In the tomorrow of Thinner Than Thou, the cult of the body has become the one true religion. The Dedicated Sisters are a religious order sworn to help anorexic, bulimic, and morbidly obese youth. Throughout the land, houses of worship have been replaced by the health clubs of the Crossed Triceps. And through hypnotically powerful evangelical infomercials, the Reverend Earl preaches the heaven of the Afterfat, where you will look like a Greek god and can eat anything you want. Just sign over your life savings and come to Sylphania, the most luxurious weight-loss spa in the world, where the Reverend himself will personally supervise your attainment of physical perfection.
But the glory of youth and thinness that America worships conceals a hidden world where teens train for the competitive eating circuit, where fat porn and obese strippers feed people's dark desires, and where an underground railroad of rebellious religions remember when people worshipped God instead of the Afterfat.
As Annie, an anorexic, and her friend Kelly, who is so massive she can barely walk, find out, the tender promises of the Dedicated Sisters are fulfilled by forced feedings and enforced starvation in hidden prisons.
As middle-aged Jeremy discovers, Sylphania is a concentration camp where failure to lose weight and tone up leads to brutal punishment.
The Rev. Earl's public sympathy for the overweight conceals a private contempt . . . and, beneath that, a terrible longing known only to a select few.
The inevitable decay of old age is the only thing keeping mankind from reaching perfection. Luckily, Reverend Earl has a plan that will take care of that . . . .
Industry Reviews
"'Super-Size Me' meets 'Soylent Green.'" "A clever what-if, Reed's tale is provocative as well as amusing." "A mordant vision of a brave new world....Reed serves a feast of entertaining food for thought." "Serves up its hard truths and caustic commentary with large helpings of humor and intelligence." "Sink your teeth into this delicious story, a wild, irresistible ride through a not implausible dystopic future." "My first reaction after reading the book was to think, 'How horrifying!' My second thought, almost immediately following the first, was: 'That future is not very far off.'" "In a world of Dr Atkins, facelifts, botox and eating disorders, this nightmare vision hits the pressure points like acupuncture. Multi-faceted, witty, and endlessly inventive." "''Super-Size Me'' meets ''Soylent Green.''" "A clever what-if, Reed''s tale is provocative as well as amusing." "Health clubs replace houses of worship in Reed''s not-so-science-fiction novel Thinner Than Thou." "Darkly humorous and unsettling, this is an important book that warns us where society''s pressure to be young, thin, and beautiful could lead." "Health clubs replace houses of worship in Reed's not-so-science-fiction novel Thinner Than Thou." --Vanity Fair
"A clever what-if, Reed's tale is provocative as well as amusing." --People
"Sink your teeth into this delicious story, a wild, irresistible ride through a not implausible dystopic future." --M. G. Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Forever Barbie
"'Super-Size Me' meets 'Soylent Green.'" --Entertaintment Weekly
"A mordant vision of a brave new world where religion is rooted in the worship of one's body as a sacred temple utterly free from the fleshy sins of flab. Reed serves a feast of entertaining food for thought." --The Associated Press
"A compelling novel [that] captures the pain, emptiness, and absurdity of the quest for physical perfection but opens the possibility of liberation from this tyranny. This provocative and engaging book is a must-read for anyone concerned about our culture's increasing obsession with physical appearance." --Ruth Striegel-Moore, co-author of Eating Disorders: Innovative Directions in Research and Practice
"In a world of Dr Atkins, facelifts, botox and eating disorders, this nightmare vision hits the pressure points like acupuncture. Multi-faceted, witty, and endlessly inventive." --Geoff Ryman
"This satire on the Obese Society, the slimming industry and materialistic religion is Reed at her mordant best." --Michael Moorcock
"Darkly humorous and unsettling, this is an important book that warns us where society's chpressure to be young, thin, and beautiful could lead." --Romantic Times
"Stinging and mordantly witty." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"My first reaction after reading the book was to think, 'How horrifying!' My second thought, almost immediately following the first, was: 'That future is not very far off.'" --The Chicago Sun-Times
