Open Throat: Henry Hoke with Tony Bravo

A queer and dangerously hungry mountain lion lives in the drought-devastated land under the Hollywood sign. Lonely and fascinated by humanity’s foibles, the lion spends their days protecting a nearby homeless encampment, observing hikers complain about their trauma, and, in quiet moments, grappling with the complexities of their gender identity, memories of a vicious father, and the indignities of sentience. Henry Hoke‘s groundbreaking novel Open Throat takes us on a tour through the mountain lion’s eyes, which spans the cruel inequalities of Los Angeles, the toll of climate grief, and the ultimate question: Do they want to eat a person, or become one? In conversation with San Francisco Chronicle arts writer Tony Bravo.