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Clump: An American Splatire
CLUMP reads like a head-on collision between Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and Chuck Palahniuk.
Clump is a man with no name, no past and, most importantly, no head. The huge, heavily muscled giant is unaware of the world around him, but improbably becomes the most popular entertainer in America. Clump's unscrupulous medical and media handlers work desperately to manage his skyrocketing career and wholesome, family-friendly public image...while concealing the inconvenient fact that the headless man is homicidally dangerous when touched.
A so-called "splatire" owing to the mix of razor-sharp comedy and graphic violence, CLUMP's satiric targets include the entertainment industry, medicine, journalism, corporate greed and ineptitude, politics, and a morally vacuous culture that increasingly and enthusiastically embraces the brainless.
This scathingly hilarious novel is not for the faint-hearted, the thin-skinned, or the unadventurous but is an all-you-can stomach buffet for those who like their comedy dark and their social commentary barbed.
Clump is a man with no name, no past and, most importantly, no head. The huge, heavily muscled giant is unaware of the world around him, but improbably becomes the most popular entertainer in America. Clump's unscrupulous medical and media handlers work desperately to manage his skyrocketing career and wholesome, family-friendly public image...while concealing the inconvenient fact that the headless man is homicidally dangerous when touched.
A so-called "splatire" owing to the mix of razor-sharp comedy and graphic violence, CLUMP's satiric targets include the entertainment industry, medicine, journalism, corporate greed and ineptitude, politics, and a morally vacuous culture that increasingly and enthusiastically embraces the brainless.
This scathingly hilarious novel is not for the faint-hearted, the thin-skinned, or the unadventurous but is an all-you-can stomach buffet for those who like their comedy dark and their social commentary barbed.
- GenresFiction
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2001
10 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 5, 2024
A book showing S Redman White has two personalities, that may be fighting with each other.
The first part was the sort of irrelevant literary mischief that caused people to challenge me as a reader "What are you laughing about?" as I rolled with hearty belly laughs. Perhaps it has been since reading "Blott on the Landscape," a novel by Englishman Tom Sharpe that words on a page caused such uncontrollable giggles. It was this first half that lead to my being told I should go read Clump outside if I was going to be so noisy laughing!
Then a bit after half way in, S Redman White's evil twin takes over the writing, as the story goes political and becomes a bit dark & scary. Maybe more than "a bit" dark & scary if you are paying attention to the what passes as national leadership in real life in 2024... Maybe the stuff that should disturb you but good?!
Tepid and proper readers may struggle with some of the insanities and "messy stuff" as you can't tell this sort of story without a few graphical adventures.
Truly "An American Splatire" adventure where Clump truly becomes the star everyone's talking about!
The first part was the sort of irrelevant literary mischief that caused people to challenge me as a reader "What are you laughing about?" as I rolled with hearty belly laughs. Perhaps it has been since reading "Blott on the Landscape," a novel by Englishman Tom Sharpe that words on a page caused such uncontrollable giggles. It was this first half that lead to my being told I should go read Clump outside if I was going to be so noisy laughing!
Then a bit after half way in, S Redman White's evil twin takes over the writing, as the story goes political and becomes a bit dark & scary. Maybe more than "a bit" dark & scary if you are paying attention to the what passes as national leadership in real life in 2024... Maybe the stuff that should disturb you but good?!
Tepid and proper readers may struggle with some of the insanities and "messy stuff" as you can't tell this sort of story without a few graphical adventures.
Truly "An American Splatire" adventure where Clump truly becomes the star everyone's talking about!
November 25, 2011
Article first published as Book Review: Clump, an American Splatire by S. Redman White on Blogcritics.
The power of the media is so expansive even the most average of things can take on a connotation of celebrity through a few words deemed newsworthy. Top that power with the advent of YouTube, we find overnight media sensations everywhere.
In Clump, An American Splatire by S. Redman White, we are introduced to a frenzy of the strangest kind. This dark satire takes us into the industries most revered, and pokes fun at the differing greed and self-interest often manifested.
Investigation of an attempted suicide takes detectives and emergency personnel to a hotel where an unidentified man has used a shotgun to blow off his head. The graphics of the description are quite vivid. The blast takes off the head and yet leaves just a tongue and a bit of brain matter. As the investigators tend to the scene, they are in for a huge surprise. The man is still living. Rushed to the hospital, he is put into the hands of Doctor Tetlow. Here is where the truly bizarre comes into being. Finding that this headless human seems to be able to live on its own, Tetlow takes advantage of the situation, using the situation to make himself famous.
The headless body is out of control and dangerous, and yet one of the orderlies, nicknamed Cannonball for his size, finds that music sooths the savage soul. Well, sort of.
The louder and more obnoxious the music, the more Clump (as he has been dubbed by the media) reacts. He begins a strange yet oddly alluring form of dancing, using moves from different forms of fighting. Cannonball is so excited at this new phenomenon; he tapes it on his cell phone and broadcasts it via YouTube. A new sensation and cult addiction has just begun.
White creates a creepy and ‘splatiracal’ look at the ability to take the absurd and make it real through the power of suggestion. Whether that suggestion is at the hands of the media, or the cults that find and follow these strange videos, there is a connection as to how perception of stardom occurs. White takes his story and pokes fun at the different committees and groups in business and how they are run. He pokes fun at the different industries and keeps you entertained with the endeavors of this strangely homicidal headless man.
