Shock Induction, Chuck Palahniuk
Shock Induction, Chuck Palahniuk
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

Shock Induction

Author: Chuck Palahniuk

Narrator: Michael David Axtell

Unabridged: 6 hr 29 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/08/2024

Categories: Fiction, Family Life, Satire


Synopsis

From the bestselling author of Fight Club comes a “dark satire about the inhuman condition” (The Toronto Star) about a string of mysterious high school disappearances, the seedy underbellies of billionaires, and the tough choices we make in the face of an uncertain future.

In Shock Induction, the best and brightest students at a seemingly reputable high school are disappearing. Every day it seems another overachiever is lost to an apparent suicide. But something far more sinister is lurking beneath the surface.

These kids have been under surveillance since birth, monitored and measured by an online service called “Greener Pastures.” It’s here, in Greener Pastures, that billionaires observe and recruit the next generation of talent. The highest test scores, the best grades, and the most niche extracurriculars just might land these teenagers an enticing offer at auction. A couple of billion dollars in exchange for the remainder of your life and intellectual labor sounds like a pretty fair deal—doesn’t it?

In a high school only Chuck Palahniuk could imagine, students must choose between the risk of following their dreams and the financial security of a lifetime of servitude to the world’s wealthiest and most elite—but how much of a choice do they truly have? A thrilling tale and a critique of modern society, Shock Induction challenges the illusion of choice and explores the tough choices individuals make in the shadow of power and privilege.

About Chuck Palahniuk

Chuck Palahniuk’s fourteen novels include the bestselling Snuff; Rant; HauntedLullabyFight Club, which was made into a film by director David Fincher; DiarySurvivorInvisible Monsters; and Choke, which was made into a film by director Clark Gregg. He is also the author of the nonfiction profile of Portland, Fugitives and Refugees, and the nonfiction collection Stranger Than Fiction. His story collection Make Something Up was a widely banned bestseller. His graphic novel Fight Club II hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. He’s also the author of Fight Club III and the coloring books Bait and Legacy, as well as the writing guide Consider This. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Holden on October 11, 2024

There’s something about reading a Chuck Palahniuk book that has me saying “Oh Chuck” about a thousand times and the first page had me cackling so much that I had to stop and read it aloud to my partner. I am always enthralled and perpetually floored by the technique and style choices Palahniuk uses......more

Goodreads review by The Bookish Elf on September 30, 2024

In Chuck Palahniuk's latest literary rollercoaster, "Shock Induction," we're plunged headfirst into a world where the American Dream has mutated into a nightmarish auction block of young souls. It's a place where your SAT scores might just land you a billion-dollar bid from a faceless oligarch, eage......more

Goodreads review by Matt on November 26, 2024

I’m sure Greener Pastures won’t be chasing me down to be part of their group as I didn’t really get this book! 2 Stars ⭐️⭐️!......more

Goodreads review by Meghin on October 08, 2024

I honestly cannot even review this because I was far too dumb to even begin to understand what I just read. This was so jumbled and all over the place that I just gave up trying to figure it out because I had a headache. Very Alice in Wonderland. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exch......more

Goodreads review by Curtis on October 14, 2024

This book lacks all the elements that normally make me such a Chuck fan. It wasn't fun or funny. It didn't make me rethink society or the way the world works. It didn't shock or offend me or make me want to start a Twitter mob to cancel him. It was all very blah. And I know Chuck loves repetition bu......more


Quotes

"Michael David Axtell gives a confident, clear performance of this dystopian audiobook. In a not-too-alternative world, high school students undergo a multitude of intellectual and aptitude exams. Some students can expect to pursue their own hopes and dreams, while others face being auctioned into the servitude of the world's billionaires. It's a dark listening experience punctuated with humor and meta-references. At key moments, Axtell repeats the word "avocado" until it starts to lose meaning; at other moments he addresses the listener directly. The dizzying result could throw listeners off-balance, but Axtell's approach provides the necessary equilibrium. He's effective at capturing the artistry of the novel, even when its passages seem inscrutable."