@cstross
Re-reading "Dark State".
Ch. "Learning Exercises", you use the simile "like a jaw without a tongue" - which experience few of your readers will have.

A "jaw missing a tooth" or even "several teeth" would be a *much* more relatable simile. The "extraction of [teeth, protagonists ...]" being an available parallel.

Say "sssshhht' to Menhit from me.