His characters are entertaining and much of the nonsensical situations are laugh aloud funny. This is not a novel for the faint at heart, there is some graphic scenery and the humor may not be for everyone.
If you enjoy your satire dark and adventurous, you will find this evocative ‘splatire’ written by White, an interesting addition to your library. This novel might also be an interesting addition to a reading group, one that is interested in dark satires that may carry just a bit of truth. These thoughts on different industries could create quite a bit of dialogue.
This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
The power of the media is so expansive even the most average of things can take on a connotation of celebrity through a few words deemed newsworthy. Top that power with the advent of YouTube, we find overnight media sensations everywhere.
In Clump, An American Splatire by S. Redman White, we are introduced to a frenzy of the strangest kind. This dark satire takes us into the industries most revered, and pokes fun at the differing greed and self-interest often manifested.
Investigation of an attempted suicide takes detectives and emergency personnel to a hotel where an unidentified man has used a shotgun to blow off his head. The graphics of the description are quite vivid. The blast takes off the head and yet leaves just a tongue and a bit of brain matter. As the investigators tend to the scene, they are in for a huge surprise. The man is still living. Rushed to the hospital, he is put into the hands of Doctor Tetlow. Here is where the truly bizarre comes into being. Finding that this headless human seems to be able to live on its own, Tetlow takes advantage of the situation, using the situation to make himself famous.
The headless body is out of control and dangerous, and yet one of the orderlies, nicknamed Cannonball for his size, finds that music sooths the savage soul. Well, sort of.
The louder and more obnoxious the music, the more Clump (as he has been dubbed by the media) reacts. He begins a strange yet oddly alluring form of dancing, using moves from different forms of fighting. Cannonball is so excited at this new phenomenon; he tapes it on his cell phone and broadcasts it via YouTube. A new sensation and cult addiction has just begun.
White creates a creepy and ‘splatiracal’ look at the ability to take the absurd and make it real through the power of suggestion. Whether that suggestion is at the hands of the media, or the cults that find and follow these strange videos, there is a connection as to how perception of stardom occurs. White takes his story and pokes fun at the different committees and groups in business and how they are run. He pokes fun at the different industries and keeps you entertained with the endeavors of this strangely homicidal headless man.
His characters are entertaining and much of the nonsensical situations are laugh aloud funny. This is not a novel for the faint at heart, there is some graphic scenery and the humor may not be for everyone.
If you enjoy your satire dark and adventurous, you will find this evocative ‘splatire’ written by White, an interesting addition to your library. This novel might also be an interesting addition to a reading group, one that is interested in dark satires that may carry just a bit of truth. These thoughts on different industries could create quite a bit of dialogue.
This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
July 24, 2011
If you want to read one of the best satires ever, read Clump. Clump is NOT for the faint hearted. It is violent, tastelessly shocking and absolutely politically incorrect but it always shocks with a purpose and you will laugh out loud. The characters are so well drawn you will recognize every one of them. In an upside down world, where the most unethical and self interested seem to thrive, it is incredibly cathartic to see all the really bad guys get exactly what they deserve. It is a funny, poignant and brilliant commentary on the state of our culture today. The freshest and most entertaining book I have read in ages.
September 7, 2019
This was one of the most unusual books I have ever read. It is very, very funny in a dark and grotesque kind of way. I don't think it's for everyone but I really enjoyed it and laughed out loud several times. Clump is a headless, brainless, superbly fit man who becomes internationally famous through the manipulation of the media. I can see Quentin Tarantino making a movie of this story. It would be over the top with violence and satire - horrifying in a can't look away from the train wreck kind of way. I highly recommend this book for those who are not too squeamish when it comes to violence. It also helps if you have a twisted sense of humor. This book is weird fun.
June 10, 2020
Dark, powerful modern satire
Equal parts funny, tragic and depressing as a good satire should be, the title character is apparently the victim of a failed suicide attempt. Miraculously alive after the shotgun blast removed almost all his brain, Clump mindlessly reacts violently to any stimulus - the lightest touch results in a deadly attack by this man-giant. Music, loud enough to be felt rather then heard, however, sends him into awe-inspiring freestyle dance. An immediate Internet sensation, Clump is exploited by an ever-growing circle of venal people and corporations.
Equal parts funny, tragic and depressing as a good satire should be, the title character is apparently the victim of a failed suicide attempt. Miraculously alive after the shotgun blast removed almost all his brain, Clump mindlessly reacts violently to any stimulus - the lightest touch results in a deadly attack by this man-giant. Music, loud enough to be felt rather then heard, however, sends him into awe-inspiring freestyle dance. An immediate Internet sensation, Clump is exploited by an ever-growing circle of venal people and corporations.
September 30, 2014
What a clever and wicked little satire this is! If you're an American, you will recognize every evil little turn in this story. It's been quite an entertaining read, and I recommend it...for those who can stomach it!
September 7, 2024
Who thinks of this stuff?
Highly amusing read, and more than once I found myself wondering what kind of mind dreams up a story like this.
In the first half of the novel, I'm thinking that this would make a good Mel Brooks movie. Then later I'm thinking Farrely Brothers. Then, finally thinking Coen Brothers.
Either way, an original, weird, hilarious and strange story.
Highly recommend.
Highly amusing read, and more than once I found myself wondering what kind of mind dreams up a story like this.
In the first half of the novel, I'm thinking that this would make a good Mel Brooks movie. Then later I'm thinking Farrely Brothers. Then, finally thinking Coen Brothers.
Either way, an original, weird, hilarious and strange story.
Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews