In 2022, Earth is overpopulated and totally polluted; the natural resources have been exhausted and the nourishment of the population is provided by Soylent Industries, a food made by plankton from the oceans. In New York, when Soylent's member of the board William R. Simonson is murdered apparently by a burglar at the Chelsea Towers West where he lives, efficient Detective Thorn is assigned to investigate the case with his partner Solomon "Sol" Roth. Thorn comes to the fancy apartment and meets...

Although cheerful, friendly, well-dressed, and authentic, Charlie Bartlett has problems: his father is gone, his mother is loopy and clueless, he's been expelled from private schools for victimless crimes, he's getting punched out daily at his new school, the local public high - and, he longs to be popular. He makes peace with his tormentor by going into business with him: listening to kids' problems and selling them prescription drugs. Charlie's attracted to Susan, the daughter of the school's...