Tears of the Trufflepig
Tears of the Trufflepig is a 2019 novel by writer Fernando A. Flores. Though it is not Flores' first published book, it is his first novel.[1] The novel is set in a future where normal, farmed food is scarce and the rich survive through the use of "filtered" animals and plants, created artificially.[2] "Filtered" animals tend to be extinct taxa, restored to life to serve as food, clothing, or entertainment.[3]
Author | Fernando A. Flores |
---|---|
Publisher | FSG Originals |
Pages | 336 pages |
Setting
The book takes place in Texas and Mexico at an unspecified point in the future. Disease is common, crime syndicates control most food production, and wealthy collectors have created a market for the shrunken heads of the indigenous people of the Americas.
Development and writing
Flores eschews the use of a computer during writing, preferring to use an Olivetti Lettera 32, and used the typewriter to compose Tears of the Trufflepig.[4] Flores won a $10,000 award for his first book, Death to the Bullshit Artists of South Texas, Vol. 1. The prize allowed Flores to work part-time, giving him an opportunity to focus more on Tears of the Trufflepig than he otherwise would have. The first draft of the book was completed in 2014.[4]
Flores cites Roberto Bolaño's book 2666 as an inspiration, and has referred to the book as "[...] the best border novel of all time".[4] Flores created a nine-song Spotify playlist to accompany the book.[5]
Reception
According to literary review aggregator Book Marks, the novel received mostly "Positive" reviews.[6]
References
- Benavides, Yvette (18 May 2019). "Review: 'Tears of the Trufflepig' holds a fun-house mirror up to the border". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- Martin Davies, David (24 May 2019). "Texas Matters: A Surreal View Of The Border's Dark Future". Kera News. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- Schaub, Michael (14 May 2019). "Beasts of the Border". Texas Observer. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- Agresta, Michael (May 2019). "The Psychedelic State of South Texas". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- Madaus, KrisAnnef (26 April 2019). "Fernando A. Flores: "The oldest stories of this land were fantastical in essence"". Guernica. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
- "Tears of the Trufflepig". Book Marks. Retrieved 20 June 2019.