pickAn excellent collection of science fiction short stories. Suzuki‘s stories are accessible and clear in their telling, and explore interesting ideas like the impenetrability of the minds of others, the shape and role of society, gender, and imperialism. This is science fiction as I enjoy it the best, thought-provoking, at times surprising, and unburdened by excessive detail.
pickOnly just discovered this wonderful collection of bold and wacky short stories! There are hints of Atwood and Murakami - but Suzuki is a bold original!
Tagging my fellow Japanese mystery enthusiasts! @Yuki_Onna @The_Penniless_Author @BarbaraBB @MicheleinPhilly @vivastory
I've been at it again. The Matsumoto and Togawa were second hand, so I grabbed them while I could. (I've also got Slow Fuse by Togawa ordered).
Terminal boredom is not a mystery, but a short story collection that I felt would work well for #pop22 (set in a non-patriarchal society).
The Aosawa Murders is #blameitonlitsy 😋
so-soAn immensely talented author, whose ideas and feminist ideals we're ahead of there time. But one also clearly conflicted by an inner turmoil. Each story has a great hook. A premise that's worth exploring. With flat, numb conclusions.
I think how this book was translated played a role in how flat and banal the endings where. I think Suski had a much more powerful voice that'd be better served with just one translator.
Day three #NewYearSpecial #20in4
I had no idea what my first book of the new year would be until today—Terminal Boredom by Izumi Suzuki. Off to a good start with the first story, Women and Women.
pickSuzuki committed suicide in 1986 at age 37, but these sci-fi stories seem super contemporary, straight from Black Mirror. Sharp takes on gender, memory, society, isolation, boredom, technology, alien life, identity, rivalry all in a punk, assertive voice. Solid translations from Japanese. “Disregarding one another, the monsters loped off, each heading its own way. Leisurely, with no particular place to go, stewards of a new anxiety.” Trans. 2021
Terminal Boredom: Stories | 
