Why be subtle? These books lay down the case for veganism like a hammer. The way we treat animals is cruel and unconscionable. This is the fourth in my series of posts on vegan fiction.
Babycakes, author Neil Gaiman, illustrator Jouni Koponen (1990) — This comic asks whether we'd treat babies the same way we treat animals. Hell, no!
Interestingly, people have debated in the past about whether babies can experience pain! See my review of the Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined (2011) by Steven Pinker.
The kind of arguments used today in discussions of abortion, animal rights, stem cell research, and euthanasia were earlier (and horrifically) used to justify infanticide (the merits of which people also used to debate!):
"In 1911 an English physician, Charles Mercier, presented arguments than infanticide should be considered a less heinous crime than the murder of an older child or an adult: 'The victim’s mind is not sufficiently developed to enable it to suffer from the contemplation of approaching suffering or death. It is incapable of feeling fear or terror. Nor is its consciousness sufficiently developed to enable it to suffer pain in appreciable degree. Its loss leaves no gap in any family circle, deprives no children of their breadwinner or their mother, no human being of a friend, helper, or companion.'"
Our opinions on this have evolved, just as they will regarding animal rights. Who would agree with such thoughts today? Our circle of compassion and empathy expands. See also: Jeremy Rifkin's The Empathic Civilization: The Race to Global Consciousness in a World in Crisis, (2010).
Read the comic, Babycakes, online here.
The Vegan Revolution...with Zombies, David Agranoff (2010) — This is a fun bit of post-apocalyptic vegan wish fulfillment in which the zombie plague spreads via meat. Only vegans are spared. The ending is priceless. See my review on Goodreads.
Imagine the revolution in non-fiction: Read Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food, Gene Baur's account of his work for farm animal protection. "I believe we can create a truly humane, sustainable, and health food production system without killing any animals. I imagine a revolution in veganic agriculture in which small farmers grow a variety of vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes, all fertilized with vegetable sources." — Gene Baur
Inspired? Help here: Farm Sanctuary
Animals, Don LePan (2009) — In this horrific dystopia, children who cannot talk well become pets and/or are eaten. They are treated as pets or taken to slaughter. See my review.
Quote: "Once again many people are quite willing to admit openly that they more or less know what they are doing is hideously wrong. They just don't want to really know."
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