The Sluts is a book that will stay with me for a while. In this novel, Dennis Cooper uses the echo chamber of a gay escort review site to create a brilliant experimental analysis of how the line separating reality from fiction on anonymous online mediums can quickly blur, and what its repercussions can be.
The bulk of the story revolves around an escort named Brad, who is presumably underaged and severely mentally ill. The initial reviews of him describe his unpredictable and unstable character, which coupled with his sexual obedience create immediate intrigue on the website. The allure and mystery of the reviews then goes onto create an online sensation that draws more and more reviews on the site, which begin to become increasingly violent and deranged - to the point it becomes difficult to discern what's real and what isn't. Brad's identity becomes more and more ambiguous, with several new characters being introduced into the book as other users attempt to confirm his true identity. Over the course of the book we get glimpses into "Brad"'s progression, interwoven with the lives of other key characters that become introduced.
makes me want to read it. i feel like novels that explore "the human condition" online well are relatively rare. nice review.