Wild Proof

by Seiichi Morimura

This is a novel masterpiece of Seiichi Morimura, a famous contemporary Japanese writer. In the novel, Seiichi Morimura describes a modern city ruled by the dictator. Although it is in the postwar Japan with democratic and free modern social system, it becomes a kingdom of tyranny for a variety of historical and practical reasons. Here, Kazunari Oba is the actual king, the clan leader and the mayor and he controls the key departments, such as parliament, police, newspapers, broadcasting stations, banks, schools and hospitals, through his heelers. As a result, his rights far exceed his own authority.

356 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Mizuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess it's a 3. 75 read, it's fast paced, the story is interesting and the murder mystery is well developed enough to keep you entertained. Plus underdog-strikes-back theme is always a favorite of mine. And I really like how the author, Seiichi Morimura, expresses his distaste toward the large enterprises and their exploitative nature through his writing. (Oh, the guy expressed exploitation so well without having to utter one Marx-related word)

However, I think the author had idolized his underdog male lead too much. Although I can admire the guy for snapping out of his role as an 'enterprise slave' and recovering his instinct for survival and then fight back, and I like the description of how the guy ends up blackmailing his former boss for his own reasons, still I can't overlook how cliched and wish fulfilling it is for the male lead to capture the fancy of not one, but two beautiful young women. *sighs*

[Zenoliu · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's easy to break down, and it's not failure that really shapes the breakdown, it's false hope. The choices that Aizawa didn't make wrong are blurred by Yoriko's blood ties, and does the Elvinia fungus really exist? Whether it exists or not may not even change the ending.