Porn star Annabel Chong’s 1995 film The World’s Biggest Gangbang attempted to do just what it says, with 251 “sex acts” performed with a handful of men (it was supposed to be 300, but really involved about 70) on tape. It proved to be a popular porn hook — actors could continually vie for the record, and slobs could masturbate to an endless loop of tired money shots.

Chuck Pahlaniuk’s latest novel, Snuff, is the story of one such video shoot. Only its, er, titular hero, Cassie Wright, is going to attempt to bang 600 guys. So, for this story of 600 dicks and one seriously bruised uterus, Palahniuk puts himself inside the heads of three cum-encrusted, stinky and dumb would-be porn stars and a disgruntled production assistant.

Palahniuk is a genre hero, an author beloved by people who probably don’t read any books but his. Which isn’t to say that his novels aren’t worth reading — he’s an ideas writer, so even if his prose feels clunky, there’s enough grotesque and wild details to drive it along.

Snuff is his most accomplished yet — a short, quick read full of his unique satirical poison and grotesqueries. Among the medical-text descriptions of anatomy and squirmy descriptions of sloppy seconds (and thirds, fourths, fifths…), Palahniuk muses on third-wave feminism, porn’s veneer of empowerment and male sexuality in all its sad, throbbing glory.

To Palahniuk’s credit, he hasn’t written an offensive, moralist tale of shattered dreams and sexual shame. Then again, it’s a horror story, so there’s going to be some comeuppance for these vile creatures. It’s disgusting — you’ll love it.

Watch where you put that thing, son!