Rant, the 8th novel by renowned author Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke) is an oral biography of the life of Buster “Rant” Casey.  As the book opens, we are informed that Buster Casey is now deceased. Friends and family recount the times they spent with Rant and their memories of him. The editor organizes these interviews chronologically, starting with his childhood in rural small town America leading up to his adult life in the big city.  

Rant
First Edition Cover

Though I suppose most of Palahniuk’s novels contain “sci-fi elements,” I’d say that at it’s core, Rant is a true sci-fi novel.  Due to the nature of the book and it’s oral biography format, many details about the world are taken for granted by the interviewees and aren’t immediately divulged to the reader.  Because of this, Rant appears to be a relatively mundane tale at first, but as the novel progresses, a better picture of the world that the characters inhabit starts to come into focus.  It’s hard to go into detail about this without including spoilers, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Something made immediately obvious to the reader is that Rant Casey is a polarizing individual.  He was either loved or hated. Very few folks who crossed his path are apathetic. Casey is being accused of mass murder, being hailed as one of the most deadly serial killers of all time.  The book attempts to further investigate these claims by interviewing those who knew and were close to Buster Casey during the various stages of his life.  Many propose Casey’s innocence, while others swear on his guilt.  Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in between?

Rant and Palahniuk’s other works can be found on the shelves of the general fiction section at any of our locations.  If you’ve previously read and enjoyed Palahniuk, then you’re sure to love this one as well.  If you’re new to his works then Rant is a great place to start!