I read Tender is the Flesh last year and didn't find it quite as horrifying as I thought I would based on how people talk about it. When I looked up to see if others felt the same, I came across this one and was curious. I definitely agree with what I saw others saying - this is definitely the more horrifying version (or maybe that one is the less horrifying version since Meat was published a good nine years earlier!).

Where Tender at the Flesh focuses on a single character and that character becomes the focus, the human meat industry is the focus in this one. While that book definitely has its strengths and I get why it's the famous one when it comes to farming people for cannibalism, I think this one hits harder in many way (although I think the fact that it is more disturbing probably works against it because it'll be too much for more people). It does a far better job of blurring the lines between humans and livestock and explores the cruelty far more. And oh man, does it get disturbing. Seriously. Take a look at the content warnings. But even that... It's been a few months since I read this (I just haven't gotten around to reviewing it yet!) and there is one scene in particular that I remember (okay, I also remember some of the scenes in which the human livestock are processed but yeah): Two little girls mutilate a doll in exactly the same way that real human livestock are processed before being sent out to feedlots and the like. It's short but it stuck with me - several scenes did but there was just something about this one that particularly disturbed me.

Like with Tender is the Flesh, the horror of the situation in the hook. While it remains darkly fascinating throughout, I feel like it loses something as you go on. But that said, if the concept of human farming (including breeding programs, growing up, processing and slaughter) and you think you can stomach the disturbing violence, this is a step up from Tender is the Flesh and I think it does a better job of conveying the horror that that book tried to bring across and it's worth a read. Even if many scenes are difficult to get through. ( )

3.5 stars

In this town, survival is all about the meat. The Magnus Meat Processing Plant, or MMP (which includes the “farm” itself, the slaughterhouse, meat cattle, dairy cattle, veal calves, etc.) pretty much runs the town. Well, that and the religious group that worships meat; the cattle at the MMP are the “Chosen”. The people who work at MMP are the best paid in town and are highly regarded. But, there are a few people in town (including Richard, the man who stuns the cattle before they are killed) who are questioning it all. Richard won’t even eat meat, anymore, and his wife begs him to bring meat home for her and their twin daughters. When things start going badly, there is a showdown between the MMP workers and owner, the bishop and parsons, and the few who are questioning if this is really how it has to be.

Be warned that there are slaughterhouse descriptions in this book. I very rarely eat meat, but I have read and seen enough online to realize that what’s described in the book (the treatment of the cattle, anyway) is, sadly, probably all too real. Also, sadly, very little actually shocked me, though it’s still so horrible. I’d describe the book as a dystopian horror and I’m rating it “good”. I found it very dark and bleak, but also an interesting story. ( )

This is an unusual novel and may well result in the reader abstaining from meat products upon completion. The horror in the book comes from the descriptions and events that occur in MMP (Magnus Meat Packaging)

Richard Shanti “the ice pick” is a stunman and it is his job to fire a bolt gun into the brow of the cow as it passes in front of him on its way to immortality and someone’s Sunday roast! In the community of Abyrne meat is viewed as a precious commodity all must partake, meat is the centre of this community it keeps the people strong and its production imposes a sense of order. When a number of citizens begin to question the need for meat, and its bloody production the scene if set for confrontation between those who wield the power and those who are downtrodden.

If this was a zombie or virus meltdown tale then I would be much more accepting of the books content, as the arena of the story would be worldwide. The impression “Meat” leaves on me is the small community of Abyrne is under the control of one despotic ruler Magnus Pike and those who do not choose to accept this must live in the “Derelict Quarter” an area of squalor and nonconformity. This embeds the idea that the timeline and setting of the story is very insular and takes place in an isolated location. (I presume the rest of the world is not suffering from autocratic meat barons!)

Having said that there some memorable characters and enjoyable moments which leaves me to introduce the sad and somewhat comic figure of Greville Snipe. It would appear that Greville has spent too much of his working life out of the sun and in the company of livestock and forms an unlikely attachment with one of the cows, “White-047”....”Beautiful bounteous creature, he crooned. Beautiful, beautiful girl. Mr Shipe’s going to make it all better” Unfortunately for Greville his fraternizing with “the chosen” (as the cattle are referred to) comes to the attention of Magnus and he is not too pleased....”You’d be surprised how many cow f***ers I see in here, Snipe. Some of them like to f**k the veal calves, others prefer the steers. Doesn’t matter to me what they do because when I find out, they never do it again”.

As the story evolves a small group of renegades led by the charismatic John Collins decides to fight back against the enforced eating of meat and to strike a blow for vegetarianism. The outcome is predictable and as we stampede towards the final showdown the cattle are granted almost human like qualities..”Led by BlUE-792, ten thousand pairs of hands, tapped out their message. They tapped it on their own thighs, upon each other’s backs, they padded it against walls and fenceposts; they beat it on the ground. As one, they breathed.”

This was a fun story in which the author clearly has a message to impart to his readers and at times it was quite enjoyable. It is best avoided by those who are meat lovers/eaters or perhaps should be read as their attitude towards the simple eating of meat may be dramatically and permanently altered! ( )

I feel really stupid for not figuring out what the Chosen were when I first read about what happened to the calves. It sank in and I just couldn't believe it.

Great book, very believable. I don't like to know where my food comes from, and I'm sure a lot of people don't. ( )

This was supposed to be a horror novel I think, but it didn't really find it even mildly troubling. The central premise of the novel is about cannibalism, covered up by the towns ruling powers. This is obviously not a nice scenario, but it isn't particularly frightening. I really didn't find myself engaged in the characters or care that much what happened to them It took me a long time to get through the story and I was glad to finish it and move on to something else. It wasn't a terrible book or badly written, but I just didn't enjoy it. ( )