Less than Zero (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Bret Easton Ellis |
| Products | Novel |
Less than Zero marks the debut novel of Bret Easton Ellis, released in 1985 when he was just 21 years old and still attending Bennington College. The book’s title is derived from the song by Elvis Costello sharing the same name.
Plot summary
The narrative centers on Clay, a privileged university student who returns to his hometown of Los Angeles during the winter break around 1984. Told through Clay’s first-person perspective, the story explores his increasing detachment from the surrounding social environment and his disillusionment with his acquaintances.
Upon reuniting with his former girlfriend Blair and friends such as Trent, who has become a successful model, Clay becomes involved in a lifestyle filled with drug use and casual sexual relationships. He also seeks to rebuild his fractured friendship with Julian. Throughout these experiences, Clay reminisces about a family trip where he was uniquely troubled by his grandmother’s terminal cancer diagnosis.
As Clay observes growing indifference among his circle—witnessing friends photographing Muriel injecting heroin and others becoming aroused by a snuff film—his sense of alienation intensifies. Eventually, he locates Julian, who asks to borrow a substantial amount of money, claiming it is needed for an abortion. Julian later confesses to being addicted to heroin and resorting to prostitution to settle drug-related debts, introducing Clay to his controlling pimp, Finn. Clay accompanies Julian to a hotel where he is forced to watch him with a married businessman concealing his homosexuality.
After attending a concert, Clay and his companions come across the body of someone who has overdosed. At Rip’s residence, who acts as a drug dealer, Clay confronts him over keeping a drugged sex slave, though Trent chooses to remain complicit.
As winter break draws to a close, Clay feels increasingly isolated and contemplates the grim realities around him before returning to college in New Hampshire.
Background
Ellis began writing Less than Zero in 1980, drawing inspiration from authors like Joan Didion, the noir atmosphere of Los Angeles, and the ambiguous morality depicted in American Gigolo. This work represented his first serious novel after earlier juvenile writings. Originally drafted in third-person with an emotionally intense tone, Ellis revised it into a sparse first-person narrative following guidance from his creative writing instructor Joe McGinniss.
According to Danny Bonaduce’s 2002 memoir, the fictional high school in the novel closely mirrors The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California—the alma mater of Ellis and other affluent children of celebrities such as Michael Jackson and Christian Brando. Bonaduce noted that while some classmates were upset by their portrayal, they lamented not receiving any royalties.
Characters
Less than Zero includes an extensive array of characters; principal figures are:
- Clay
- The 18-year-old narrator and Camden College student who returns home to Los Angeles for Christmas. He reimmerses himself in a world of parties, substance abuse, and sexual encounters while confronting emotional numbness and a strained relationship with Blair.
- Blair
- Clay’s former girlfriend attending USC. Their revived relationship during the holiday quickly deteriorates due to mutual dissatisfaction.
- Julian Wells
- An old friend of Clay’s who has fallen into heroin addiction and prostitution; described as deeply troubled.
- Trent Burroughs
- A friend and UCLA model whose unethical actions escalate over the course of the story.
- Rip Millar
- A drug dealer and DJ residing in a Wilshire Boulevard penthouse known for exploiting underage girls without remorse.
- Daniel Carter
- A Camden student from Los Angeles perceived as gay by others; plans to remain in LA to pursue screenwriting rather than return to college.
- The Handsome Dunce
- A minor figure appearing at Blair’s party who later features in The Rules of Attraction as Steve from Camden College.
- Kim
- One of Blair’s friends uncertain about her film producer mother’s whereabouts; shares tense interactions with Clay concerning their uncertain futures.
- Alana
- Another friend who undergoes an abortion and briefly stays with Clay, highlighting themes of detachment and vulnerability.
- Muriel
- An anorexic young woman who openly uses heroin at a New Year’s celebration.
- Finn Delaney
- Julian’s abusive pimp who exerts emotional and sexual control while maintaining a public persona of kindness.
- Clay's family
- Clay has two younger sisters and separated parents. His mother enjoys a luxurious lifestyle supported by alimony while his father works within the film industry. Flashbacks reference his grandfather’s hotel enterprise and his deceased grandmother.
Film adaptation
In 1987, 20th Century Fox loosely transformed the novel Less than Zero into a feature film featuring Andrew McCarthy, Robert Downey Jr., Jami Gertz, and James Spader, with a young Brad Pitt appearing in a minor role. This adaptation portrays Clay as a college student who returns home determined to rescue his friends from drug dependency.
Ellis initially declined to watch the film due to its substantial departures from the source material but later acknowledged that it effectively depicted the atmosphere of the time. He clarified that the movie only retains the title, the Southern California backdrop, and character names from his book.
A longstanding rumor within Hollywood suggests that Quentin Tarantino has expressed interest in remaking Less than Zero. His collaborator Roger Avary adapted Ellis’s novel The Rules of Attraction into a 2002 film, and both have demonstrated enthusiasm for Ellis’s narratives. Ellis confirmed that Tarantino has been "attempting to persuade Fox to approve a remake" and "has shown ongoing interest" in adapting this particular story.
TV adaptation
On July 31, 2018, Hulu commissioned a pilot episode for a television series inspired by Less than Zero, with Bret Easton Ellis serving as executive producer alongside developer Craig Wright and director Brett Morgan. Austin Abrams was selected for the lead role. However, Hulu ultimately chose not to proceed with the series.
Sequel
In 2005, Ellis announced plans for a follow-up novel centered on the original characters now nearing middle age. By January 2008, he disclosed that this sequel would be titled Imperial Bedrooms, named after an album and song by Elvis Costello. The book was released in 2010.
Reception
Reflecting on Less than Zero in 2005, Ellis shared his thoughts:
Following the publication of Imperial Bedrooms, Details magazine highlighted how early reviewers had dismissed Less than Zero as nihilistic and lacking realism, citing Michiko Kakutani’s 1985 critique describing it as "one of the most disturbing novels." Ellis expressed surprise at this characterization, while the magazine recognized him for foreseeing cultural icons such as Paris Hilton and the Kardashians.