Superstars, published in France in 2000 by Flammarion

Flammarion

Flammarion may refer to:* Camille Flammarion , French astronomer* Gabrielle Renaudot Flammarion , French astronomer, wife of Camille Flammarion* The Flammarion engraving by unknown artist; appeared in a book by Camille Flammarion...

 and translated in several languages, is the second novel by Ann Scott

Ann Scott

Ann Scott is a French novelist.She is regarded as a social realist for her novels, which paint detailed portraits of contemporary youth haunted by teenage boredom, drugs, materialism, status obsession and social trangression. Her second novel Superstars has given her a cult status in...

. Relating the tales of the techno

Techno

Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...

 culture emerging in France and in Europe in the late nineties, this pop novel instantly gave its author a cult status.

Plot summary

This novel, set in Paris, portrays the economically bleak and emotionally taut lives of three roommates craving for artistic recognition and fame. Evolving in the trends of glamorous parties, borderline sex and designer drugs, Louise, the main character, just turned thirty, is facing an identity crisis. Now working as a techno deejay and a producer, she used to be a bass player for rock bands. Entering the world of electronic music and raves, she also became bisexual. Now she's wondering where this is all leading her.

Literary significance

An entire generation found itself represented in these dilemmas of heterosexual vs bisexual identity and rock vs techno tastes.

This novel pays a tribute to seventies rock musicians such as The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...

, eighties punk musicians such as Johnny Thunders

Johnny Thunders

Johnny Thunders, born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. , was an American protopunk guitarist, singer and songwriter.He came to prominence in the early '70s as a member of the New York Dolls...

 or The Ramones, and worldwide known deejays such as Jeff Mills

Jeff Mills

Jeff Mills is an American techno DJ and producer.-Career:Starting in the early 1980s, Mills, using the name "The Wizard", was a recurring guest DJ on "The Electrifying Mojo" radio show on WJLB...

, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson

Kevin Saunderson

Kevin Saunderson is an American electronic music producer. At the age of nine he moved to Belleville, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit where he attended Belleville High School and befriended two students, Derrick May and Juan Atkins...

, DJ Rush. It also pays tribute to French female deejay DJ Sextoy who died in 2002.

Its pop content of music, arts, fashion, sex and drugs turned it into a bestseller in France.

The novel was criticized by some gay and lesbians associations in France who felt that Ann Scott was depicting a very ironic portrait of gay behaviors and gay people in general. Ann Scott declared that being bisexual brings some kind of balance to her life, but that the gay relationships she's been in were all rather pathological for her.

A movie is on the way.

Editions

• Hardback : Editions Flammarion, October 2000 (ISBN 9-782080-678379)
• Paperback : Editions J'ai lu, April 2002 (ISBN 9-785590-351673)