But it does highlight one of the cool things about Beukes, which is that she knows her big magical conceit - namely, and I think I give little away by this, y’know, look at the cover, but OK, SPOILERS, that people who commit crimes (loosely defined) are burdened and marked by mysterious animal companions, usually accompanied by a vaguely Xanthian magic talent - has room for humor. Presumably the fact that I assumed the latter based on the cover of ZOO CITY says more about me than it does about her.Īnyway, I sort of hesitate to put the above as the flagship quote for ZOO CITY, because I don’t want to suggest that only appreciators of Warren Ellisoid humor will appreciate the book. So I suspect it’s right, and that the Mormons were speaking our language all along.įun fact #2: She is in fact a white South African, not a black American. I keep my Penguin safe in customised body armour.” - Dehqan Baiyatįun fact about Lauren Beukes: Her last name apparently has two syllables, “byoo-kəs.” I learned this from her Writing Excuses appearance, so it’s dimly possible that non-Mormons will pronounce it differently. You keep your rabbit’s foot safe in your pocket. Let’s say you have some lucky rabbit’s foot. 'Exquisitely paced and impeccably controlled.“Think of it as my mascot.

'Beukes brings a secret tenderness and humanity to her off-kilter portrait of the here and now' Guardian It feels effortless, utterly accomplished' William Gibson Instead it catapults Zinzi deeper into the maw of a city twisted by crime and magic, where she'll be forced to confront the dark secrets of former lives - including her own. But when a little old lady turns up dead and the cops confiscate her last paycheque, she's forced to take on her least favourite kind of job - missing persons.īeing hired by reclusive music producer Odi Huron to find a pop star should be her ticket out of Zoo City, the festering slum where the criminal underclass and their animal companions reside.

Zinzi has a Sloth on her back, a dirty 419 scam habit and a talent for finding lost things. FROM THE AUTHOR BEHIND BRAND NEW APPLE TV HIT SHINING GIRLS

Zoo city by lauren beukes