Lightning People

{{Short description|2011 novel by Christopher Bollen}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox book

| name = Lightning People

| image = File:Lightning People.jpg

| caption = First edition

| alt =

| author = Christopher Bollen

| country = United States

| language = English

| genre =

| publisher = Soft Skull Press

| pub_date = September 1, 2011

| pages = 368

| isbn = 978-1-59376-419-7

}}

Lightning People is a 2011 novel by Christopher Bollen. It is Bollen's debut novel, and was first published in the United States by Soft Skull Press on September 1, 2011.{{cite news |title=Lightning People |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-59376-419-7 |access-date=September 24, 2021 |work=Publishers Weekly |date=August 8, 2011}}{{cite news |title=Lightning People |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/christopher-bollen/lightning-people/ |access-date=September 24, 2021 |work=Kirkus Reviews |date=July 20, 2011}} The book is set in New York City in the 2000s.{{cite news |last=Rovzar |first=Chris |title=164 Minutes With Christopher Bollen |url=https://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/encounter/christopher-bollen-2011-9/ |access-date=September 24, 2021 |work=New York |date=September 9, 2011}}

Critical reception was mixed. Kirkus Reviews described the novel as a "dark character study" and praised its realism and symbolism. However, other critics found the story lines implausible.{{cite magazine |title=Lightning People |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/10/17/lightning-people |access-date=September 24, 2021 |magazine=The New Yorker |date=October 17, 2011}} Viet Dinh, writing for Lambda Literary Foundation, felt that the plot lacked drama and tension.{{cite news |last=Dinh |first=Viet |title='Lightning People' by Christopher Bollen |url=https://lambdaliterary.org/2011/12/lightning-people-by-christopher-bollen/ |access-date=September 24, 2021 |publisher=Lambda Literary Foundation |date=December 11, 2011}}