"Courage isn't defined by what you do, but by what you'll willing to lose."
— Quency Park
A 2019 novel published by Robert Calbeck, Scarcity was the author's first published work. The novel has been worked on for almost a decade though personal and life events that helped the story.
The story involves a researcher named Luthor Tenrel discovering a new stable compound called "Element 126" that is capable of creating clean, renewable energy in a world where carbonation laws are mandated worldwide in a post-WWIII world. The night before the International Energy Convention, a unknown group attempts to take the lives of him and those he knows in relation to his discovery. He and his group are forced to travel across the world for survival and to publish Luthor's findings for all nations.
Provides Examples Of:
- All Men Are Perverts: Both the male heroes and villains are shown to be perverted to some extent.
- Code Name:
- The main villain of the story Franco Dimarin is codenamed "Stalker" by Qez and Stone, along with his subordinate being codenamed "Pain".
- Later on when meeting the group face-to-face and discovering their nickname for them, he admits to liking the nickname.
- Dying Declaration of Love: When on death's door, Vika tells Michael that he's the only man that made her smile in the last 10 years, much to Michael's confusion during and after the event.
- Fantastic Caste System: Those who refused to be "Chipped" turned themselves into "Markless". They are unable to own property, use currency, make transactions, and have no identity in the eyes of the government.
- Fictional Currency: In attempt to help Carbon control, currency has been changed to "Credits" that are used via the owner's CPI Chip. The change in currency resulted in the value of USD becoming worthless, as well as leaving those who didn't take the CPI Chip implant no way to obtain or use the new currency.
- Future Slang: With carbon rates being a main focus in the world, terms like "Smogging" are used like curse words due to how terrible pollution is seen.
- Gravity Is a Harsh Mistress:
- With the usage of Element 126, someone is able to use the element to make a new gravity force. This has been shown to be potentially dangerous and deadly depending on how it is used.
- Luthor and Micheal discuss ways on how the element in high amounts could act as implosion weapon, much to the anger of Tanya who reminds them that their mission is to use the element to prevent more deaths.
- Hates Being Touched: Vika has shown this several times, especially with males.
- Layman's Terms: This is done several times when Element 126 is talked about in detail, usually with Luther giving a more simplified explanation to Tanya.
- Mark of the Beast: Compared to directly with the CPI Chip when talking about the End of Times. The CPI Chip was mandated by the government, and without it no one can complete transactions or legally own valuables. This chip allows people to easily make transactions and show their ID, but it also gives away their privacy and location with its frequent usage for daily activities.
- Mission from God:
- Mysterious Woman: Vika is introduced as a secretary of Luthor's academic colleague and fellow war veteran, Eli. Vika has a lustful appearance, incredible fighting skills, and knowledge of certain technologies that is not known by the general public.
- My Eyes Are Up Here: Constantly happens to Vika with men she meets for the first time.
- Near-Rape Experience: Nearly happens to Vika when her superior officer assaults her in retaliation for her denying his advances her. She kills the man in self-defense.
- Quit Your Whining:
- This is shown several times with others recounting their own history due to "The Culling" and World War III.
- Michael mocks Tanya's wistful account of only being able to get a loaf a bread per week, while those like Michael had to scrounge for rats to survive on the streets, with his mother and sister being forced into prostitution in order to get money for survival before their deaths. Natasha regrets what she said and pities Michael's past.
- Luthor blows up at everyone towards the end of the novel when they believe they have no hope for survival or publishing his findings for Element 126. He recounts his own past and demons, telling his friends one-by-one why he's had it harder then anyone in the room in comparison.
- Potty Emergency: While the group are without shelter in the city at night, Tanya feels the need to relieve herself but cannot due to being in a public place, as using her CIP chip when entering the facility would cause their location to be found, along with her appearance resembling a markless for being on the run for a week. She relieves herself embarrassingly in a bush, somewhat envying how easy it is for men in comparison.
- Interchangeable Asian Cultures: Those of Asian descent are confused with or viewed the same as those of Chinese descent, resulting in high amounts of hatred/racism from the ongoing tension between China and the USW.
- Sex for Services: A nameless begs Luthor if he has food after seeing him climb down from a rooftop that has a garden. She tells him she'll perform oral sex if he tells her how to get up there, Luthor quickly refuses and runs out of the alley.
- Unwanted Assistance: Michael attempts to rationalize the situation for Stone in attempt to help him conquer his fear of using Element 126 for escaping by walking on a building with the others. He does so in a way that could cause more to mentally hinder than help, resulting in Luther telling him to calmly shut up to which Michael quickly agrees to.
