From a future where Las Vegas seceded from the United States and televisions no longer have off buttons comes the story of America’s new favorite pastime, Bear v. Shark.
The age-old question arises once again, except this time in the form of Chris Bachelder’s book “Bear v. Shark.”
“Given a relatively level playing field, i.e. water deep enough so that a shark could maneuver proficiently but shallow enough so that a bear could stand and fight with its characteristic dexterity, who would win in a fight between a bear and a shark?” asks Bachelder as the premise to his new book.
“The shark would win. They’re the highest animals on the food chain other than humans,” said Cole Gill, an English senior. “The bear might be able to get a few good claws in, but once the shark got a good hold of him, it would be over.”
The book’s take on American pop culture is hilarious. The question of who will win the fight is merely a tool to satirize American pop culture and its obsession with spectacle.
The book takes place in the near future when America is obsessed with entertainment. Televisions no longer have off switches because no one turns them off anymore.
Bear v. Shark I has been fought and the shark emerged victorious, but many people still debate if the fight was fair. Cults spring up around the match’s spectacle to worship the fight between bear and shark.
“The bear would definitely obliterate the shark. Sharks are dumb and a bear would take advantage of that,” said Jennifer Bailey, a mass communication senior. “I’m just curious to see if the shark’s uncle would save him from a bear attack like that kid whose uncle saved him from a shark attack.”
The story focuses on the Normans, a regular middle class family. The Normans travel to see Bear v. Shark II after their son wins tickets in an essay contest. The story culminates as the Normans and the rest of America watch Bear v. Shark II.
The book has a clustered and disarrayed feel to it. It contains 100 chapters in only 251 pages. Some of the chapters aren’t even one page long. This gives the impression of someone rapidly changing the channels on the TV, so each little portion of a program cuts into another program
Sometimes the book is hard to take seriously. Readers are forced to wonder whether or not what they are reading is fiction or actual fact slipped into the novel.
The book comes complete with chapters on other proposed fights, such as Spanish Moss v. Kudzu or Hitler v. Elvis and a quiz readers can take to test their knowledge of bears and sharks. Also, the index seems to be stuck arbitrarily at chapter 96.
The book is hilarious and most of the observations it makes about pop culture are true. It leaves readers wondering where civilization is going and hoping it doesn’t look like that.