“Experimental Storytelling, stunning design, original voices,” reads the tag line on the publisher’s Twitter feed. They hit the nail on the head with Strange Bird.

This short novel gives the reader a new vertical perspective on the world of Borne. If Borne was weird, Strange Bird is just flat-out bizarre. Vandermeer has created a genetic engineering, mystery, coming-of-age, survival, dystopian, horror, love(?) story. Stranger still, it works! Vandermeer makes the weird feel plausible.

The foxes, the sorcerer, Rachel, and Wick all figure in to this new story arc that overlaps the events of Borne yet remains its own. If you enjoyed Borne, then you will need to read Strange Bird.

Vandermeer, Jeff. The Strange Bird. New York: MCD x FSG Originals, 2017.