Reality: The Novel.(Brief article)(Book review)

Reality: The Novel JEW HAVENS. Academy Chicago (www.academychicago.com), $17.95 paper (270p) ISBN 978-0-89733-548-5

In this satirical first novel by standup comic Havens, a reality television consultant lives a life as absurd as the shows he pitches. Stanford-educated Trent Tucker wants to create decent programming, but his overtly stereotypical colleagues--the "Flamboyant Homosexual," the "Angry Black Man," the "Token Harlot," etc.--are content to cater to the lowest common denominator. ("We can't kill people on TV," Trent says about a show idea. His team members rebut: "Why do you have to be so negative?") He finally …