SUFFER!

Sloan presents a raucous satirical novel about obsessive fans of a popular TV series.

It is almost 10 p.m. on a Thursday evening in Arleta, California, a working-class suburb of Los Angeles, and the weekly episode of Suffer is about to begin. The megahit crime series stars Roxy DeVine as the intrepid Marcia Suffer, a crime-fighting attorney by day and a vigilante by night. Four Suffer superfans are gathered around the television for their weekly ritual of watching the show and then recording their own YouTube after-show, The Suffergettes of Arleta. The tightly knit group consists of 23-year-old Theodosia “Theo” Marks, a part-time college student and caretaker of her elderly aunt; Theo’s 16-year-old half sister, Pristine “Pris” Flores, who’s been diagnosed with high-functioning autism; charming nurse Sam Ruiz, Theo’s best friend; and Theo’s 79-year-old great-aunt, Dotty Miller. They all know the pain of being outcasts, and they revel in Suffer’s theme of righteous, albeit violent, revenge. Theo, Pris, and Sam attend the DramaCon LA convention and enter a contest in which the winner will host Roxy DeVine at their home for a season-finale viewing party; all they need to do is submit a video. Meanwhile, an epic battle between show creator Marelle May and beloved star Roxy DeVine is reaching full throttle; the outcome could change the show, and its superfans’ lives, forever. Sloan makes full use of her background as a writer and producer in the network television industry to deliver a solid parody of today’s celebrity YouTube culture and the scurrilous, pompous, behind-the-scenes network power brokers and their revolving door of minions. Undergirding the farce, with its moments of slapstick, is the quirky foursome whom Sloan develops into likable, three-dimensional characters. The portrayal of Pris is especially delightful, offering a realistic and positive portrayal of life with autism. More serious issues, such as bullying, the capricious nature of fame, and the power of supportive friendships, are woven through the comedy. The carefully scripted dialogue, engaging conversational prose, and free-wheeling storyline, alternating between the Arleta protagonists and the Hollywood crew, result in a brisk read.

A fun escape enhanced by pointed social commentary.