Fighting Bullies One Book at a Time

Andrew Vachss isn’t exactly known for his light-heartedness. An author and lawyer—and former federal investigator, social worker, labor organizer and prison director—his life’s work has revolved around representing and defending children who have been victims of abuse. His 10 crime novels, the latest of which is this fall’s False Allegations, mirror his own work in real life, as do his handful of impressive graphic novels, including this fall’s Hard Looks. The Onion recently spoke with Vachss about his sobering work and his visceral, vengeance-driven crime fiction.

“I don’t love kids. I hate their predators. It’s a burning hatred I feel to this day.”

“[C]an you be noble as you practice violence, extortion, blackmail, even mass murder? The struggle to be free from oppression is, in my mind, per se noble. But noble causes attract a wide range of participants, and many would fall far short of nobility.”