Gerardo Sámano Córdova

A "wholly unique" and "uncompromising" literary horror debut about a boy who transforms into a monster, a monster who tries to be a man, and the people who love him in every form he takes (Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes) Grieving mother Magos cuts out a piece of her deceased eleven-year-old son Santiago's lung. Acting on fierce maternal instinct and the dubious logic of an old folktale, she nurtures the lung until it gains sentience, growing into the carnivorous little Monstrilio she keeps hidden within the walls of her family's decaying Mexico City estate. Eventually, Monstrilio begins to resemble the Santiago he once was, but his innate impulses--though curbed by his biological and chosen family's communal care--threaten to destroy this fragile second chance at life. A thought-provoking meditation on grief, acceptance, and the monstrous sides of love and loyalty, Gerardo Sámano Córdova blends bold imagination and evocative prose with deep emotional rigor. Told in four acts that span the globe from Brooklyn to Berlin, Monstrilio offers, with uncanny clarity, a cathartic and precise portrait of being human.

A Novel

Monstrilio

“Heartfelt, bizarre, and unexpected. . . . At once a novel about family and love, a creepy tale that questions what it means to be human, and a celebration of queer stories, Monstrilio is as shocking as it is profound, and as humorous as it is thoughtful.” ―Gabino Iglesias, The Boston Globe A “wholly unique” and “uncompromising” literary horror debut about a boy who transforms into a monster, a monster who tries to be a man, and the people who love him in every form he takes (Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes) Grieving mother Magos cuts out a piece of her deceased eleven-year-old son Santiago’s lung. Acting on fierce maternal instinct and the dubious logic of an old folktale, she nurtures the lung until it gains sentience, growing into the carnivorous little Monstrilio she keeps hidden within the walls of her family’s decaying Mexico City estate. Eventually, Monstrilio begins to resemble the Santiago he once was, but his innate impulses―though curbed by his biological and chosen family’s communal care―threaten to destroy this fragile second chance at life. A thought-provoking meditation on grief, acceptance, and the monstrous sides of love and loyalty, Gerardo Sámano Córdova blends bold imagination and evocative prose with deep emotional rigor. Told in four acts that span the globe from Brooklyn to Berlin, Monstrilio offers, with uncanny clarity, a cathartic and precise portrait of being human.

Elle Nash

Various

James Cahill

Joelle Taylor

Joshua Jones

Carrie Marshall

Chloe Michelle Howarth

Dylin Hardcastle

William Rayfet Hunter

Seth Insua

The inaugural collection in the new VERVE Voices series, Queerphoria is a joyful and defiant queer-authored anthology proudly supporting Switchboard, the national LGBTQIA+ support line. Four housemates welcome the reader into their home for a birthday party. An elderly widow visits her first queer bar, beneath the flat she shared with her husband. A couple invite a shipwrecked sailor into their isolated lighthouse on the stormy night of their thirtieth anniversary. A single woman embarks on a romantic relationship with a sex robot. A married couple secretly prepare for their baby's arrival in a world where procreation is controlled by the Establishment. Through prose, poetry, essays, illustrations and more, twenty-one writers bring their visions of euphoria to life. These pages celebrate, subvert, expand and reimagine what joy can look like, even in uncertain times. Switchboard will receive a £1 donation from every copy sold. Includes contributions from: Amil (translated by Joheun Lee) | Santanu Bhattacharya | Maame Blue | James Cahill | Jenny Chamarette | Gerardo Sámano Córdova | Soula Emmanuel | Selali Fiamanya | Eve Gleichman | Remi Graves | Dylin Hardcastle | Chloe Michelle Howarth | William Rayfet Hunter | Seth Insua | Joshua Jones | Laura Kay | Carrie Marshall | Peo Michie | Elle Nash | Peter Scalpello | Joelle Taylor About Switchboard: For over 50 years, Switchboard has supported the LGBTQIA+ community through challenges and triumphs, offering a listening ear in difficult times and moments of joy. Their support is completely free and available wherever you feel most comfortable, whether that's via phone (0800 0119 100), chat (switchboard.lgbt) or email (hello@switchboard.lgbt). Switchboard's services are open from 10 AM to 10 PM, every single day of the year. Their trained volunteers are available to discuss anything related to sexuality and gender identity; whether it's sexual health, relationships or just the way you're feeling. For anyone, anywhere in the country, at any point in their journey.

