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-futureManhattan 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 receptionedit
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 most underrated book.[6]
Publication historyedit
1993, UK, HarperCollins, ISBN0-246-13850-5, Pub date October 1993, Hardback
1994, US, Atlantic Monthly Press, ISBN0-87113-577-9, Pub date September 1994, Hardback
1994, UK, HarperCollins, ISBN0-586-21320-1, Pub date October 1994, Paperback
1995, US, Grove Press, ISBN0-8021-3424-6, Pub date October 1995, Paperback
^ abcSiegel, Robert (January 11, 1995). "REVIEW OF 'RANDOM ACTS OF SENSELESS VIOLENCE'". All Things Considered. NPR. 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.
^ abcWalton, Jo (July 25, 2008). . Tor.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
^Doctorow, Cory (July 25, 2008). "Jack Womack's underappreciated masterpiece, "Random Acts of Senseless Violence"". Boing Boing. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
^"William Gibson: 'I read Naked Lunch when it was still quasi-illicit'". TheGuardian.com. January 2021.
December 14, 2023
random, acts, senseless, violence, this, article, about, novel, song, anthrax, stomp, dystopian, speculative, fiction, novel, jack, womack, first, edition, authorjack, womackcountryunited, stateslanguageenglishseries, dryco, series, genrespeculative, fiction, . This article is about the novel For the song by Anthrax see Stomp 442 Random Acts of Senseless Violence is a dystopian and speculative fiction novel by Jack Womack 3 Random Acts of Senseless ViolenceFirst edition UK AuthorJack WomackCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishSeries Dryco series 1 GenreSpeculative fiction dystopian novelPublisherHarperCollins UK Atlantic Monthly Press US 2 Publication dateOctober 1993 UK September 1994 US 2 Media typePrint hardcover Pages256ISBN0 246 13850 5Preceded byElvissey Followed byGoing Going Gone Contents 1 Plot introduction 2 Critical reception 3 Publication history 4 ReferencesPlot introduction editThe 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 editThe 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 most underrated book 6 Publication history edit1993 UK HarperCollins ISBN 0 246 13850 5 Pub date October 1993 Hardback 1994 US Atlantic Monthly Press ISBN 0 87113 577 9 Pub date September 1994 Hardback 1994 UK HarperCollins ISBN 0 586 21320 1 Pub date October 1994 Paperback 1995 US Grove Press ISBN 0 8021 3424 6 Pub date October 1995 Paperback 2013 UK Gollancz ISBN 978 0 575 13230 6 Pub date October 2013 Paperback 2 References edit Di Filippo Paul March 19 2001 Going Going Gone SCI FI Weekly Archived from the original on October 14 2008 Retrieved October 2 2008 a b c isfdb a b c Siegel Robert January 11 1995 REVIEW OF RANDOM ACTS OF SENSELESS VIOLENCE All Things Considered NPR 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 a b c Walton Jo July 25 2008 Random Acts of Senseless Violence Why isn t it a classic of the field Tor com Archived from the original on February 12 2021 Retrieved November 10 2021 Doctorow Cory July 25 2008 Jack Womack s underappreciated masterpiece Random Acts of Senseless Violence Boing Boing Retrieved September 30 2008 William Gibson I read Naked Lunch when it was still quasi illicit TheGuardian com January 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Random Acts of Senseless Violence amp oldid 1186778438, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