"Serves up its hard truths and caustic commentary with large helpings of humor and intelligence. Thinner Than Thou is highly recommended to all, including readers with eating disorders-but then, is there anyone in this culture who doesn't have issues with food?" --Pamela Sargent on Scifi.com Health clubs replace houses of worship in Reed's not-so-science-fiction novel "Thinner Than Thou." "Vanity Fair"
A clever what-if, Reed's tale is provocative as well as amusing. "People"
Sink your teeth into this delicious story, a wild, irresistible ride through a not implausible dystopic future. "M. G. Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Forever Barbie"
'Super-Size Me' meets 'Soylent Green.' "Entertaintment Weekly"
A mordant vision of a brave new world where religion is rooted in the worship of one's body as a sacred temple utterly free from the fleshy sins of flab. Reed serves a feast of entertaining food for thought. "The Associated Press"
A compelling novel [that] captures the pain, emptiness, and absurdity of the quest for physical perfection but opens the possibility of liberation from this tyranny. This provocative and engaging book is a must-read for anyone concerned about our culture's increasing obsession with physical appearance. "Ruth Striegel-Moore, co-author of Eating Disorders: Innovative Directions in Research and Practice"
In a world of Dr Atkins, facelifts, botox and eating disorders, this nightmare vision hits the pressure points like acupuncture. Multi-faceted, witty, and endlessly inventive. "Geoff Ryman"
This satire on the Obese Society, the slimming industry and materialistic religion is Reed at her mordant best. "Michael Moorcock"
Darkly humorous and unsettling, this is an important book that warns us where society's chpressure to be young, thin, and beautiful could lead. "Romantic Times"
Stinging and mordantly witty. "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"
My first reaction after reading the book was to think, 'How horrifying!' My second thought, almost immediately following the first, was: 'That future is not very far off.' "The Chicago Sun-Times"
Serves up its hard truths and caustic commentary with large helpings of humor and intelligence. Thinner Than Thou is highly recommended to all, including readers with eating disorders-but then, is there anyone in this culture who doesn't have issues with food? "Pamela Sargent on Scifi.com"" "Health clubs replace houses of worship in Reed's not-so-science-fiction novel "Thinner Than Thou.""--"Vanity Fair"
"A clever what-if, Reed's tale is provocative as well as amusing."--"People"
"Sink your teeth into this delicious story, a wild, irresistible ride through a not implausible dystopic future."-M. G. Lord, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Forever Barbie"
"'Super-Size Me' meets 'Soylent Green.'"--"Entertaintment Weekly"
"A mordant vision of a brave new world where religion is rooted in the worship of one's body as a sacred temple utterly free from the fleshy sins of flab. Reed serves a feast of entertaining food for thought."--"The Associated Press "
"A compelling novel [that] captures the pain, emptiness, and absurdity of the quest for physical perfection but opens the possibility of liberation from this tyranny. This provocative and engaging book is a must-read for anyone concerned about our culture's increasing obsession with physical appearance."-Ruth Striegel-Moore, co-author of "Eating Disorders: Innovative Directions in Research and Practice"
"In a world of Dr Atkins, facelifts, botox and eating disorders, this nightmare vision hits the pressure points like acupuncture. Multi-faceted, witty, and endlessly inventive."--Geoff Ryman "This satire on the Obese Society, the slimming industry and materialistic religion is Reed at her mordant best."--Michael Moorcock
"Darkly humorous and unsettling, this is an important book that warns us where society's chpressure to be young, thin, and beautiful could lead."--"Romantic Times"
"Stinging and mordantly witty."--"Publishers Weekly" (starred review)
"My first reaction after reading the book was to think, 'How horrifying!' My second thought, almost immediately following the first, was: 'That future is not very far off.'"--"The Chicago Sun-Times"
"Serves up its hard truths and caustic commentary with large helpings of humor and intelligence. Thinner Than Thou is highly recommended to all, including readers with eating disorders-but then, is there anyone in this culture who doesn't have issues with food?"
