Chuck Palahniuk is an acclaimed American satirist and author known for his mix of fascinating, dystopian, and often darkly comic fiction. His latest work, Adjustment Day, is described as “Fight Club meets The Hunger Games”: Set twenty years in the future, it is the story of a mysterious public holiday that brings about a strange and explosive transformation of American politics and culture.
The novel begins in the present day United States, and introduces us to a host of different characters whose paths will eventually cross as the story progresses – characters who are diametrically opposed to each other in terms of social standing, philosophy, and stature. Among them are Smithers, a shady ex-government agent; Gulag Archipelago, a vigilante street artist; Graygall, an intellectual and philanthropist; and Aaron Rench, a young man on the cusp of a grand revolutionary journey. With their ideologies, backgrounds, and connections, these characters will all be drawn together on Adjustment Day, the apex of the mysterious transformation that is about to occur.
The day in question, referred to aptly in the title, is a national mandatory event in which individuals are evaluated and grouped according to their talents and beliefs. During this day, a never-before-seen system of governance is put into place – a system of rigid social stratification based on both talent and belief. Those who fit into the designated classes are given privilege, particularly when it comes to tax, education, and other opportunities. The reason for this is that on Adjustment Day, everyone, even those who are accepted into a preferred class, must sacrifice a certain portion of their freedom for stability.
This sacrifice, however, does not come without consequences. As the novel develops, and the effects of Adjustment Day become clearer, a wave of civil war, terror, and retribution sweep through the nation. It quickly becomes clear that the supposedly peaceful day of grouping actually instigated a countrywide conflict and calamity. The question of who will win and who will lose is raised continually throughout the novel. Will the immovable and ruthless forces of Adjustment Day prevail, or will the old powers that be retain control?
The novel’s powerful ending gives a satisfying answer to this and many of the other questions raised during the course of the story. Adjustment Day is an intense and thought provoking read, one that will challenge the reader while providing an original and engaging narrative. It has the sort of nuanced social commentary that Palahniuk is known for, tempered with the dark comedy and whimsical chaos that he is also famous for. Highly recommended, it is sure to entertain and impress even the most hardened of Palahniuk’s fans.
