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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
A lot
Violence including murder depicted with Ellis's characteristic affectlessness; one story features graphic vampire killings
Language
A lot
Strong language throughout in Ellis's flat California register
Sexual Content
A lot
Explicit sexual content throughout; presented without affect or moral framing
Substance Use
Very heavy
Rampant drug use is universal across the stories; cocaine, heroin, and other substances appear constantly
Emotional Intensity
Very heavy
The psychological horror of Ellis's project — moral vacancy presented without commentary, requiring the reader to supply all judgment — creates a sustained and genuinely disturbing reading experience
What this book is about
Ellis's linked story collection depicts the same world as Less Than Zero through a rotating cast of beautiful, affectless Los Angeles residents — musicians, executives, actors, and their children. The collection includes one story involving a vampire. The content is characteristic Ellis: rampant drug use is universal, explicit sexual content is matter-of-fact, violence appears without affect, and the moral vacuum is complete. Among the most disturbing works in the American literary canon; for adult readers only.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Extreme content in all categories
Drug use throughout
Violence and explicit sexual content presented without moral framing
Reader Verification
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