Random Acts of Senseless Violence

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 Violence

First edition (UK)
Author	Jack Womack
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]
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardcover)
Pages	256
ISBN	0-246-13850-5
Preceded by	Elvissey
Followed by	Going, Going, Gone

Plot introduction

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]

Critical reception

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]

Publication history

• 1993, 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]