The Strange Bird

More about the book

The Strange Bird, by Jeff VanderMeer, expands the world of his acclaimed novel, Borne. This unique creature, part bird and part human, escapes from a besieged laboratory where scientists have turned against their creations. As she navigates tunnels and evades capture, she discovers that the sky is not a sanctuary; it is filled with wildlife that rejects her and remnants of human civilization, including satellites and drones. Her journey leads her to the remnants of the Company, a collapsed biotech firm that has left behind both successful and failed experiments, such as networked foxes and a giant bear. Among the various creatures she encounters, it is the humans—desperate and exploitative—who pose the greatest threat, seeing her merely as a possession to be captured or traded. VanderMeer not only enriches the narrative of Borne but also offers a fresh perspective through the eyes of this new creature, who fights for her place in a fractured world. This story challenges our understanding of nonhuman existence and highlights the complexities of survival in a landscape shaped by human actions. VanderMeer’s work signals a maturation of eco-fiction, presenting a vision of the future that is both wild and unpredictable.