Comic-book writer, documentarian, screenwriter and author Lauren Beukes is probably best known for her critically acclaimed international bestsellers Broken Monsters and The Shining Girls. Both these novels took readers into the mind of a serial killer, with a good dose of the fantastical. But for her new book, Afterland, she took a break from the whole murder thing. ‘You know what? I was tired of death, so I just decided to kill 3,5 billion people instead,’ she says with a laugh.
Described as a high-concept feminist dystopian thriller, Afterland imagines a world where 99% of the male population has been wiped out by a virus. Cole and her son, Miles, who is disguised as a young girl, are on the run across a very changed America, trying to find their way back home to South Africa. The nefarious parties after them include the Department of Men and the neon nuns of the Church of All Sorrows.
President Ramaphosa had just announced that the lockdown would be extended until the end of April when Lauren and I chat over Zoom. It’s safe to say things are stressful at the moment. ‘I bought 12 bags of spaghetti, which even I think may have been overkill,’ she says.
You may think it a bit risky to launch a book that deals with a pandemic during a pandemic, and Lauren couldn’t agree more. ‘Gah, the timing,’ she says. ‘It’s taken me years and years to write and it comes out in the middle of a global pandemic.’
Denne historien er fra July 2020-utgaven av Fairlady.
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Denne historien er fra July 2020-utgaven av Fairlady.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
'DESIRE IS NOT WHAT MATTERS'
Emily Nagoski wrote the book on women and desire - literally. And then her own sex life dried up. Here's what a prolonged sex drought (and a load of research) taught her about maintaining intimacy in a long-term relationship.
'We have to tell HARD STORIES'
Theatre director and playwright Yaël Farber is spending time in South Africa after her critically acclaimed run of King Lear at the Almeida Theatre in London. We chatted to her about the importance of the pursuit of truth.
THE WHY, THE WHICH & the wardrobe
We really got into it this month! Read on for more on the allure of a loosey-goosey jumpsuit, vintage-hunting and jingle-jangling jewellery, the best places to find quality African design and short-girl styling tips.
LIFT your GAME
Thought weightlifting was just for bodybuilders and powerlifters? Not so. In fact, 'lifting heavy shit' may be the secret to longevity, hormone regulation and mood for women through perimenopause and beyond.
TREATMENT PLAN ON YOUR MARKS
Armed with a six-month programme from Dr Nerina Wilkinson + Associates, Jennifer Morin set about tackling her sun damage and melasma.
PLAYING YOUR CARDS RIGHT
Here's how to get the most out of loyalty cards.
BIG SKY Country
Namibia. Twelve friends, five vehicles, 4000 km, thirteen days. Eight punctures, one angle grinder. One martial eagle, one full moon, one ghost town. Plenty of top-quality braais, maybe not quite enough oysters... and the best time ever.
IS YOUR HOME MAKING YOU SICK?
Leaks, damp and poor ventilation in old or poorly built new homes are being fingered for a growing health concern: mould.
HOW TO REALLY GET TO KNOW SOMEONE
The Korean word 'nunchi' describes 'the ability to be sensitive to other people's moods and thoughts'. It's an underrated skill that we seem to have lost.
How to write a memoir
Whether you want to share your experiences and insights with the world, leave a legacy or track pivotal experiences for yourself, writing your memoir can be a grand and worthwhile adventure. Here's some advice on how and where to begin.
