Palahniuk, Chuck (1961- )

US writer. He achieved a cult following with his dark novel Fight Club (1996; filmed 1999), about a loner who becomes involved with a magnetic but dangerous character. His original, violent, and disturbing novels also include Invisible Monsters (1999), Survivor (1999), Choke (2001), Lullaby (2002), and Diary (2003).

His novels focus on isolation, fear, and deviance in a hostile, violent environment, often incorporating dark humor and irony. Other works include the travel guide/memoir Fugitives and Refugees: A Walk in Portland, Oregon (2003) and the nonfiction collection Stranger than Fiction: True Stories (2004).