--Pamela Sargent on Scifi.com Praise for "Thinner Than Thou"
"Health clubs replace houses of worship in Reed's not-so-science-fiction novel "Thinner Than Thou.""--"Vanity Fair"
"A clever what-if, Reed's tale is provocative as well as amusing."--"People"
"Sink your teeth into this delicious story, a wild, irresistible ride through a not implausible dystopic future."-M. G. Lord, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Forever Barbie" "'Super-Size Me' meets 'Soylent Green.'"--"Entertaintment Weekly"
"A mordant vision of a brave new world where religion is rooted in the worship of one's body as a sacred temple utterly free from the fleshy sins of flab. Reed serves a feast of entertaining food for thought."--"The Associated Press "
"A compelling novel [that] captures the pain, emptiness, and absurdity of the quest for physical perfection but opens the possibility of liberation from this tyranny. This provocative and engaging book is a must-read for anyone concerned about our culture's increasing obsession with physical appearance."-Ruth Striegel-Moore, co-author of "Eating Disorders: Innovative Directions in Research and Practice"
"In a world of Dr Atkins, facelifts, botox and eating disorders, this nightmare vision hits the pressure points like acupuncture. Multi-faceted, witty, and endlessly inventive."--Geoff Ryman
"This satire on the Obese Society, the slimming industry and materialistic religion is Reed at her mordant best."--Michael Moorcock
"Darkly humorous and unsettling, this is an important book that warns us where society's chpressure to be young, thin, and beautiful could lead."--"Romantic Times"
"Stinging and mordantly witty."--"Publishers Weekly" (starred review)
"My first reaction after reading the book was to think, 'How horrifying!' My second thought, almost immediately following the first, was: 'That future is not very far off.'"--"The Chicago Sun-Times"
"Serves up its hard truths and c Praise for "Thinner Than Thou":
"Health clubs replace houses of worship in Reed's not-so-science-fiction novel "Thinner Than Thou"."--"Vanity Fair"
"A clever what-if, Reed's tale is provocative as well as amusing."--"People"
"Sink your teeth into this delicious story, a wild, irresistible ride through a not implausible dystopic future."-M. G. Lord, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Forever Barbie" "'Super-Size Me' meets 'Soylent Green.'"--"Entertaintment Weekly"
"A mordant vision of a brave new world where religion is rooted in the worship of one's body as a sacred temple utterly free from the fleshy sins of flab. Reed serves a feast of entertaining food for thought."--"The Associated Press "
"A compelling novel [that] captures the pain, emptiness, and absurdity of the quest for physical perfection but opens the possibility of liberation from this tyranny. This provocative and engaging book is a must-read for anyone concerned about our culture's increasing "This provocative and engaging book is a must-read for anyone concerned about our culture''s increasing obsession with physical appearance." "Research and Practice" Praise for "Thinner Than Thou:
"Health clubs replace houses of worship in Reed's not-so-science-fiction novel "Thinner Than Thou."--"Vanity Fair
"A clever what-if, Reed's tale is provocative as well as amusing."--"People
"Sink your teeth into this delicious story, a wild, irresistible ride through a not implausible dystopic future."-M. G. Lord, "New York Times bestselling author of "Forever Barbie "'Super-Size Me' meets 'Soylent Green.'"--"Entertaintment Weekly
"A mordant vision of a brave new world where religion is rooted in the worship of one's body as a sacred temple utterly free from the fleshy sins of flab. Reed serves a feast of entertaining food for thought."--"The Associated Press
"A compelling novel [that] captures the pain, emptiness, and absurdity of the quest for physical perfection but opens the possibility of liberation from this tyranny. This provocative and engaging book is a must-read for anyone concerned about our culture's increasing obsession with physical appearance."-Ruth Striegel-Moore, co-author of "Eating Disorders: Innovative Directions in Research and Practice
"In a world of Dr Atkins, facelifts, botox and eating disorders, this nightmare vision hits the pressure points like acupuncture. Multi-faceted, witty, and endlessly inventive."--Geoff Ryman
"This satire on the Obese Society, the slimming industry and materialistic religion is Reed at her mordant best."--Michael Moorcock
"Darkly humorous and unsettling, this is an important book that warns us where society's chpressure to be young, thin, and beautiful could lead."--"Romantic Times
"Stinging and mordantly witty."--"Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"My firstreaction after reading the book was to think, 'How horrifying!' My second thought, almost immediately following the first, was: 'That future is not very far off.'"--"The Chicago Sun-Times
"Serves up its hard truths and caustic commentary with large helpings of humor and intelligence. Thinner Than Thou is highly recommended to all, including readers with eating disorders-but then, is there anyone in this culture who doesn't have issues with food?"
--Pamela Sargent on Scifi.com
