The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion by Margaret Killjoy
Tor Books (August 2017)
130 pages, $10.39 paperback; $3.99 e-book
Reviewed by Anton Cancre
Brace yourself for this one, friendos, because it gets pretty weird here. I know. I know. Whodathunk a book about crustpunks that summon a demonic deer to protect their squat only to have the demondeer turn on them would be weird. Odd how that works.
If you are like me, the synopsis is all you need to know whether or not you want this book. However, some of you might still need some convincing. Fine. Whatever.
Here goes:
Like violence? Have a deer that regularly mutilates anyone and anything it considers a predator. We’re talking ripping out ribcages and masticating organs level of violence here. Sick of cozy suburban settings? This takes place in an anarchist crustpunk squat town. Want well-rounded characters whose outlooks on life are actually altered by what they go through? Wow, wait until you get a load of Danielle. Just don’t call her Dani. Don’t you EVER call her Dani. Doomsday, Thursday and Brynn are pretty dern cool, too.
Here’s the trick Killjoy pulls off: a Syfy movie premise played 100% straight and every bit for keeps. It moves fast, but doesn’t skimp on the development and heart. Hehehe! (Trust me, that will be funny once you read the book.) It’s fun camp that doesn’t buy into the “camp has to be stupid” line, but instead has some incredibly valid and important things to say about avoiding becoming the demons you fight. Amid all that, the soon to be notorious M.K. presents the most honest look at both the wonders and shortfalls of anarcho-crust culture I’ve read.
Yup, this one’s a keeper.
