The Best Japanese Science Fiction Stories

Without a single bad story in it, but with some towering way above others, "The Best Japanese Science Fiction Stories" offers an eclectic selection of stories very different both from western science fiction and from Japanese works someone in the western world might be more familiar with, but that doesn't mean inferior. Indeed, it's a great collection by any standard, not hurt at all by the fact that some of the stories presented aren't really what's considered science fiction over here. Some definately do fall in the science fiction realm, and one of those is the mind-blowing "Fnifmum" by Taku Mayumura, not only one of the greatest science fiction short stories I've ever read but one of the greatest short stories, period. Incredibly original, "Fnifmum", written in an extremely unique style, presents possibly the most utterly Alien lifeform ever imagined, yet one that the reader comes to know and relate to, demonstrating that there can be points of common connection between even the most diverse of beings; "Fnifmum", the being, is even stranger and more foreign than Lovecraft's Chthulu, and by a good distance at that. An absolute must-read for anyone who wants to see how far literature can stretch with enough imagination. On the other end of the spectrum, but also excellent, is the Completely non-SF "The Savage Mouth" by Sakyo Komatsu, a relentless horror piece that is a welcome addition to the book to a horror fan such as myself but which may not be liked by science fiction fans who aren't also into horror. Also imaginative and disturbing (but in a different direction) is "The Legend Of The Paper Spaceship", which is extremely well done, but may have gone a little Too far in one respect (that's one of the Extremely rare times I'll say that about any piece of fiction; book, movie, or otherwise). Shinichi Hoshi's "He-y, Come On Ou-t!", another tale on the cusp of different genres, is an extremely effective parable for the modern world that seems to be becoming more relevant with each year. It carries a surprise but hauntingly appropriate ending that I think will stay with most readers. Tensei Kono's "Triceratops" has an enchantingly dreamlike feel and runs along the borders of science fiction, fantasy/fables, the metaphysical and probably several unnamed genres; this collection certainly excels in hitting some unfamiliar notes. I highly recommend this volume to both Science Fiction fans and non Science Fiction fans; whatever your tastes in reading, this is likely to be among the freshest and most innovative tomes in your library. How about a collection of, say, "The Best Japanese Fantasy" or "The Best Korean Science Fiction Short Stories" as a followup? (Incidentally, I recently discovered while browsing this site a collection called "Science Fiction From China". I haven't read it yet, but thought it might be of interest to anyone checking out this book)

This collection features short stories from some of the Japanese masters of science fiction, a genre that is rarely translated into English. However, few of these stories deal with space travel, aliens, or the world of the far future. Some of them deal with the near future, some with an alternative universe, one, which is very fitting for the Spam age, a pseudo-alternative universe. With a uniquely Japanese sensibility to society, these stories are not only entertaining, but allow the reader with a view into present day Japanese culture. Although many of the stories are brilliant, a few are plodding and obtuse. This collection also includes a brief bibliography of other Japanese science fiction books that have been translated into English.

I enjoyed reading this book not only because I am a lover of Science Fiction but also because it was interesting to see SF written from a different cultural perspective. Among these beautifully written and translated stories there is gruesome (The Savage Mouth), thought provoking (Take Your Choice and Standing Woman) and elegant prose (The Legend of the Paper Spaceship). All the stories are unique with concepts distinctive from Western writers but still valuable as entertaining Science Fiction. I recommend this to anyone who wants to read something slightly unusual. I look forward to reading more translations of Japanese SF in the future. Please publish another book.