Random Acts of Senseless Violence

Infobox Book |
name = Random Acts of Senseless Violence


image_caption = Paperback cover
author = Jack Womack
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = "Dryco" series [cite web |url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/books/sfw6761.html |title= Going, Going, Gone |work=SCI FI Weekly |date=March 19, 2001 |accessdate=2008-10-02 |authorlink=Paul Di Filippo |first=Paul |last=Di Filippo]
genre = Speculative fiction, dystopian novel
publisher = Grove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press
pub_date = October 1995
media_type = Print (hardcover/paperback)
pages = 255 pp (hardback)
256 pp (paperback)
isbn = ISBN 0-871-13577-9 (hardback)
ISBN 0-802-13424-6 (paperback)
preceded_by = Elvissey
followed_by = Heathern

"Random Acts of Senseless Violence" is a dystopian and speculative fiction novel by Jack Womack.

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.cite web| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NR&d_origin=transcripts&z=NR&p_theme=nr&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F574C9045937C46&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |last=Siegel |first=Robert |date=January 11, 1995| work=All Things Considered |title=REVIEW OF `RANDOM ACTS OF SENSELESS VIOLENCE' |publisher=NPR |quote=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.] 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.

Critical reception

The book did not attract significant attention on release; though there were a few reviews, it was not nominated for any awards despite Womack's previous work, "Elvissey" won the prestigious Philip K. Dick Award and was shortlisted for the Locus Award. In a July 2008 article for Tor.com, Jo Walton decried the critical neglect of the work.Cite web |last=Walton |first=Jo |authorlink=Jo Walton |accessdate=2008-09-30 |url=http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=blog&id=1929 |date=July 25, 2008 |work=Tor.com |title=Random Acts of Senseless Violence: Why isn't it a classic of the field?] 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. 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 under appreciated masterpiece".cite web|url=http://www.boingboing.net/2008/07/25/jack-womacks-underap.html |work=Boing Boing |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |authorlink=Cory Doctorow |title=Jack Womack's under appreciated masterpiece, "Random Acts of Senseless Violence" |date=July 25, 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-30]

Publication history

* 1995, USA, Grove Press/Atlantic Monthly Press ISBN ISBN 0-871-13577-9, Pub date October 1995, Hardback

References