The arrival of a new Chuck Palahniuk novel, while an event that usually happens without any huge PR budget or fanfare, is, to me, an occurance to dwarfs the largest film premiere. Ever since writing the book that more or less defined my generation, Chuck's batting average has been more or less perfect. Yes, he has a tendancy to wander off into the implausible at the end of all his stories, but the journey is so well written and just so much fun to read that you tend to forgive. Feeling the pages crack as you turn them, devouring the juicy prose- that's better than going to the movies. I more or less put my social life on hold just to devote my life to reading when there's unread Palahniuk for the taking.
Haunted is an anthology of short stories. Each story is preceded by a poem. Each story is connected to the others via a larger framing story, which is this: Twenty-four wannabe authors attend a "Writer's Retreat"- a place they can go to get away from the world for three months and write the novel that will take them to the big time. Unfortunately, the retreat is run by a madman who locks them all in a theatre and refuses to let anyone leave. The situation rapidly unravels as each prisoner attempts to turn themselves into the hero of the story they are in. Along the way, we learn that each author is running from something, and each individual 'sub-story' details what those are.
The stories run the gamut from horrific to humorous, surreal to sci-fi. All of them are very, very bleak, the way I like `em. All of them function as stand-alone stories, the sort you could easily read to some friends while sitting around the fire on a beach. To frighten and amuse. Ghost stories without ghosts in them. "All stories are Ghosts." I could have sworn this was written on the first page, but, looking now, I can't find it.
If you like your fiction a little dark, a little disturbing, very funny and very well written, then I must recommend (nay, demand!) that you read this book. If you need further persuasion, go and check out the excellent excerpt on audible.com or this written excerpt at the Haunted website.
As always, if anyone wants my copy: it's up for grabs.
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ps- also of interest, I just saw on Chuck's website that the 'Invisble Monsters' comic is free for download in PDF form. Looks pretty good, check it out.
This is a 
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