Walking practice : a novel

Author

Dolki Min

Call Number

• SCIENCE FICTION MIN (CEN)

Edition

First edition.

Languages

Translated from the Korean.

Publication Information

New York, NY : HarperVia, 2023.

Physical Description

166 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm

Summary

"The mere act of walking on the Earth is a challenge for our most unusual protagonist -- a shapeshifting, gender-bending alien. After crashing their spacecraft in the middle of nowhere, they find themself stranded on an unfamiliar planet, where gravity is a disabling force. They'll need to practice walking in the Earth's atmosphere to survive. And what better way to practice than hunt delicious humans? They chooses their prey, shifts their gender, appearance, and conduct based on the prey's sexual preference, only to attack at the pivotal moment of their encounter. They has found ways to adapt to this new way of life, from a backpack full of torturous tools and post-murder cleanup equipment, to a common dating app that's helped them sniff out and target the juiciest of humans. But everything goes horribly wrong one night when the alien fails to take one woman's life on the spot. Sent on an ill-fated chase all over the city, they begin to consider the psychological and physical tolls their experiences on Earth have taken on them. The alien must re-access their bloody means of survival to understand why humans also fight to live. But their hunger is unsatiable, and the alien once again zeroes in on a new prey, not knowing what awaits them... Min's haunting debut novel is part psychological thriller, part searing critique of the social structures that marginalize the queer, disabled, and nonconformist. Walking Practice uncovers humanity in who we consider to be alien, and how alienation can shape the human experience"--