Random Acts of Senseless Violence explained

Random Acts of Senseless Violence
Author:Jack Womack
Country:United States
Language:English
Series:"Dryco" series[1]
Genre:Speculative fiction, dystopian novel
Publisher:HarperCollins (UK)
Atlantic Monthly Press (US)[2]
Pub Date:October 1993 (UK)
September 1994 (US)
Media Type:Print (hardcover)
Pages:256
Isbn:0-246-13850-5
Preceded By:Elvissey
Followed By:Going, Going, Gone

Random Acts of Senseless Violence is a dystopian and speculative fiction novel by Jack Womack.

Plot introduction

The novel is told in the form of a fictional diary by the 12-year-old protagonist Lola Hart, and details Lola and her family's experiences in a near-future Manhattan in which violence, rising unemployment, and riots are commonplace in the city, as well as the rest of the United States.[3] As the novel progresses, Lola transforms from a student at one of Manhattan's most privileged private schools to a street-wise gangster as she and her family struggle to survive the despair of a crumbling government and economy.[3]

Critical reception

The book did not attract significant attention on release; though there were a few reviews, it was not nominated for any awards even though Womack's previous work, Elvissey, won the prestigious Philip K. Dick Award and was shortlisted for the Locus Award. In a July 2008 article for Tor.com, Jo Walton decried the critical neglect of the work.[4] Walton speculated that its lack of prominence was due to its initial low-key reception, the "singularly appalling" cover art of the early editions, a title that was "off-putting" and misleading, and its disconnect from the zeitgeist of the time, which was focused on cyberpunk and space opera.[4] She was echoed by fellow science fiction author Cory Doctorow, who described the work as "an unflinching, engrossing, difficult coming-of-age story" and referred to it as "Womack's underappreciated masterpiece".[5] William Gibson described it as the book he thinks is most underrated.[6]

Publication history

[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Going, Going, Gone . . March 19, 2001 . October 2, 2008 . Paul Di Filippo . Paul . Di Filippo . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081014000614/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/books/sfw6761.html . October 14, 2008 .
  2. http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?1338 isfdb
  3. Web site: REVIEW OF 'RANDOM ACTS OF SENSELESS VIOLENCE' . Siegel . Robert . January 11, 1995. All Things Considered . . HOST:New York City in the very near future is the setting for a new novel by science fiction writer, Jack Womack. The book is called Random Acts of Senseless Violence. It traces the evolution of a privileged, 12-year-old, Manhattan school girl from innocence to experience against the background of a crumbling city. Alan Cheuse has this review ALAN CHEUSE, Critic: Lola Hart [sp] attends Briarly, one of the poshest of Manhattan's private schools..
  4. Web site: Walton . Jo . Jo Walton . November 10, 2021 . Random Acts of Senseless Violence: Why isn't it a classic of the field?. July 25, 2008 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20210212025840/https://www.tor.com/2008/07/25/randomacts/ . February 12, 2021 .
  5. Web site: Jack Womack's underappreciated masterpiece, "Random Acts of Senseless Violence" . . Doctorow . Cory . Cory Doctorow . July 25, 2008 . September 30, 2008.
  6. Web site: William Gibson: 'I read Naked Lunch when it was still quasi-illicit'. TheGuardian.com. January 2021.