A radical literary sensation from South Korea makes his American debut with this “surreal, compelling, and utterly unique” (Buzzfeed) novel about an alien's hunt for food—part psychological thriller and part searing critique of the social structures that marginalize those who are different.
“On the surface, this smart debut novel (translated from the Korean by Victoria Caudle) is a fun story about an alien who finds men on dating apps and eats them to stay alive. But underneath lies a potent critique of gender norms and an exploration of what it feels like to not fit in your body or your surroundings.”—New York Times Book Review
After crashing their spacecraft in the middle of nowhere, a shapeshifting alien finds themselves stranded on an unfamiliar planet and disabled by Earth’s gravity. To survive, they will need to practice walking. And what better way than to hunt for food? As they discover, humans are delicious.
Intelligent, clever, and adaptable, the alien shifts their gender, appearance, and conduct to suit a prey’s sexual preference, then attacks at the pivotal moment of their encounter. They use a variety of hunting tools, including a popular dating app, to target the juiciest prey and carry a backpack filled with torturous instruments and cleaning equipment.
But the alien’s existence begins to unravel one night when they fail to kill their latest meal. Thrust into an ill-fated chase across the city, the alien is confronted with the psychological and physical tolls their experience on Earth has taken. Questioning what they must do to sustain their own survival, they begin to understand why humans also fight to live. But their hunger is insatiable, and the alien once again targets a new prey, not knowing what awaits . . .
Translated from the Korean by Victoria Caudle
* Paperback
Dolki Min is an artist and writer based in South Korea.Walking Practiceis their first novel.
