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A review by justiceofkalr
The Future Is Japanese by
2.0
This is an odd collection. The overall theme is supposed to be Japan. But it goes about it in a terrible way. This book would probably have been better if it could have decided what it was. The stories in it are either a) written by someone Japanese and may or may not actually be about Japan in any way or b) written by someone non-Japanese but in some way related to Japan. Which is part of where the problem lies. If the collection would have picked just one of the two it probably would have felt more cohesive. In addition, many of the stories that were supposed to be about Japan were only vaguely connected, like having a single Japanese character in them. I find it hard to believe that out of all the sci-fi and fantasy out there, there weren't some stories that fit way better with the theme. Since this is such an odd assortment, I feel the need to briefly rate all the stories in it because despite the two star rating for the collection, there were a couple good stories hiding in here.
"Mono no Aware" by Ken Liu
** This was so predictable, cliched, and boring. A pretty terrible opening for the collection.
"The Sound of Breaking Up" by Felicity Savage
** This story started off with an interesting concept, a woman who serves as a proxy for women ending virtual relationships, and deteriorates into some bad time travel shit out of nowhere. It's like an entirely new story just takes over.
"Chitai Heiki Koronbin" by David Moles
** Giant robots. Sort of interesting. Sort of overdone.
"The Indifference Engine" by Project Itoh
**** This is written by a Japanese author but the story itself has nothing to do with Japan and is pretty light on the sci-fi. But it was definitely interesting and one of the better stories in the collection.
"The Sea of Trees" by Rachel Swirsky
**** This is one of two fantasy stories in this collection. Definitely good though. Probably my favorite story of the non-Japanese writers.
"Endoastronomy" by Toh EnJoe
** Okay so there are three possibilities for this story. 1)I completely missed the point. 2)The translation fumbled the point 3)There was no point
"In Plain Sight" by Pat Cadigan
** This is only vaguely Japanese. As in, there is a Japanese character and that's it. I kind of feel like it was included so they could use Pat Cadigan as a recognizable name for readers. And despite liking Cadigan's stuff, this was not one of my favorites from her.
"Golden Bread" by Issui Ogawa
*** A decent story. Not stand out, but a solid piece.
"One Breath, One Stroke" by Catherynne M. Valente
*** The other fantasy story included. It's Valente's typical dark mythical writing.
"Whale Meat" by Ekaterina Sedia
* I don't even know why this story is here. If there's any sci-fi or fantasy in it, I missed it completely. Some American blogger visits her Japanese dad who then go to Russia together where she eats some whale meat that turns out to be from the last sperm whale.
"Mountain People, Ocean People" by Hideyuki Kikuchi
*** Fun. Post-apocalyptic where people have developed into two different societies, one living in the mountains and sky and the other living in the depths of the ocean.
"Goddess of Mercy" by Bruce Sterling
*** Okay. About an island that becomes a haven for pirates after nuclear war.
"Autogenic Dreaming: Interview with the Columns of Clouds" by TOBI Hirotaka
**** Really confusing, but in a wonderful kind of way. I still don't really know what went on, but I kind of like it that way.
"Mono no Aware" by Ken Liu
** This was so predictable, cliched, and boring. A pretty terrible opening for the collection.
"The Sound of Breaking Up" by Felicity Savage
** This story started off with an interesting concept, a woman who serves as a proxy for women ending virtual relationships, and deteriorates into some bad time travel shit out of nowhere. It's like an entirely new story just takes over.
"Chitai Heiki Koronbin" by David Moles
** Giant robots. Sort of interesting. Sort of overdone.
"The Indifference Engine" by Project Itoh
**** This is written by a Japanese author but the story itself has nothing to do with Japan and is pretty light on the sci-fi. But it was definitely interesting and one of the better stories in the collection.
"The Sea of Trees" by Rachel Swirsky
**** This is one of two fantasy stories in this collection. Definitely good though. Probably my favorite story of the non-Japanese writers.
"Endoastronomy" by Toh EnJoe
** Okay so there are three possibilities for this story. 1)I completely missed the point. 2)The translation fumbled the point 3)There was no point
"In Plain Sight" by Pat Cadigan
** This is only vaguely Japanese. As in, there is a Japanese character and that's it. I kind of feel like it was included so they could use Pat Cadigan as a recognizable name for readers. And despite liking Cadigan's stuff, this was not one of my favorites from her.
"Golden Bread" by Issui Ogawa
*** A decent story. Not stand out, but a solid piece.
"One Breath, One Stroke" by Catherynne M. Valente
*** The other fantasy story included. It's Valente's typical dark mythical writing.
"Whale Meat" by Ekaterina Sedia
* I don't even know why this story is here. If there's any sci-fi or fantasy in it, I missed it completely. Some American blogger visits her Japanese dad who then go to Russia together where she eats some whale meat that turns out to be from the last sperm whale.
"Mountain People, Ocean People" by Hideyuki Kikuchi
*** Fun. Post-apocalyptic where people have developed into two different societies, one living in the mountains and sky and the other living in the depths of the ocean.
"Goddess of Mercy" by Bruce Sterling
*** Okay. About an island that becomes a haven for pirates after nuclear war.
"Autogenic Dreaming: Interview with the Columns of Clouds" by TOBI Hirotaka
**** Really confusing, but in a wonderful kind of way. I still don't really know what went on, but I kind of like it that way.