Hermitix

Anarchy! - Ozias Plume saves the world by Daisy Waugh

Jan 30, 2026
A review of a satirical novel where a contagious laughter epidemic upends British bureaucracy. The conversation explores themes of meaning, purpose and the critique of progress. The narrator details a mysterious potion, a lonely tycoon at the story's center, and how spontaneous joy fractures official order. The tone praised is breezy, comic and delightfully subversive.
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INSIGHT

Laughter As A Civilizational Mirror

  • Daisy Waugh's Anarchy uses a laughter epidemic to satirize bureaucracy and modern utilitarian life.
  • The book suggests suspicion of joy reveals deeper assumptions about meaning and purpose.
ANECDOTE

Plume's Luxury Retreats Failed Him

  • Zaias Plume is a tech billionaire who sought curated retreats and control but remained miserable.
  • His futile quest for a 'simple life' sets up the rupture that triggers the laughing virus.
ANECDOTE

Mystic Smile On The Private Island

  • Plume meets a mysterious smiling man on a private island who catalyzes the laughing virus.
  • The encounter breaks Plume's control and initiates his transformation.
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