Taboo Explored in Horrifying Dystopian Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

I’ve been putting off reading Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica since it was first released in English in 2020. Why? Well, firstly, this is one of those books you need to be in the right mindset for. You do not want to read this book if you’re squeamish. Secondly, the book needed to be imported into South Africa—I waited a month for it to be delivered. Lastly, I may have been a smidge skeptical because of the hype surrounding the book. Alas, I have since come to learn that Tender is the Flesh deserves all the hype.

Without babbling any further, here is my book review. 🙂

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

Tender is the Flesh starts off by dropping the reader into a fictional world where animals are said to carry a virus that can kill humans. It doesn’t sound too farfetched for anyone who’s been living on this planet lately. Heck, the concept of a plague affecting dogs and cats was, after all, explored in both Escape from Planet of the Apes and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.

Cattle and swine are highly susceptible to foot-and-mouth-disease (FMP), and outbreaks occur often. One mutation, and BAM! No more meat … Now add to this mess the question of: what if the world is over-populated, the economies are crumbling, and the government has the power to brainwash the masses? It’s hardly an implausible scenario.

Just take a moment to imagine what happens when, while all of that’s going on, the CDC, WHO, the UN, scientists and whoever’s in control of the world start saying that people aren’t getting enough protein in their diets. That “plant-based” and supplements aren’t as good as the real deal.

Imagine a World not Unlike our Own …

Yup, I’m pretty sure you guessed what happens next: Cannibalism. Legalized, government sanctioned breeding and killing of humans to feed other humans. What’s more, it’s a “mostly” civilized global industry.

This is where our protagonist, Marcos Tejo, comes in. He works at a Processing Plant, where “head” (that’s what the humans for consumption are called) are … well, processed. Marcos isn’t really into his job, but he does it because it pays well and he needs the money to take care of his ailing father. What’s more, he’s actually good at what he does: Procuring head, selling head, and keeping the clients happy by making sure the head that the company sells are top notch quality. Marcos, however, is also grieving the loss of his child, has an estranged wife, and frankly, in my opinion, he’s having a bit of a midlife crisis.

Then, Marcos receives a gift—a FGP (First Grade Pure) head.

It’s NOT A Farfetched Tale

I can’t get into more detail than that without getting too spoiler-y, but I will say this book and the entire concept is not as farfetched as most might believe it to be. Cannibalism is real. It happens. And although it may seem to lurk on the fringes of society, the cannibals are moving ever closer to our doorsteps. Don’t believe me? Remember BiteLabs? I bet you don’t. It is (was?) a company in L.A. that proposed growing human meat (particularly from celebrity DNA) in labs for consumption purposes.

Cannibalism trends have also been steadily rising lately. While I have no statistics to prove what I’ve personally seen in the news (Armie Hammer’s cannibalism fetish is just the beginning), I’ve seen more and more serial killers in the USA partake in this taboo.

What’s more, do you honestly think you’d say: “I’m not going to eat human flesh,” if there’s a global market, it’s government-sanctioned, and you have a hankering for a steak? What if the church condones it, twists the Bible’s words a bit? “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.” – 1 Corinthians 11:24

In Conclusion

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica is, in my opinion, essential reading. It is a combination of all those beloved classic dystopians we’ve systematically seen coming true—1984, The Handmaid’s Tale, Brave New World, you name it. The book is written in such a fantastic way as to make you feel both sympathetic, yet detached.

Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica is absolutely brilliant, albeit unsettling as all hell. Not to mention, it’s a pretty graphic book.

A must-read if you love dystopians, horror, or if you’re wondering what madness we can expect in the future.

About Agustina Bazterrica

Agustina Bazterrica is an Argentinian novelist and short story writer. She is a central figure in the Buenos Aires literary scene. She has received several awards for her writing, most notably the prestigious Premio Clarin Novela for her second novel, TENDER IS THE FLESH.