Wow. Dempow Torishima's SISYPHEAN is stunning. A game-changer. Possibly the first truly visionary novel of this decade for SF. What if the Kafka of "Penal Colony" and "Metamorphosis" conjured up the ghosts of PK Dick, Stepan Chapman, and Leonora Carrington in the context of weird terrestrial biology + far future + Brothers Quay. It truly inhabits the lives of other lifeforms but is linear. (These influences are likely not all his influences, but not being as aware of some of the possible Japanese influence on his work, I'm wary of just throwing out names like Dark Wave Miyazaki or something.)
Like Angela Carter tamed surrealism just enough to tell plotted stories, Torishima manages to make human weird biology and the weird lifecycles of organisms on this Earth transposed to an alien future...relatable. Which is to say, it's supremely strange and edgy, but not really experimental. The experiment is in the way lifecycles and the organic are hardwired to the plots.
The book is also a marvelous physical object. YOU NEED TO BUY THIS IMMEDIATELY.
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All reactions:
55 comments
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Rook R.M. McNamara
The fact that you said Leonora Carrington has me beyond sold.
2
Jeff VanderMeer
It's me reaching for stuff that could possibly account for what is a sui generis event.
3
Misha Nogha replied
1 Reply
Andy Walmsley
Purchased.
2
Jeremy Brett
Wow. And I've just bought it for our library!
2
Jeff VanderMeer
cc Nick Mamatas
Rory Fullwood
Just ordered a copy, looks awesome. Thanks for the recommendation!
2
John Domini
On the list!
Jackie Gitlin
This'll be the book to read for my train to Chicago 
2
Joel Cunningham
i KNEW it was in your wheelhouse. (greenhouse?)
2
Jeff Kacmarynski
Getting this weekend
2
Steve Rasnic Tem
I've started reading it. Very impressed.
2
Melissa Turner Milazzo
Jeez, Jeff VanderMeer. How am I supposed to work on boring science stuff when you go waving this amazing read-candy in my face? How?
Jeff VanderMeer
Jeffrey Thomas might like it--reminds me in places of stories like his "The Fork."n Plus a little bit of the biotech in his Punktown stories.
Juhan Raud
Sounds pretty good!
Konstantinos Karligkiotis
Alrdy reading it.
2
Adam Mills
I had a feeling I was gonna add this to my reading list.
Sam Dee
I'm not gonna lie, Neo sold it 
2
Jeff VanderMeer
Neo has great taste.
2
Jeff VanderMeer
Huh. Looks like the author has read Finch, which makes sense!
Juhan Raud
Added it to my list.
Rachel S. Cordasco
Haikasoru gives us such great Japanese #SFinTranslation 
2
Marlyn Máruqez
I have to be honest: I’m buying it because Neo told my to
2
Jonathan Ross
Bought and excited to start it tomorrow!
2
Dave Hinchberger
Ha! Sui Generis is our new limited edition line.
2
Craig Brewer
I don't like it when you recommend things. I end up buying those things and even more things connected to those things.
2
VS Livia
Is it fully illustrated? Can I buy a kindle edition?
2
VS Livia replied
2 Replies
Jeff VanderMeer
It's very illustrated.
VS Livia replied
1 Reply
Guido Eekhaut
Bought. Because you say so, Jeff.
3
Adam Morgan
Oh great, I assigned a review a few weeks ago and hoped it would be as great as it looked.
2