Random Acts of Senseless Violence

Random Acts of Senseless Violence is a dystopian and speculative fiction novel by Jack Womack. 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. As the novel progresses, Lola transforms from a student at one of Ma... more

Random Acts of Senseless Violence is a dystopian and speculative fiction novel by Jack Womack. 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. 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. 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. Walton speculated that its lack of prominence was... less