Stranger Than Fiction: True Stories
Encyclopedia
Stranger Than Fiction: True Stories (published in the United Kingdom
& Australia
as Nonfiction) is a non-fiction
book by Chuck Palahniuk
, published in 2004
. It is a collection of essays, stories, and interviews written for various magazines and newspapers. Some of the pieces had also been previously published on the internet. The book is divided into three sections: "People Together", articles about people who find unique ways of achieving togetherness; "Portraits", interviews and short essays mostly about famous individuals; and "Personal", autobiographical
pieces.
An abridged audiobook version read by the author was released at the same time as the print edition. An unabridged version co-read by Dennis Boutsikaris
was released later.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
& Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as Nonfiction) is a non-fiction
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
book by Chuck Palahniuk
Chuck Palahniuk
Charles Michael "Chuck" Palahniuk is an American transgressional fiction novelist and freelance journalist. He is best known for the award-winning novel Fight Club, which was later made into a film directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter...
, published in 2004
2004 in literature
The year 2004 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* Canada Reads selects Guy Vanderhaeghe's The Last Crossing to be read across the nation....
. It is a collection of essays, stories, and interviews written for various magazines and newspapers. Some of the pieces had also been previously published on the internet. The book is divided into three sections: "People Together", articles about people who find unique ways of achieving togetherness; "Portraits", interviews and short essays mostly about famous individuals; and "Personal", autobiographical
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
pieces.
An abridged audiobook version read by the author was released at the same time as the print edition. An unabridged version co-read by Dennis Boutsikaris
Dennis Boutsikaris
Dennis Boutsikaris is an American two-time Obie-Award winning character actor. He is a Broadway Actor and frequent television guest star and leading man in made-for-TV movies...
was released later.
People Together
- "Testy Festy" — reporting from the Rock Creek Lodge Testicle FestivalTesticle FestivalA Testicle Festival is an event held at several small towns in which the featured activity is the consumption of testicles, usually battered and fried. The oldest such festival takes place in Byron, Illinois,, and features turkey testicles...
in MontanaMontanaMontana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,... - "Where Meat Comes From" — reporting from the North Regional Olympic Trial in Waterloo, IowaWaterloo, IowaWaterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two...
- "You Are Here" — about a writer's conference at the Airport Sheraton Hotel and the increase in writers in recent times
- "Demolition" — reporting from the Lind Combine Demolition Derby in Lind, WashingtonLind, WashingtonLind is a town in Adams County, Washington, United States. The population was 564 at the 2010 census, a 3.1% decrease over the preceding census.-History:...
- "My Life as a Dog" — about the author and a friend dressing in a dalmatian and a dancing bear costume (respectively) while walking through downtown Seattle
- "Confessions in Stone" — about three men who build castles as a hobby
- "Frontiers" — about a month in the author's life in which he used steroids
- "The People Can" — reporting on the life of the crew on board the submarine USS LouisianaUSS Louisiana (SSBN-743)The fourth commissioned USS Louisiana is the 18th and last ship of the United States Navys of nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarines...
- "The Lady" — about a party held by the author in which self-proclaimed psychics were invited
Portraits
- "In Her Own Words" — an interview with actress Juliette LewisJuliette LewisJuliette Lewis is an American actress and musician. She gained international fame for her role in the 1991 thriller Cape Fear for which she was nominated for both an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress...
- "Why Isn't He Budging?" — a monologue by journalist Andrew SullivanAndrew SullivanAndrew Michael Sullivan is an English author, editor, political commentator and blogger. He describes himself as a political conservative. He has focused on American political life....
about his life - "Not Chasing Amy" — an essay on the author Amy HempelAmy HempelAmy Hempel is an American short story writer, journalist, and university professor at Brooklyn College.-Life:Hempel was born in Chicago, Illinois...
- "Reading Yourself" — an interview with musician Marilyn MansonMarilyn Manson (person)Marilyn Manson is an American musician, artist and former music journalist known for his controversial stage persona and image as the lead singer of the eponymous band Marilyn Manson...
- "Bodhisattvas" — an interview with Michelle Keating, a woman who searches for dead bodies at the sites of disasters with the help of her dogs
- "Human Error" — an interview with Brian Walker, an inventor who built his own spaceship
- "Dear Mr. Levin," — a letter to author Ira LevinIra LevinIra Levin was an American author, dramatist and songwriter.-Professional life:Levin attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa...
Personal
- "Escort" — about the author's time spent working as a volunteer for a hospice
- "Almost California" — about how Palahniuk managed to get an infection on his scalp while preparing to take a trip to Hollywood to meet the producers of the film versionFight Club (film)Fight Club is a 1999 American film based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. The film was directed by David Fincher and stars Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter. Norton plays the unnamed protagonist, an "everyman" who is discontented with his white-collar job...
of Fight ClubFight Club (novel)Fight Club is a 1996 novel by Chuck Palahniuk. It follows the experiences of an unnamed protagonist struggling with insomnia. Inspired by his doctor's exasperated remark that insomnia is not suffering, he finds relief by impersonating a seriously ill person in several support groups... - "The Lip Enhancer" — about the author's experience with using a lip "enhancing" device
- "Monkey Think, Monkey Do" — about people who have been influenced to imitate the events of Fight Club
- "Brinksmanship" — about the subject of death and the author's experiences with it
- "Now I Remember..." — about the subject of memory and how it affects the author
- "Consolation Prizes" — about how Palahniuk's friends influenced the events of Fight Club
Editions
- ISBN 0-385-50448-9 (hardcover, 2004)
- ISBN 0-7393-1238-3 (audiobook CD, 2004)
- ISBN 0-7393-1237-5 (audiobook cassette, 2004)
- ISBN 0-385-72222-2 (paperback, 2005)
See also
- Fugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, OregonFugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, OregonFugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon is a travelogue by novelist Chuck Palahniuk.The book alternates between autobiographical chapters, and lists of the author's favorite activities in his home city of Portland, Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.Palahniuk guides...
, Palahniuk's other non-fiction work.