Tender Is the Flesh

In this speculative near-future fiction animal meat has become poisonous. But humanity is not vegetarian. What first starts as scandalous black market dealings slowly becomes a government sanctioned enterprise: a lower class of humans is raised as “special” meat. The industry simply adapts. The “head” as they are called, are raised in breeding centers, they are processed in processing plants, their skin is treated in tanneries, their meat sold to butcheries. They grow up like animals, and their vocal cords are removed to lighten the load on the people who slaughter them.

Told in a very matter-of-fact voice we're introduced to the cruel yet clinical mechanics of this new world. We learn about the many narratives and labels and laws everyone uses to forget and to justify the fact that they are eating human meat.

The ending was a great extra punch. I didn't know where it could go, considering it started with the worst, and then sort of ambled along explaining it. But, there was more, well done.