Talks & Entertainment

Program format: A 30-minute talk/reading by the author, followed by 30 minutes of audience Q&A. 

From the bestselling author of Fight Club comes Shock Induction, a dark, satirical parable about a string of mysterious high school disappearances, the seedy underbellies of billionaires, and the tough choices we make in the face of an uncertain future.  

In Shock Induction, the brightest students at a seemingly reputable high school are disappearing, apparently to suicide, but something more sinister is lurking beneath the surface. These kids have been under surveillance since birth, monitored by a service called “Greener Pastures” through which billionaires recruit the next generation of talent. The highest test scores and the most niche extracurriculars just might land these teenagers an enticing offer at auction. Students must choose between following their dreams or the security of money with a lifetime of servitude—but how much of a choice do they truly have? 

Palahniuk’s novels include Snuff, Rant, Haunted, Lullaby, Diary, Survivor, Invisible Monsters, and Choke. He is also the author of the non-fiction books Fugitives and Refugees and Stranger Than Fiction.