An Own Voices anthology celebrating queer joy

Queerphoria

NO PODRÁS OLVIDARLO. NI QUERRÁS HACERLO. UNA NOVELA ESCALOFRIANTE QUE CUESTIONA LO QUE SIGNIFICA SER HUMANO Y DISTINTO FRENTE A LOS DEMÁS. Mejor libro del año para: Barnes & Noble • Elle • Book Riot • BookPage • GoodReads • The Observer • HuffPost • Powell's Santiago acaba de fallecer con solo once años. Su madre, afligida, siguiendo un feroz instinto maternal y la dudosa lógica de un viejo cuento popular, extrae un pedazo del pulmón del pequeño y lo cuida hasta que este crece, cobra conciencia y se transforma en el voraz Monstrilio, a quien mantiene oculto en la deteriorada mansión familiar en la Ciudad de México. Con el tiempo, Monstrilio comienza a parecerse al Santiago que una vez fue. Sin embargo, sus impulsos amenazan con destruir esta segunda oportunidad de vida tan frágil. Una conmovedora reflexión sobre el duelo, la aceptación y los aspectos monstruosos del amor y la lealtad. Gerardo Sámano combina una imaginación audaz y una prosa evocadora con una profunda intensidad emocional. Narrada en cuatro actos que recorren el mundo —desde Brooklyn hasta Berlín—, Monstrilio ofrece, con una claridad inquietante, un retrato catártico y preciso de lo que significa ser humano. Gran acogida de público y crítica: « Monstrilio es una fábula sobre el amor incondicional y sus monstruos. Una criatura de una belleza extraña, repleta de dolor y deseo. Gerardo Sámano Córdova nos arrastra al corazón oscuro del duelo y al horror del espacio doméstico con una ternura familiar y perturbadora.» LAYLA MARTÍNEZ, autora de Carcoma «Si te gustan las novelas sobre el duelo, esta es tu novela. Si te gusta el terror, esta es tu novela. Si te gustan las novelas de amor, esta es tu novela. Si te gusta el gore, esta es tu novela. Si no sabes qué te gusta, pero estás deseando leer algo que te persiga para siempre: esta, definitivamente, es tu novela.» MARÍA FERNANDA AMPUERO, autora de Pelea de gallos « Monstrilio abarca mucho, y el autor lo logra con maestría. Un debut sobresaliente. En un momento en el que el terror de género híbrido está rompiendo barreras, su voz es única, distintiva y emocionante dentro de la ficción.» LOS ANGELES TIMES «Extraña y brillante, Monstrilio, es una especie de Frankenstein moderno.» ELLE «Sincera, extraña e inesperada, Monstrilio, de Sámano Córdova es una obra única dentro del horror contemporáneo. Al mismo tiempo, es una novela sobre la familia y el amor, una historia inquietante que cuestiona lo que significa ser humano.» THE BOSTON GLOBE «Esta espeluznante obra de terror psicológico ofrece a los lectores mucho en lo que pensar.» PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Mejor libro del año en: Barnes & Noble - Book Riot - BookPage - Goodreads - Powell's - The Observer - HuffPost - Elle Santiago acaba de fallecer con solo once años. Su madre, afligida, siguiendo un feroz instinto maternal y la dudosa lógica de un viejo cuento popular, extrae un pedazo del pulmón del pequeño y lo cuida hasta que este crece, cobra conciencia y se transforma en el voraz Monstrilio, a quien mantiene oculto en la deteriorada mansión familiar en la Ciudad de México. Con el tiempo, Monstrilio comienza a parecerse al Santiago que una vez fue. Sin embargo, sus impulsos amenazan con destruir esta frágil segunda oportunidad de vivir. Monstrilio es una conmovedora meditación sobre el duelo, la aceptación y los aspectos inquietantes del amor y la lealtad. Gerardo Sámano Córdova combina una imaginación audaz con una evocadora prosa y una profunda intensidad emocional. Narrada en cuatro actos que recorren el mundo, desde Brooklyn hasta Berlín, Monstrilio ofrece un retrato catártico y preciso de lo que significa ser humano. «Extraña y brillante, Monstrilio es una especie de Frankenstein moderno». --Elle ENGLISH DESCRIPTION Best Book of the Year at: Barnes & Noble - Book Riot - BookPage - Goodreads - Powell's - The Observer - HuffPost - Elle Santiago has just died at only eleven years old. His grieving mother, following a fierce maternal instinct and the dubious logic of an old folktale, removes a piece of the boy's lung and tends to it until it grows, gains consciousness, and transforms into the ravenous Monstrilio, whom she keeps hidden in the decaying family mansion in Mexico City. Over time, Monstrilio begins to resemble the Santiago he once was. Yet his impulses threaten to destroy this fragile second chance at life. Monstrilio is a moving meditation on grief, acceptance, and the unsettling aspects of love and loyalty. Gerardo Sámano Córdova blends bold imagination with evocative prose and deep emotional intensity. Told in four acts that span the globe, from Brooklyn to Berlin, Monstrilio offers a cathartic and precise portrait of what it means to be human. "Strange and brilliant, Monstrilio is a kind of modern Frankenstein." --Elle

Gerardo Sámano Córdova

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