Speculative Japan: Outstanding Tales of Japanese Science Fiction and Fantasy [Paperback]

Gene van Troyer (Editor), Grania Davis (Editor), David Brin (Preface)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2007

The time is long overdue to present the work of Japanese science fiction and fantasy writers to the world in English. The first book in a planned series, Speculative Japan presents a selection of outstanding works of Japanese science fiction and fantasy in English translation... and a glimpse into new worlds of the imagination. Drawing on the talents of some of the most famous and respected fiction writers of Japan, this anthology will guide you to new dimensions of wonder. First released at Nippon 2007, the 65th World Science Fiction Convention in Yokohama, Japan, it is now available worldwide.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kurodahan Press (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4902075261
• ISBN-13: 978-4902075267
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #596,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This has a few good stories, but it's still a somewhat disappointing collection, June 26, 2008

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Likes2Read (United States, TX) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Speculative Japan: Outstanding Tales of Japanese Science Fiction and Fantasy (Paperback)

I bought this book primarily because the book Best Japanese Science Fiction Stories (edited by John L. Apostolou and Martin Harry Greenberg) was such a pleasant surprise when I discovered it in a public library a few years ago. Compared to that book, this one is a little bit of a disappointment. "Speculative Japan" reprints some of the stories from "The Best Japanese Science Fiction Stories," but it's missing a few of the stories from the older book that I liked (I especially lament that it's missing the excellent story "Take Your Choice" by Sakyo Komatsu). Also, while they're not bad, none of the newer stories included in this collection are knockouts (If I had to pick a favorite from among the newer stories, it would probably be "Another Prince of Wales").

I'm somewhat on the fence about this book: I'm glad that I read it, and I do want it to sell so that Kurodahan Press releases more collections of Japanese SF, but this collection still left me a little disappointed.