''Superstars'', published in France in 2000 by

Flammarion Flammarion may refer to: * Camille Flammarion (1842–1925), French astronomer and author * Gabrielle Renaudot Flammarion (1877–1962), French astronomer, wife of Camille Flammarion * Flammarion engraving by unknown artist; appeared in a book by C ...

and translated in several languages, is the second novel by Ann Scott. Relating the tales of the

techno Techno is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) which is generally produced for use in a continuous DJ set, with tempo often varying between 120 and 150 beats per minute (bpm). The central rhythm is typically in common time (4/4) and often ch ...

culture emerging in France and in Europe in the late nineties, this pop novel instantly gave its author a cult status.

Plot summary

This novel, set in Paris, portrays the economically bleak and emotionally taut lives of three roommates craving for artistic recognition and fame. Evolving in the trends of glamorous parties, borderline sex and designer drugs, Louise, the main character, just turned thirty, is facing an identity crisis. Now working as a techno deejay and a producer, she used to be a bass player for rock bands. Entering the world of electronic music and raves, she also became bisexual. Now she's wondering where this is all leading her.

Literary significance

An entire generation found itself represented in these dilemmas of heterosexual vs bisexual identity and rock vs techno tastes. This novel pays a tribute to seventies rock musicians such as

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...

, eighties punk musicians such as

Johnny Thunders John Anthony Genzale (July 15, 1952 – April 23, 1991), known professionally as Johnny Thunders, was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He came to prominence in the early 1970s as a member of the New York Dolls. He later played with ...

The Ramones The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first true punk rock group. Despite achieving a limited commercial appeal in the United ...

, and worldwide known

deejays A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile D ...

such as

Jeff Mills Jeff Mills (born June 18, 1963, in Detroit, Michigan) is an American DJ, record producer, and composer. Thanks to his technical abilities as a DJ, Mills became known as ''The Wizard'' in the early to mid 1980s. In the late 1980s Mills founded ...

, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson,

DJ Rush A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile ...

. It also pays tribute to French female deejay

DJ Sextoy A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile ...

who died in 2002. Its pop content of music, arts, fashion, sex and drugs turned it into a bestseller in France. The novel was criticized by some gay and lesbians associations in France who felt that Ann Scott was depicting a very ironic portrait of gay behaviors and gay people in general. Ann Scott declared that being bisexual brings some kind of balance to her life, but that the gay relationships she's been in were all rather pathological for her. See ''Nova Magazine'', February 2001 A movie is on the way.

Footnotes

Editions

* Hardback : Editions Flammarion, October 2000 () * Paperback : Editions J'ai lu, April 2002 ({{ISBN, 978-2-290-31816-4) 2000 French novels French-language novels Novels set in Paris Éditions Flammarion books