SVINEN – THE SWINE
By John Ajvide Lindqvist
AFTER A GIG at yet another mall opening, the dance orchestra Tropico’s tour bus is hijacked by two pig farmers, a brother and a sister, who claim to be the band’s “biggest fans”. At gunpoint, and with the aid of an electric pig prodder, the bus is driven to the siblings’ dilapidated pig farm, and there the nightmare begins.
ALL MEMBERS OF the band except for the lead singer, the washed-up charmer Roland, are chained in the pen together with twenty big, hungry pigs. For Roland, the siblings have other plans. They want a child, and who could be a more suitable father than their great idol? Both siblings are grotesque, and it takes both force-feeding with Kamagra gel and desperate fantasies about wholesome childhood TV icons for Roland to, as they put it, “get a twitch in his tinkle.”
THIS IS JOHN Ajvide Lindqvist’s contribution to “hillbilly horror”, in the vein of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The Swine is packed with graphic violence, filth, grease, Swedish “dance band” music (yes, that’s a thing). Sensitive readers, be warned – for real. But it’s also very, very funny, if you have… let’s say, a particular sense of humour.
ABOUT THE BOOK
First published by Ordfront, Sweden 2025
RIGHTS SOLD
Sweden, Ordfront
REVIEWS
Those of us who know our horror have an inkling of what’s coming, and Ajvide Lindqvist doesn’t disappoint the fans. This is definitely not for everyone. Some will probably find this novella far too violent and disturbing. But if you like your “hillbilly horror”, you’re guaranteed to love this. The Swine is a gem of its genre – funny, scary, and brutal. Just the way it should be. 5/5
– BTJ
I think The Swine just might be one of [Ajvide Lindqvist’s] best books, it was an absolute delight to read. The symbolism of the interactive element of cutting the pages is brilliant.
@bokormen
It’s been a while since I’ve been so squeamish about something I enjoyed consuming so eagerly. […] Personally, I love wallowing in the filth.
– Expressen
It’s raw, it’s dark, it’s Ajvide at his best.
@write.evelina
The Swine makes me giggle with delight; just think, how afraid the city dwellers are of us [in the countryside] and our surroundings!
– Arbetet
For those who love Ajvide Lindqvist and really, really gruesome horror, this is a reading experience to look forward to!
@minervabokhandeln
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