Tender Is the Flesh

Working at the local processing plant, Marcos is in the business of slaughtering humansthough no one calls them that anymore. His wife has left him, his father is sinking into dementia, and Marcos tries not to think too hard about how he makes a living. After all, it happened so quickly. First, it was reported that an infectious virus has made all animal meat poisonous to humans. Then governments initiated the Transition. Now, eating human meatspecial meatis legal. Marcos tries to stick to numbers, consignments, processing. Then one day hes given a gift: a live specimen of the finest quality. Though hes aware that any form of personal contact is forbidden on pain of death, little by little he starts to treat her like a human being. And soon, he becomes tortured by what has been lostand what might still be saved.