Sisyphean
Dempow Torishima author Daniel Huddleston translator
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Viz Media, Subs. of Shogakukan Inc
Published:5th Apr '18
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Sisyphean presents a striking vision of a future where genetic engineering has transformed the world and humanity beyond recognition. Set against this backdrop, the story follows a dedicated worker who navigates the challenges of a surreal office environment. The company operates from a precarious deck, elevated by massive iron columns, a hundred meters above a muddy expanse. This setting creates a sense of isolation and instability, reflecting the broader chaos of the transformed world.
At the helm of this unusual company is the president, a large and shifting entity that was once human. This character embodies the themes of evolution and the loss of identity, emphasizing the profound changes that genetic manipulation has wrought on society. The worker's daily routine is anything but ordinary, as he grapples with the Sisyphean nature of his tasks, evoking the myth of Sisyphus and the endless struggle inherent in existence.
Sisyphean is a mosaic novel that blends elements of extreme science fiction with high weirdness, inviting readers to reconsider their perceptions of reality. As part of Japan's interpretation of the New Weird subgenre, it challenges conventional narratives and offers a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be human in a world defined by radical change. Through its unique storytelling and imaginative concepts, the book encourages readers to reflect on the essence of existence itself.
"Dempow Torishima's Sisyphean is stunning. A game-changer. Possibly the first truly visionary novel of this decade for SF."—Jeff VanderMeer, best-selling author of Annihilation.
"Torishima’s knotty, dense, hilarious, scary masterpiece is a book whose prose can be savored endlessly, and whose Kakaesque biopunk conceits prove that no strangeness which the universe can confer upon humanity will destroy the essential drives, loves and ambitions of the species." * Locus Online *
ISBN: 9781421580821
Dimensions: 203mm x 133mm x 30mm
Weight: 386g
304 pages