The final section of the novel takes a decidedly darker turn. Palahniuk paints a not-so-far look into a future where the Department of Homeland Security has escalated into an entity that scoffs at due process and rules the land with an iron fist.

Two years after "Haunted" was met with critical indifference, Chuck Palahniuk has reached into his bag of tricks once again and pulled out another unanimously bizarre concept.

The author of numerous scathing satires such as "Fight Club," "Choke" and "Survivor" has unleashed his newest creation on the public.

"Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey" is bursting at the seams with originality and mystery. Recounting the life of one Buster Casey, the novel tells his story through a collection of interviews with friends, family, admirers and complete strangers.

The story is divided into thirds. Palahniuk begins by showcasing Buster "Rant" Casey's rise from country misfit to local legend. The setting of Middleton, USA is perfectly described as the kind of place where "sleeping dogs have the permanent right-of-way."

The second part deals with Rant making a pilgrimage to "The Big City," and becoming ingrained in the new counter-culture pastime of "party crashing." Crashing consists of willing participants engaging in public demolition derbies.

Themes consist of "Wedding Night," where drivers dress up in gowns and tuxedos and stalk the night in cars decked out with "Just Married" painted in their windows. There is also "Tree Night," where crashers speed around town with fully decorated Christmas trees atop their vehicles.

The final section of the novel takes a decidedly darker turn. Palahniuk paints a not-so-far look into a future where the Department of Homeland Security has escalated into an entity that scoffs at due process and rules the land with an iron fist.

Coupled with this, a rabies epidemic is threatening to become a new plague. However, this all seems to be overshadowed when we start to hear whispers that time-travel may be the key to true immortality.

Each section exhibits Palahniuk's dark humor and nausea-inducing situations. He tackles subjects from incest to physical deformities with care and vision, making even the most horrific of situations seem humorous.

Also present are the usual encyclopedic tangents that make the story feel bloated, yet ultimately satisfying. By the end of the novel, the reader will become an expert on police auctions, communicable diseases and coin collecting.

A problem that lies at the heart of "Rant," as well as most Palahniuk novels, is the fact that each narrator seems to have the exact same voice. Despite vast geographical and educational differences, everyone expresses the same sarcastic and cynical outlook on life that sounds more like the author than his creations.

Another problem that may occur lies in the content itself. If you were turned off by the graphic violence, sexuality and gore of any of Chuck Palahniuk�s pervious endeavors, then "Rant" is not for you. However, both of these are merely minor divots in an otherwise steady road that the author has meticulously laid before us.

The climax of the novel occurs near the very end, leaving readers hungry for more. Thankfully, in his interview with The UWM Post, Palahniuk said that "Rant" is the first part of a trilogy, with a new installment being released every two years.

Palahniuk has not only crafted a stellar novel, but also laid the foundation for a series with the utmost potential.

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