Title: A Question of Taste
Author: Keith Salmon
Publisher: Olympia Publishers
ISBN: 978-1848974111
Pages: 200
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Arthur Thares
Pacific Book Review
A Question of Taste is an interesting thrill ride which draws influences from other classic stories to create a uniquely individual tale set in London. This is one of those books that is awesome for plane rides because it’s not so short that you’ll finish it before takeoff, but it’s short enough that you just might finish it before you land. Some people may describe the contents of this book as horror, but it feels more like a dystopian drama than anything. A Question of Taste will hold a place in readers’ minds for a long time, not only because of the story itself but also because of the underlying political themes that emerge throughout the book.
A significant portion of the story revolves around the EU and UK conspiring to replace traditional meat products with a product called “Millennium Meat” to save money. While it may sound innocuous on the surface, this concoction of slugs, bugs, and other gross stuff pressed together and artificially flavored to taste like traditional meat doesn’t exactly sell itself. Government officials conspire in ways to trick the general public into being forced into eating it – a popular trope in modern-day conspiracy theories. While closed-door meetings and whispered conversations about Millenium Meat dominate the book, they do lead to a radical change in the third act. A whistle-blower comes forward and is almost killed for it, leading the book to take a more religious turn. The book gets back on track right at the end when a group steps in to combat the government and prevent the dark fate of Millenium Meat.
One of the book’s best features is the constant play on its title. Each chapter is named “A Question Of…” and the words “a question of taste” are used throughout, most notably to close out the book. There is some character development, but Salmon doesn’t flesh out the characters as much as one would like. The whole story feels a little like a tamer version of Soylent Green or a prequel to the world of Harrison Bergeron, where the government exercises too much control over people’s lives. While this story is purely fictional, some readers may draw parallels between the book and their own perceptions of their governments.
A Question of Taste is a unique story that will make your skin crawl in more ways than one. It’s a fictional portrayal of what happens when governments believe they know what’s better for people than the people themselves do. Salmon does a good job painting the picture of a government-controlled dystopian future where we are tricked into eating bugs as a cost-saving measure. Salmon’s sharp prose and immersive detail make this novel a feast for readers who crave complex characters and sophisticated tension. Readers will likely come away from this story with differing opinions on the content, which is all the more reason why everyone should enjoy A Question of Taste. Among those who share the reading experience, this book makes for fantastic water cooler conversation.
