Recommedations needed

[Steve]

I am looking for a new book or even author to read of, but am reaching the end of the line in terms of what I enjoy. I like the works of Bret Easton Ellis, and am particularly looking for books that have the theme of a moral depraved society, and moral depraved characters even. So, books like Less Than Zero, American Psycho, Glamorama.

I have read all of the books by Bret Easton Ellis and have bought two books by Hubert Selby Jr. That does that sort of thing, so I am really looking for books or authors of that kind. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[Chrissy]

Jeff Lindsay's Dexter series might be something you'd enjoy. There's certainly a moral ambiguity to the novels.

 

Aside from those all I can think of is individual novels where the 'baddy' is revealed to be morally depraved.

[Mac]

You ought to try Chuck Palahnuik and Glen Duncan as authors. They are dark people indeed. See what you think.

[Cookie]

I'm not sure if it's along the right lines but have you tried Irvine Welsh? He wrote Trainspotting and others like it and they're pretty sick.

[Steve]

Thanks for the recommendations, I will check them out.

[frankie]

Hmm, I'm not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for, but you might want to take a look at Augusten Burroughs. His books are mostly memoirs, some of them 'a bit more funny' than the others (they always have serious and disturbing themes but some of them are written in a lighter and funnier tone). You might want to start with Dry which comes after Running with Scissors, but Dry might be something you'd be more into.

[BigWords]

David Britton, Hunter S. Thompson (morally gray in many regards), and a bunch of the 1950s Soho writers fit the bill.

[nursenblack]

What about A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess? I haven't read it yet only watched the film. It seems like it could be the kind of book your looking for.

[BookJumper]

Having read it and watched the film, I'd definitely agree that Clockwork Orange fits your bill. Please read the book first though, as the film cuts out the last thirty or so pages of the novel, thus changing the message of the story entirely.

[Eck]

Charles Bukowski would fit that description well too.

[corina]

Steve, I didn't like American Psycho (too much of a prude:lol:) but while I was recently reading Albert Camus "The Outsider" I was reminded of American Psycho (without the graphic scenes)

[Denise]

How about the book The Iceman,Confessions Of A Mafia Contract Killer.

He was one very awful scary,dude imo.

[Freewheeling Andy]

On this theme, I'd thoroughly recommend some JG Ballard work. The mid-70s novels of urban breakdown and moral breakdown, in particular: Crash, High Rise and Concrete Island. Also some of the later ones, particularly Cocaine Nights and, less so, Super Cannes. Crash is considered the classic in the genre, the book that really shocked people. Ballard's work with The Atrocity Exhibition where he started experimenting with seeing how people reacted to the conjunction of sexual imagery and car crashes was the starter on this. There's a fair amount of fascinating commentary around it all, too, but really all you need to do is read the novel

 

As mentioned elsewhere, Martin Amis sort of fits the bill, but is sometimes too clever for his own good; also Will Self - who is a far less annoyingly smug novelist than he is commentator.

 

Michel Houllebecq probably fits the morally unclear bill, too, although I didn't actually enjoy Atomised at all.

[corina]

How about the book The Iceman

He was one very awful scary,dude imo.

 

Oh yes, The Iceman. Chilling (no pun intended)

[Denise]

Hey Steve,On speaking to my OH here who also does a fair bit of reading he recommends The Scar,Perdido Street Station & The Iron Council all by the same author.Hope this is what you had in mind..

[Karsa Orlong]

Hey Steve,On speaking to my OH here who also does a fair bit of reading he recommends The Scar,Perdido Street Station & The Iron Council all by the same author.Hope this is what you had in mind..

I thought Perdido Street Station was fantastic. Must pick up the other's you mention at some point.

[carm]

How do you feel about vampires? Thew Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris are quite fun

[Beccles]

Have you tried Edgar Allen Poe?

[Steve]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I did pick up some and next time I buy more I will get some Edgar Allen Poe books. And most of the other suggestions too, thanks again.