Meat
About the book

Meat

Meat – a dystopian horror fable about the evils of factory farming and slaughter. Richard Shanti, a guilt-ridden slaughterhouse worker, has serious misgivings about his job. He's known as the Ice Pick – the calmest, most efficient bolt-gunner in Abyrne's history. Yet, in secret, he and his family are vegetarian. If the authorities find out, he'll be tried and slaughtered for sacrilege along with the Chosen – Abyrne's livestock.

Meat is a tale of human depravity set in a grim post-cataclysmic England. Abyrne's townsfolk need meat to survive. Their religion promotes flesh-eating, their economy depends on it. Abyrne's ruling powers are the atheist Meat Baron, Rory Magnus, and the hyper-religious Parsons of the Welfare, headed by the Grand Bishop. The two factions despise each but cannot maintain control without cooperating.

In the derelict quarter the heretical messiah, John Collins, is preaching a blasphemous new doctrine: Meat isn't necessary for survival. The townsfolk are listening. The tale begins as Abyrne faces its greatest conflict – war between the Meat Baron and the Welfare. Meanwhile, the townsfolk are hungry. The townsfolk must be fed...

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Bob Milne7 / 10

“There are some books you devour, consuming page after page after page in a race to the end. Then there are others that you savor . . . that you take your time to digest . . . that linger on the literary palate long after the past page is turned. Joseph D'Lacey debut novel, Meat, is definitely the latter - and after being off the menu for years it's now…”

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Risingshadow

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About the author

Joseph D'Lacey

Joseph D’Lacey is a British author, known for his science fiction, fantasy and horror stories, many of which have environmental themes. In 2008, his first published novel, MEAT, gained him the British Fantasy Award for Best Newcomer. He currently resides in Northamptonshire with his wife and daughter.

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