Wasp in the Opium Flowers: A Novel - Softcover

Klix, Kevin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0996541063 ISBN 13: 9780996541060

Publisher: Klix Artwork Ltd., 2017

Synopsis

Steven is the worst form of human scum.
But it's not all bad; he accepts it. He accepts that he has an adoring girlfriend and yet, despite that, still cheats on her with dating app "leads," as he so calls them. He accepts his addiction in maliciously upsetting others, intent upon producing uneasiness and outrage. But can the people that he encounters accept him?

Mix the cutthroat persona of American Psycho's Patrick Bateman, the journey similar to Knut Hamsun's Hunger, and with the attitude of Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer, and what you got is the story of Steven, WASP IN THE OPIUM FLOWERS.

About this title

From the Author:

INTRODUCTION
by Scott Casey Geller
Kevin Klix is a lunatic. He's a womanizer. He likes to do things specifically just to upset people. Kevin once bragged to me about being a professional internet troll. I swear to non-existent God, five of the top ten strangest things I've ever heard anyone say, has come out of Kevin's mouth. He once told me he likes a chick to f___ him like he's not even in the room, not looking at him or paying any attention to him. He said that's what gets him off. When I asked why, he told me, I like to see how they experience pleasure when they're alone. Weird. I told him at that point he might as well just stalk them, watch them through their blinds. He replied with, Nah, that's creepy. I'm constantly at a loss for words being Kevin's actual friend. But sometimes I think maybe he's on to something. Maybe he understands people on a fundamental level, a basic level. Sure, maybe Kevin is just a self-serving asshole. But maybe not. Maybe he just learned how cut through all the bullshit and self-doubt that haunts us as humans by asking himself one question: Who cares?

What matters in this life? Is it getting a desk job that provides insurance and paid sick days? Is it falling in love and marrying a woman who understands you and accepts you for who you are? Is it having kids and raising them to be a better human than you? The answer is no. And yes. But in actually, the answer really doesn't matter. None of it does. There is no formula. And there is no set path in life. We're all just atoms and stardust floating around in the ether. 

And that's where it starts. Nihilism. The first time this concept was presented to me it was with a tone of disdain, drenched in negative connotation. It's a concept for people who don't care about life. Wrong. I realized that it was a concept for people who understood that nothing in this life truly matters. Meaning is merely just mental designation. Morals are something we create for ourselves. They're malleable. We create the world we live in. There are no rules.

This realization is the most freeing experience I've had in my entire life. It's the beauty in nihilism. When you realize that nothing matters you understand that there's nothing holding you back. There's no reason to be scared or intimidated anymore. Life becomes your sandbox. Play with everything and have fun.

It's the arbitrary beauty of our lives. How they intersect. Sometimes we're given these moments that are hot and sticky, raw and weird. Sometimes our experiences are quick and cool, effortless and deep. But every single day we wake up and the only thing that keeps us going is the promise of connection. In one form or another that's our greatest high. We're always chasing the dragon.

Even when we know we're addicted, especially when it comes to women, we can't help ourselves. We try and try, beat our heads against walls in frustration, scream and cry, trying to fight the urge of urge itself. But, why? Why continue to fight against something that lives in our soul? The human angst. Unrest. The urge to go out there and meet new people. Let people go. There is no guideline on how to live a happy life. It's something we feel inside of ourselves and have to navigate on our own.

And that's what NO LIVES MATTER is, a story about the guy who stopped fighting that urge. On the surface we see Steven, our protagonist, the ultimate fuckboy. This guy is by all means a certified Grade-A douchebag. But there's something noble in the way he lives his life. Some people would call it cockiness. It's not. It's not quite confidence either. It's this strange middle ground, this moral limbo, Steven chooses to operate within. He's not a liar. But he's not exactly honest either. Steven has created his own rules to live his life by: If it feels good, do it. If it doesn't, then don't.

Our protagonist isn't this scary, jaded pessimistic dickhead. He's brave beyond reason. He gets very little out of social interaction. Especially with women. In fact, he sees women as a hindrance. He loves everything about them, physically. But when it comes to actually interacting with them, it's a chore. It's a chore that he continues to torture himself with. Even after finding the perfect woman, he still finds himself wondering about his ex and his previous hookups and still reaches out. It's an endless cycle. It's all fleeting. It's all pointless. So reach out. Or be an asshole. Do what makes you fucking happy.

That's honestly the best advice ever given to me. We're all here on this planet for a very short moment. My buddy Jake says, Whatever man, I'm gonna be dead longer than I'm alive. That is one of the most comforting sentiments I've heard in my life. He has no idea where he stole it from, but it's a phrase that comes to mind often. Everything is so fleeting. Our lives, our relationships, things we find to be important. It just doesn't make sense to tie ourselves down to anything for too long. Find the noble honesty in living your life selfishly. That's where personal solace lies. In our passion, our desires, our addictions. We're all narcissists. We're all addicts. We're all trapped here together in the now. Smile and enjoy gravity. And as Steven might say, Don't be a little bitch.

So I'm sure this isn't the introduction Kevin wanted. In fact, I think he might be pissed I didn't make him look like a complete and total fuckhead. Sorry bro, I actually liked your novel. This is my introduction, and I'm the king of my domain. F___ you.

Fictional character in this novel,
Scott Casey Geller
June 1, 2017

About the Author:

Kevin Klix is a self-proclaimed amateur philosopher and is the author of novels BIFLOCKA, WASP IN THE OPIUM FLOWERS, and A LION IN YOUR NUMBER, along with several works of non-fiction and one collection of poetry. He lives and works in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Twitter: @kevinklix
Snapchat: @kevincklix
Facebook: /kevincklix
Instagram: @kevinklix

About this edition

• Publisher: Klix Artwork Ltd.
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0996541063
• ISBN 13: 9780996541060
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 230