Aphrodite

by Masaki Yamada, Osamu Kobayashi (Illustrator)

This important work of Japanese science fiction presents the story of Yuichi, a youth who escapes the regimented world of Japanese society for the beauty and freedom of Aphrodite, a floating island city built by the visionary Mr. Caan. Excited by the seemingly limitless potential of Aphrodite and confident of his own future, Yuichi encounters a new world: friendship, responsibility, love, and growing up. Seen through the pattern of Yuichi's life, however, is the evolution and development of the true heroine of the work: the island city Aphrodite-ever beautiful, ever filled with the limitless energy of creation. And as the global economy spirals downward, leaving Aphrodite a deserted slum slated for destruction, perhaps Yuichi is the only person who can save her... Ideal for young adult readers, but with a philosophical depth to make it a thought-provoking and rewarding book for adult readers as well.

Genres: Science Fiction

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2004

About the author

Masaki Yamada (山田 正紀) is a Japanese crime and science fiction author. He has won the Nihon SF Taisho Award, the Seiun Award three times, and an award for mystery fiction. His first story was published in 1974. His novel Aphrodite was translated into English in 2004. He also wrote After the Long Goodbye, a Ghost in the Shell-related novel.

Reviews

[Kristin Pazulski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and unique little sci-fi story.

[Sae-chan · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a science fiction, it only has trace amount of science involved. It is just a novel with setting in the near future. It doesn't have any teeth to bite even a bun. Never mind bone.

[Pygmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coming off of reading Yamada's GitS:Innocence novel, Aphrodite was almost a bit of a let-down, because it didn't immediately have any of the aspects that made the GitS novel so wonderful: the interleaving of action-packed conspiracy, Batou's philosophical meanderings on his own humanity or lack thereof, and the simple story of a man looking for his dog. I found Batou's first person narrative voice to be incredibly engaging and often downright humorous, even as he never veers from his stoic, stodgy, and lugubrious personality.

Aphrodite, on the other hand, addresses its characters in a 3rd person limited voice, which is a POV that I am particularly fond of, except that Yamada uses it with such distance, that I feel like I am watching an artsy film from which I am totally removed. It might be described as the difference of sitting, locked in traffic, and idly watching a nearby parking lot as a shopping cart rolls steadily along and into a parked car, versus standing at the scene with your grocery bags, watching the shopping cart while the owner is in front of you chasing after it like a loon.

After awhile, I just realized that the book was simply 'Japanese'. It is a distillation, the barest you can get away with and still conceive the aura of loss, happiness, and growing up and away from your childhood dreams. The concept is unique, the execution solid, and the pacing is steady. Just don't expect to get too caught up in the character's life, because it's designed to keep you at arm's length.