Feels like it should be controversial? A president with no brain - what it is, is hilarious. Everyone swears up and down their president is brainless, no one ever thinks it'll ever actually take on the characteristics of a fact and no longer be a joke.
Plot/Storyline/Themes: Secret facilities, that place called Area 51, experiments gone awry and diplomacy somehow land in this novelette.
Character Development/Favorite Character:
The characters I've been getting to know in The Human Division series have cameos here. Scalzi does dialogue really well. Also, made me want to order Five Guys fries which is the best of post reading effects ever.

Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:: Casual Espionage and skulduggery
You have got to be kidding me,” Alex said, as the white panel van rolled up and Jefferson opened the sliding door, two armed Airmen beside him.
“Get in, Alex,” Jefferson said.
“I thought abductions in white panel vans only happened in movies,” Alex said.
“No, the North Koreans use them too,” Jefferson said. “And it’s not an abduction, yet. But if you don’t shut up and get in the van, it might be.”
Alex got into the van.

Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤“Shit, Mr. Lipsyte, I’m surprised the man can hold a pen at all,” General White said. “I’ve known lower primates with higher cognitive functions than your guy. Y,” (okay so the President is a dumb dumb?)
🖤“Alex, this is one case where the most ridiculous explanation you could come up with for how this is happening probably isn’t going to be ridiculous enough.” (Stein to Alex)

Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
That empty vessels do make the most noise. They also don't sink. The president trying to sink beneath the water but failing as a sign for "missing brain syndrome"

StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Speculative Fictional books by 2025