I was excited to read this book as I haven’t read one by this author in many years. I was quickly reminded why I stopped. It’s just nonsense strung together for shock factor. This book is supposed to be set in the near future yet the author still doesn’t know how to talk about a disabled person. I hate to say it but this book didn’t live up to the hype and turned out to be a waste of time.

i’m struggling to really determine how i feel about this book but i think i’m sadly landing right down the middle. I’m a big Palahniuk fan (was one of the few who really loved his last book), so i’m used to his bonkers style of writing - usually very experimental and graphic uncomfortable gore/sex scenes bordering on horror - so i went in with high expectations.

however with this book, the writing is a lot more fragmented, and i think this caused a lot of things to go over my head and i’m left thinking that i just didn’t quite grasp the whole story on first read. it is a quick story (easily read in 2 hours) so it might warrant a re-read from me. as always though I applaud Palahniuk for always doing something unique and interesting, i will always read his work even if some of them are misses.

Let me just say this first. Chuck Palahniuk has been my favorite author for as long as I can remember. I have a shelf dedicated solely to his books. I once waited a wild amount of time to be sure I was front row for an in person reading of “Guts” when “Haunted” was coming out (no, no one passed out at the one I attended, Vegas has seen some shit I guess). I quote his writing in my daily life more often than is probably healthy.

All of that being said, I always promise an honest book review.

This is everything you want from a Palahniuk book. Rapid fire writing that feels like a fever dream, taking you through the Palahniuk brand of storytelling at breakneck speed. Fast-paced hard turns and sometimes grotesque imagery, always perfectly placed. His brand of dirty, gritty, dystopian realities is impossible to put down, and this latest offering is no exception. This one is full to the brim with nods and inspiration to countless works of classic literature tucked into corners.

As with all of Palahniuks work, I imagine it will be polarizing, he’s a love it or hate it kind of writer. But, as always, I loved it.

I have enjoyed previous books by this author, but this was a DNF for me. I was mostly just confused about the whole thing. Other reviewers liked the book, so maybe it’s just me.

I always know I’m in for something interesting with this author. Shock Induction took many unexpected turns and I appreciate the level of Craft that has been brought to this a book — unlike any other that I’ve read so far.

"A couple billion dollars in exchange for the remainder of your life and intellectual labor sounds like a pretty fair deal—doesn’t it?"

Chuck Palahniuk has long been one of my favorite authors, with Rant being among my top five all-time favorite books. As much as it pains me to say, I'll openly confess that his more recent works have mostly been unfortunate misses for me. Not Forever, But For Now was my only DNF of 2023, so my expectations going into Shock Induction were on the lower end of the spectrum. I'm thoroughly delighted to say that this story did not meet the same premature end for me as the former—conversely, I was immediately fully absorbed, so much so that I raced through the book in a single afternoon. All disappointment and doubts I may have had dissipated from the start of the very first chapter. Lo and behold, Chuck is back in peak form and I couldn't be more thrilled!

Shock Induction is dripping with the dark humor and satirical wit that made me fall in love with Palahniuk's work in the first place. It's shocking and uncomfortable at times, as is a trademark nature of his style, but it never feels too heavy-handed or overdone. The novel is a brilliant commentary on the sordid underbelly of the massively wealthy, while not being so far-fetched that it loses its punch. Unlike with NFBFN, where I struggled to pinpoint and understand the metaphors, the conceptual message of this parable was clear and provocative, evoking all of the senses and easily allowing the reader to envision Sam's world.

Palahniuk’s use of repetitive language and thoughts never grew tiresome or irritating, as such a mechanic can often be prone to doing. Instead, it blended seamlessly, perfectly enhancing the hypnotic feel of the overall story. The narrative rhythm felt almost trance-like, drawing me deeper into the dream with each page.

In Shock Induction, Palahniuk reminds us why he is a master of his craft. It's a return to form that fans of his earlier work will appreciate, and it's a highly compelling read for anyone who enjoys a darkly satirical take on contemporary issues. This book has more than reaffirmed my faith in Palahniuk, proving that he still has plenty of profound and riveting stories left to share with the world.

All of my thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

Have you ever read a book and instantly thought to yourself "This would make a great movie?"

That was one of my main takeaways from Chuck Palahniuk's latest tale "Shock Induction," a dark and satirical parable about a string of mysterious high school disappearances, a world filled with seedy billionaires and tough choices made in the face of an uncertain future.

The world created here is compelling - a seemingly reputable high school experiences the disappearances of its best and brightest students. Why does it seem like every single day brings yet another apparent suicide by one of the school's overachievers?

In "Shock Induction," these best and brightest have been under surveillance since the day they were born. Monitored by a mysterious online service called "Greener Pastures," they're essentially subjected to the whims of detached billionaires looking to recruit the next generation of leaders, talent, etc. In this world, higher test scores, stellar academics, and extracurricular activities can lead to enticing offers at auction.

Would you take a couple billion bucks in exchange for the remainder of every aspect of your life and labor?

Hinting at the darkness that first made Palahniuk a household name with "Fight Club," "Shock Induction" immerses us into a world where students must make a choice between following their dreams or being financially secure but experiencing a lifetime of servitude to the world's wealthiest.

Do they really have a choice?

"Shock Induction" is a dip back into Palahniuk's world of visual storytelling. You can see his storyline come to life, characters seedy and serene and submissive filling out a world that feels simultaneously promising and menacing. Our key character, Sam, is a young woman whose remarkable promise was identified early yet whose entire life appears to have been marked by that promise. She's not so much a part of the world as subjected to its often violent and controlling whims.

One can easily see "Shock Induction" coming cinematically to life.

Yet, at times at least, I longed for more. At times, it feels as if "Shock Induction" is stuck between being a mystery/thriller and a family drama. Is it one or the other? Is it both? The book's dark humor is the squirm-inducing type of humor - it's the kind of humor where you know you probably shouldn't laugh but you do anyway. In some ways, yes, it reminded me of "Fight Club" but, alternately, it also reminded me far too often of "Hunger Games." It's stuck in the middle, a not entirely satisfying place to be, and I rather longed for it lunge for one side or the other.

When it comes down to it, however, I still enjoyed "Shock Induction," though perhaps not nearly as much as I'd hoped I would. "Shock Induction" is a book I'd almost rather see as a movie, a story with characters I found compelling even if I longed to get to know them better.

More hinting at the darkness than actually immersing us in it, "Shock Induction" finds Palahniuk back in familiar territory telling a dark, meaningful parable about a world that no longer feels that far away.