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Walking Practice
Walking Practice: A Novel | Dolki Min
2 posts | 3 read
Squid Game meets The Left Hand of Darkness meets Under the Skin in this radical literary sensation from South Korea about an alien's hunt for food that transforms into an existential crisis about what it means to be human. After crashing their spacecraft in the middle of nowhere, a shapeshifting alien find themself stranded on an unfamiliar planet and disabled by Earths 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 shift their gender, appearance, and conduct to suit a preys sexual preference, then attack 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 aliens 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. . . . Dolki Mins haunting debut novel is part psychological thriller, part searing critique of the social structures that marginalize those who are differentthe disabled, queer, and nonconformist. Walking Practice uncovers humanity in who we consider to be alien, and illuminates how alienation can shape the human experience. Walking Practice features 21 black-and-white line drawings throughout. Translated from the Korean by Victoria Caudle
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rachelsbrittain
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Pickpick

A genderfluid alien trawls dating apps to find potential meals, reforming their body into whatever shape the victim will find most appealing before meeting up with their victims. But blending in is a constant drain that requires even more sustenance to maintain. This was a really unusual novella that explored otherness through both an alien and queer lens.

The_Book_Ninja So, like an alien version of a 5‘6” guy saying he‘s 6‘2” to get a date? 8mo
rachelsbrittain @The_Book_Ninja except in this case he can actually become 6'2" before he rips your head off ? 8mo
31 likes3 comments
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catiewithac
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Mehso-so

A sex crazed alien masquerades as various genders in its multiple hookups. This alien also has an insatiable appetite for human flesh. The novel has a promising concept but fails to explore “performing gender/humanness” beyond the surface level.

MemoirsForMe What a wild premise! And I love how the book cover matches your puzzle. 🤗 1y
45 likes1 comment