 First edition (UK) | |
| 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] |
Publication date | October 1993 (UK) September 1994 (US) [2] |
| 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. [3]
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]
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. [4] 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]
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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.