Welcome to the Downlands, the last safe haven in a dying world. Even as the outside world remains poisoned and the population stagnates, purity runs deep here. Every person is born whole and complete. Every bite of food, manufactured from its base chemicals, is a perfect recreation of flavours from better times. And every one who dies becomes the perfect meat, raised on the perfect diet. At the funeral, the deceased’s companions feast on this perfectly raised meal, absorbing the dead’s memories and thus preserving their existence in historical record.
When Fritzel accidentally discovers his beloved cousin Bern is dead, and worse, has been refused a funeral, everything he thought he knew is shattered. No one in his family will tell him how Bern died or even what happened to the body. Desperate to salvage his cousin’s memory, Fritzel begins a journey to discover how they lived. As he does so, he finds others who knew and loved Bern. Together, they find a way to save the memories they hold dear and savour the taste of a life that was worth living.
Dark bleatings, my peckish tribe. I’m reviewing a strange novella today that fits under a few different umbrellas; horror (but very quietly), fantasy (a little), it’s even kind of dystopian adjacent. For safety, I’m calling it peculiar fiction, as I think that hat fits quite snuggly.
Fritzel, totally by chance, finds out that his cousin, Bern, has died. When he tries to find out what happened from the rest of his family, including Bern’s parents, everyone is either oblivious, or acting a little shady about it. With great fondness for Bern, Fritzel sets out to find out what happened, and if possible, wants to have some sort of memorial. It’s the regular way, and it’s not right that Bern is gone without the proper respect paid. Of course, in this universe, that does involve being eaten.
Thematically, I think this story encapsulates a lot. Morality is being explored here, many different avenues of it. Death rituals and food practices among the most obvious, but the thing I really latched onto was the idea of found family. Bern, bless them, had a rough time with certain people that are supposed to give unconditional love. Bern wasn’t exactly accepted, and for sure was not respected, especially by family, unfortunately. As Fritzel overturns lots of little stones from Bern’s life, he finds a lot of love and warmth. I honestly found it so lovely, it was like reading a warm hug. Any elements that I might have normally found icky were engulfed by the gentle sensitivity and loveliness.
This all might sound a little odd for a novella I described to you partially as horror, and it is. It’s a unique story and I’m not sure I’ve ever read anything like it. I read it in one sitting and had a wonderful time. I do love the more brutal and hard-hitting horror but sometimes it makes me nihilistic, and this is a perfect breath of fresh air.
If you’d like to check out the book or the author, I’ve popped some links below for you:
THE SOCIETY OF VEGETARIAN CANNIBALS
Bleeeat!
Happy Goat Horror 
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