Pariah

by Charles Romalotti

Pariah is the complete three-part serial novel (Rash, Talon, and The Stickler) about a group of homeless punk rockers living on the streets of Austin, Texas in the late 1990s. The story follows their separate lives as they tangle within each other in unexpected ways. Dark, macabre, and offbeat.

Rash was an Independent Publisher's Awards Finalist for Best Horror 2002, and a National Small Press Literary Bestseller.


--REVIEWS--

Pariah is an excellent underground horror story. Perfect for reading while huddled under the covers on a dark and stormy night. If you have a penchant for dark and macabre fiction, look no further. - Maximum RockNRoll

Nothing in Pariah is what it seems to be at first. I read this novel with clenched fists, gasping and shaking my head through every twist and turn. I got so caught up in reading this I felt lost when it ended. - Fat City Magazine

This book kicks ass, dangerously so. It was such an intoxicating breath of air, albeit a dark and putrid air at times. Something Romalotti illustrates well with Pariah is that fiction doesn’t have to be fake, overdone, or preposterous in order to be captivating and meaningful. - IndustrialNation (issue #20)

The ending is completely shocking. After the first chapter, you think you have an idea of what was going to happen, but then at the end it takes a total turn, and you are left thinking, “How did all that happen?” It has a great ending! - ThroughTheseEyes.net

A wild horror-show of a ride. Romalotti’s pointed social satire never overshadows his sympathy for the main players in this nightmare tale. An excellent read. - Don DeGrazia, author of American Skin

A creepy, tense thriller that combines punk DIY sensibility with a charming, hacky-pulp style. - Roctober

For most of the book, I felt I had a firm grasp on exactly what was coming. However when the expected scene arrives, the mechanics of the situation and the complex interplay of multiple plots absolutely blows you away. This struck me as a sign of true literary talent. Simply put, this book is awesome. - Lethal Injection eZine

Typically with Romalotti, things aren’t quite as clear as they initially appear. After a series of gripping incidents and interweaving plots (none of which follow the expected path), things are left perfectly balanced for an explosive climax. - Scanner Magazine

Striking characters and memorable plots mean we’re not going to give too much away about this story. Suffice to say, it’s a gripping ride of horror, humor, and humanity. - Alternative Tentacles Records

The writing is swift and poetically descriptive, creating a world that balances on the edge of surreal and real. Rash [first act of Pariah] is brilliant. Plain and simple, this book is a must. - B-Independent

Genres: Punk, Fiction

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent read. Its been a long time since I cried for any character in a book and I found myself sobbing. Throughout the no el bombs are dropped that spin you and tie everything together beautifully. By far one of my favorite authors. It helps that he weaves his tales with beautiful and accurate descriptions on the early days of punk. I highly recommend any of his books.

[Alek Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read. Just found it far less gripping than Salad Days

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pariah is a collection of three smaller books. Rash, talon and the stickler. It kinda reads as a darker punk version of catcher in the rye, though not as good. Anyone involved in any kind of underground scene will say they know someone that is like one of the many characters in the book. It says it is a horror book and has won awards as a horror book, but it is more just a story of a run away gutterpunk and his travels. At times the book goes into over detail, but it is a good fast read.

[Andrew Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one book has like three different stories in it that all tie together in a surprising way. Deffiantley and interesting book.