I absolutely loved reading The Tiger Flu, a fast paced sci fi novel following two ultimately intertwined narratives set in a near future after the depletion of oil. Kora Ko lives in the First Quarantine Ring, struggling to survive in a world ravaged by the tiger flu, a disease which predominantly affects men. Kirilow Groudsel is a groom in Grist Village, a commune founded by escaped experiments with the ability to reproduce by basically cloning. Her surgical talents are put to use taking care of their last reproducing doubler by transplanting body parts from their last starfish, her lover Peristrophe Halliana. ⁣
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Phenomenal worldbuilding and high stakes action combine to make this novel a wild and exciting ride. At the end I felt the various secondary characters’ motivations did not come together as clearly for me as I would have preferred, but I was so invested in the story I almost didn’t mind. The confusing wrapping up of this story ultimately gives way to a breathtaking ending, and I loved the theme of collective storytelling and the way society changes over time. The nearness of the “Time Before” gives the reader a touchpoint in the world we know, while also showing how quickly the world can morph to something much less recognizable. I loved also the way Lai plays with our understanding of gender, creating a whole society of people who are human-adjacent and not women or men. Definitely recommend!