A Reader's Guide to Books and Reviews

Title: Tender is the Flesh

Author: Agustina Bazterrica, Sarah Moses (Translator)

Genre: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Dark, Thriller, Horror, Dark, Contemporary, Fiction

Warning: Cannibalism, Disturbing Imagery, Gore, Violence

Date Started: January 6th, 2023

Date Finished: January 6th, 2023

Status: Finished

Rating: 3.8/5

Sypnosis: Everyone's eating human meat. Would you? A vivid, shocking dystopian novel from an Argentinian rising star

'This book will pull you in, take hold, and not let go until you reach the final page – perhaps far longer than that. Without a doubt, my favourite read of this year' Christina Dalcher, author of VOX

It all happened so quickly. First, animals became infected with the virus and their meat became poisonous. Then governments initiated the Transition. Now, 'special meat' – human meat – is legal.

Marcos is in the business of slaughtering humans – only no one calls them that. He works with numbers, consignments, processing. One day, he's given a gift to seal a deal: a specimen of the finest quality. He leaves her in his barn, tied up, a problem to be disposed of later.

But the specimen haunts Marcos. Her trembling body, her eyes that watch him, that seem to understand. And soon, he becomes tortured by what has been lost – and what might still be saved…

Agustina Bazterrica is an Argentinian novelist and short-story writer. She is a central figure in the literary scene of Buenos Aires, where she co-curates the event series 'Siga al Conejo Blanco' and coordinates reading workshops. Agustina has published a short-story collection and two novels, for which she has won several awards. Tender is the Flesh, her second novel, won the prestigious Premio Clarín Novela and has been translated into nine languages and optioned for a TV series.

Review: Before I dare begin this review, I have a question for the author - did you get the idea of this book from the movie Soylent Green? Because this sort of reminds me of that movie.

A virus has decimated animal populations. Vaccines do not work and the animals that are alive have been condemned and thrown into bonfires. This includes even pets. With no animals to placate the human population's palate, humans turn to cannibalism. Enter breeding programs where humans are bred like mindless cattle and slaughtered for their flesh.

Marcos is our lead. Coming from an older generation, Marcos has watched the decimation of the animal population and humans finding satiation in the form of cannibalism. He has been raised to learn from his father in the slaughterhouse and now he is needed to help with one where animals have been replaced by humans - both female, male, and children. As Marco navigates his life through this new world, he also has to grieve not only for the loss of his son but also for his marriage. His wife has left him to grieve the loss and is currently spending her time with her mother. Marcos's world has been colored in grey and when he is gifted with a female, the grey starts to melt away and give way to color.

This book is both horrifying and disturbing. You might stop and think that this might be ridiculous and nothing like this will ever happen. How can we be so sure? Our world, environment, and climate are changing quickly and things from the permafrost could easily be released into the air.

This book is not meant to scare you but to give you something to think of. To make you wonder what humanity might be like if this happened in the real world. Could you be able to consume your own kin? Or could you consume a child in order to continue your survival on the consumption of meat?

Again, all speculative fiction. But let's get real. This story is really not for the faint of heart. There are a lot of details of gore and things that will make you squeamish. There may be a moment when you might be like me - set it down and walk away for a moment. We never stop to think about things like this because we always believe that none of this would ever happen. Half of us probably prefer to be ignorant of the world where cannibalism is still in practice. Even History has recorded times when cannibalism has been felt in the Americas - ex. Donner Party.

I will say this - if you plan on eating or snacking while reading this, don't. You won't be able to hold it down, trust me when I say this. This book is meant to be read without food in front of you. You will thank me.