Swelling by Walker Tate (Mini Kus! #127)

I read Swelling as a sort of parable or cautionary tale regarding the type of eco-terrorism that mankind inflicts on the planet. An outdoorsman, Terry, is on a hiking/camping excursion and is attached by insects. The procession of mosquitos invading his tent seems to imply that it’s a coordinated attack that’s an intentional assault by Mother Nature. I immediately wondered if Earth is fighting back against man, some kind of retribution for the scarring we inflict on the natural world. The way that Terry’s insect wounds descend into body horror seems to mirror the irrevocable change that humans have done to our environment; when we look to science or other unnatural remedies, the denouement of the story suggests that there are hidden risks. From page one, Walker Tate’s clean lines and subdued color palette of Earth tones make for a very engaging and readable experience.