Snuff

Snuff is the tale of Cassie Wright. Porn super star with a 20 year career. (Like Linda Lovelace meets Seka meets Jenna Jameson). Cassie Wright is a one size fits all (pun intended) queen of adult movies. Cassie plans to have sex with 600 men to set an unbreakable record. And she won't let death stand in her way. Through threat of embolism, heart attack, asphyxiation, or coma- Cassie wants her coup de grace to be a snuff film.

According to wiki, the definition of snuff- a film that depicts the actual killing of a human being (without special effects or make up). Think the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic The Running Man. Think the late 80s underground hit (first reality program) Faces of Death.

This book takes on a reality as Palahniuk attacks your senses. He brings you to the one restroom. The one restroom shared by 600 men. Toilets stopped up and overflowing. Urinals missed from inaccurate aim. The overpowering scent that will not remain in the restroom. The scent that wafts through the building. He describes the low brow, cheap, buffet tables for the event. With punch bowls tainted by the errant smoke of cigarettes. Open containers of barbecue potato chips and cheesy popcorn. This open, public food repeatedly handled by the same 600 performers handling themselves to get ready for their close up Mr. Demille. Palahniuk sets the mood, and it's not romantic.
The star, Cassie Wright does not narrate the story. In fact, she's part of the background and catalyst that colors Snuff. The pacing and suspense are provided as a result of narration from four central characters. A fantastic quartet of characters all present for the ghoulish event.

#72 aka Darin. A 19 year old virgin that is so deeply in love with Cassie, he's arrived on the set of a massive gang bang with a cross around his neck and a bouquet of roses. Again, on a set of gang bang.

#137 aka Mr. Banyan- He's like the old man in the club. Mr. Banyan is a slightly, creepy, mature gentleman trying to reclaim his glory years by participating in this catastrophe.

#600 aka Branch Bacardi. Mr. Bacardi is an adult film star himself. He's an old friend and colleague of Cassie. They've shared the screen plenty of times in various positions. Branch was also her real life lover. He, along with many other of his adult counterparts, is on set to be volunteer to assist Cassie in setting the record.

The Wrangler aka Sheila. Sheila is the personal assistant to Cassie Wright. Her job consists of crowd management. Herding and corralling six hundred men to each have their many sloppy seconds with adult superstar Cassie Wright. Sheila has to be mindful of stalkers, crazy men that could cause harm. Sheila has her eye especially on #72. She recognizes his type- the young, Christian kid that wants to save Cassie from this life of sin.

Hilarity ensues.

Snuff is greater that the sum of its parts. For example, because of the adult industry source material, the author is allowed many opportunities to create those silly rip off movie names. Butt Pirates of the Caribbean. Beat Me in St. Louis. The Italian Hand Job. It's a one trick pony of a joke that I didn't tire of.

The first two comparisons that come to mind are Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis and Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow. Both books take us on a tour of America. Both reflect the low depths of humanity via a tour of the seediest parts of our reality. Unfortunately, they reveal truths of the human condition. And sad reflections of our society.

Fiction that's so far on the fringe, it's almost science fiction. Or so it seems. Fact is: this is a situation where truth is stranger than fiction. Palahniuk proves the point time and time again by researching his material in great depth and nestling tidbits all throughout. Factoids about Lucille Ball, Rock Hudson, Betty Grable, etc. The factoid that caught my attention was about porn starlet Jasmine St Clair and her sex tape record of 251 men back in the early '90s (I remember her being interviewed on Jerry Springer.) Regardless of which fact snares your attention, they all serve the same purpose: to immerse the reader in the story. It's all about suspension of disbelief.

And then there's why. Why? Why does Cassie Smith want a snuff film to be her tour de force. Her swan song. The answer... helps develop the morale in this morality play.