But being abandoned and left to die on an alien planet against the wishes of the cast, [[NecessarilyEvil to prevent the Outernet from becoming a tool of conquest for endless petty wars between warlords]], hardened and embittered him. In the present day, he has become, [[spoiler: well... the Tyrant]]. |
20 | * {{Foreshadowing}}: Throughout the book, when discussing the humans who have the Server, the Tyrant always pauses a bit whenever he has to mention Lothar Gelt. [[spoiler: That's because the Tyrant is actually a Loaf from a BadFuture, who was accidentally stranded decades ago in the past.]] |
21 | * FunWithAcronyms: The [=FOEs=], the Forces of Evil. Also, Bug, the name of the species who work for the [=FOEs=], stands for "Big Ugly Guy" (Reportedly, the name came from when someone asked, "Who's the big ugly guy?" and it stuck.) |
22 | * GeniusBruiser: The Bugs, interestingly enough for the standard issue mooks of a series. They're big, hulking mutants larger than normal humans and speak with relatively soft, cultured voices. |
23 | * LovableCoward: Zodiac Hobo, |
24 | * MeaningfulName: Zodiac ''Hobo''. |
25 | * TheMilkyWayIsTheOnlyWay: Seems to be in effect. The only mentions of intergalactic travel are a petulent Halp threatening to teleport itself to one of the Magellanic Clouds and the back cover of the second book mentioning "a wild ride through strange galaxies". |
26 | * {{Mooks}}: The Bugs. |
27 | * OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Lothar "Loaf" Gelt. |
28 | * APlanetNamedZok: Some planets fit, like Vered II. |
29 | * PlayingBothSides: [[spoiler: As it turned out, Tracer, the chief informant of the [=FOEs=], is also the Weaver, the leader of the Friends. When TheReveal comes around, he admits that this was the only way he could keep both sides aware of the other's plans.]] |
30 | * PleasurePlanet: Arcadia is a theme park planet. |
31 | * TheReveal: Who is the Weaver, and who is the Tyrant? Both answers will surprise you. |
32 | * ShapeshifterModeLock: Googie and Bitz are stuck in the form of a cat and a dog, respectively. |
33 | * ShapeshifterMashup:[[spoiler: Bitz uses one in the last book. In his own words, he didn't know how to use his old forms, so he just made something up]] |
34 | * StableTimeLoop:[[spoiler: They create one... accidentally.]] |
35 | * TimeTravel: The fourth book. |
36 | * TranslatorMicrobes: The laptop can translate anything nearby. |
37 | * YouHaveFailedMe: It's mentioned that anytime the current leader of the Bugs is called to the Tyrant's main palace, the Dark Pyramid, he's typically killed and his second in command is promoted. |
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