A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing (at Kaliner Gallery on 5/1)

Date + Time: Friday, May 1st at 8 pm

Location: Kaliner Gallery, 42 Allen St, New York, NY 10002

Description:

Alice Evelyn Yang is joining Open Book Club to talk about her debut novel, A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing, at Kaliner Gallery on a Friday night with an open bar.

If it’s your first time, here’s how the author talks work:

• You'll get a drink when you walk in. It’s a Friday night! There will be a martini bar (I am very excited about this) and wine. All included in your ticket.
• Alice will read a short section of A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing, then I’ll interview her for 20-30 minutes, followed by audience Q&A for 20-30 minutes.
• No need to finish the book beforehand. Some people like to read it first, others after. The conversation will be accessible and interesting either way.
• Books will be available for sale and signing at the event.
• Most people come alone and leave with a new friend :)

About the Book:

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2026 WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION

A dark, magical realist debut family saga that moves through the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, the Cultural Revolution, and the present day to explore the effects of intergenerational trauma, the legacy of colonialism, and the inescapability of fate.

Qianze has not seen her father in eleven years, since he walked out of her life the night of her fourteenth birthday and disappeared without a trace. But then she gets a call—there is a man on the porch of her childhood home, and he’s asking for her. This man isn’t the Ba Qianze remembers: he is much older, more fragile, and worst of all, haunted by a half-forgotten prophecy.

While Qianze wrestles with what she owes this near-stranger, Ba begins telling stories of his past. From his bloody days as a Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution to his mother’s youth under Japanese occupation, he circles around the prophecy he came to deliver. Qianze has always longed to know more about her family history, but as Ba reveals a past far darker than she could have imagined, she finds herself plagued by strange visions—fox spirits trail her on her evening commute, a terrifying jackalope stalks her nightmares, and the looming prophecy slinks ever closer.

Spanning decades and continents, A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing employs a combination of stunningly rendered folklore and atmospheric prose to examine the legacy of colonialism through the eyes of three generations. Alice Evelyn Yang’s debut novel is a story of family and forgiveness, of folklore and fate, that will leave you unsettled and undone.

Refunds + Exchanges: I'm not able to offer refunds or exchanges for future meetings. This is a small (1 person!) business and I have to cover costs in advance of the event. Please consider this (and double check your calendar!) before buying a ticket.

Photography: The event may be photographed + filmed. We reserve the right to use photos + videos from the event for marketing purposes. By attending the event you consent to your image being used for these purposes 📸