HARD-BOILED WONDERLAND AND THE
END OF THE WORLD
BY HARUKI MURAKAMI
This
original, fast paced book is written by best selling novelist,
Haruki Murakami, and is set in futuristic Tokyo. It is
unique, not just in his attention to detail of it being
set in the near future, but also because it is actually
two completely distinct stories, switching back and forth
through every other chapter.
The narrator, along with all other characters, remains
unnamed throughout the entire novel. In a world run by
an organization called “the System”, our protagonist
lives his life as a Calcutec, the last survivor of a government
experiment. This has left him with a completely rewired
mind, after having had electrodes that decipher coded
messages implanted into his brain. His job is to launder
classified information, and is hired by a sewer dwelling
scientist, who needs him to decode certain data involving
a dangerous project named “The End of the World”.
He is led on a strange journey battling underground enemies
known as INKlings, drunken nights of Wild Turkey Whiskey,
promiscuity, and a fantasy-like parallel universe, in
which he is unable to find peace within his own consciousness.
I read this interesting, creative novel ten years ago,
and have since then, read many of Murakami’s other
works. His bold style of writing is always captivating,
dark, and oddly humorous. Even for those of you that are
not science fiction fans (I usually HATE Sci-Fi), this
is definitely a must for anyone that enjoys smart, well-written
fiction.
OTHER
AWESOME BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR: The Elephant Vanishes, A
Wind Up Bird Chronicle, Dance Dance Dance, A Wild Sheep
Chase. READ THEM!!!
Jenny
June 15th, 2005
|