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|
 First edition cover | |
| Author | Chuck Palahniuk |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Rodrigo Corral |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Satire |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
Publication date | May 5, 2009 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| ISBN | 978-0-385-52634-0 |
Pygmy is an epistolary novel by Chuck Palahniuk. It was released on May 5, 2009.
Operative 67, nicknamed "Pygmy", is a thirteen-year-old super soldier trained in combat and politics by an unnamed authoritarian and totalitarian country sent to America posing as a foreign exchange student to initiate a terrorist attack known as Operation Havoc. Pygmy and several other highly skilled teenagers like him are sent to live with host families in America and integrate into society. Pygmy arrives in the country and meets his family, the Cow Father who works in a government facility, the Chicken Mother who steals batteries to supply her vibrator collection, Cat Sister, whom Pygmy grows attracted to and Pig Dog Brother, who starts off antagonistic but later friendly.
Pygmy learns the habits and behaviors of American culture and constantly bickers about its strange environment and mannerisms as he participates in societal norms like going to church and attending school. At first, Pygmy and the other operatives are bullied by the other students but Pygmy gains notoriety when he stops Trevor Stonefield during a school shooting at a Model United Nations meeting. Trevor, who had been bullying Pygmy's host brother, was brutalized by Pygmy in a Wal-Mart bathroom, falling in love with him and realizing his repressed homosexuality. This event popularizes Pygmy and begins jarring his sense of self worth. Several times Pygmy reflects on the time in his home country before he was "adopted by the state," leaving behind his parents who were killed in an American attack and training with the totalitarian government.
To commence Operation Havoc the operatives are to impregnate several American girls to create a future army after America's collapse and to be in Washington D.C to start the terrorist attack. Pygmy tricks the student body to fetch him supplies he needs for a science fair project taking place in Washington. Pygmy also gathers supplies with his host sister by sneaking into the government facility his host father stays, acquiring a neurotoxin which he uses to kill the local pastor who's been having sexual relationships with several underage girls. As Pygmy's stay in America grows longer, he starts to doubt his position and starts to become self aware of what he is doing. This causes the other operatives to grow suspicious. At the school science fair, Pygmy and the other operatives sabotage the students projects, allowing Pygmy to advance to Washington for the National Science Fair.
Cat sister gets angry at Pygmy for ruining her project and vows revenge on him. In Washington, Pygmy initiates Operation Havoc, which involves Pygmy releasing a bomb full of American dollars tainted with a deadly neurotoxin that he plans to spread across the country, killing millions. When his sister arrives to sabotage the project, Pygmy stops her and is attacked by another agent posing as an elderly woman. Pygmy decides to not detonate the bomb to save his sisters life, causing the other operatives to attack him. Pygmy is rescued by his brother, to whom he taught several of his deadly moves and Operative Magda. The bomb goes off but Pygmy reveals that he never tainted the money, effectively rescuing everyone at the science fair.
In the end, Pygmy resigns from his home country and prepares to integrate into American society. The father is released from prison following a near outbreak of an unknown bacterium and the other operatives are blamed for the would be terrorist attack as Pygmy learns Operative Magda was impregnated by his host brother, not the local pastor which he believed before. Pygmy concludes his final report to his country by claiming he is starting his new life.
Pygmy is an epistolary novel. Each chapter is a dispatch from the main character, Pygmy, writing as Agent Number 67, presumably to his home country's government. The book uses incorrect grammar, mostly comical "Engrish", written in a detached, scientific tone. Pygmy lambasts American culture and society through its comically biased first person narrative, often with humorous effects. As with many other Palahniuk novels, there are numerous small themes woven throughout the novel. Palahniuk has called these recurring themes the "chorus" in Pygmy; he talks about the fighting moves that Agent Number 67 can use to kill a man in one punch or kick, the frequent recitations of elements of the periodic table, and numerous quotes from historical dictators, politicians, generals, and philosophers.
Kirkus Reviews gave a positive review, calling the novel "stylistically exhilirating" and "occasionally hilarious". [1] The Guardian commented that the novel had "often quite funny overkill" and a "casually exiguous plot". [2] Doug Johnstone, writing for The Independent , gave a mixed review, criticizing the inconsistencies of the plot, the narration, finale, but praising the humor, and concluded: "Ultimately, Pygmy feels a little light on content and themes. It's undoubtedly entertaining for the most part, and often pretty funny, but you get the feeling that the convoluted style is only really serving to obfuscate a lack of new ideas and subject matter." [3]
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