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Ai no Kusabi #3
間の楔 Ⅲ 刻印
A Blondie takes a street mongrel as a pet, and the entire city buzzes with the scandal. However, Riki, ever the defiant pet, appears to be losing his master's interest. Is he on the verge of being abandoned?
262 pages
First published August 11, 2004
11 people are currently reading
457 people want to read
About the author
Rieko Yoshihara
22 books110 followersJapanese author and a key creator of the homoerotic subgenre known in Japan as shōnen ai ["boys' love"]. Yoshihara spent the first three years of her career writing straightforward homoerotic romance, before stumbling into sf, seemingly by accident, with the success of her signature work Ai no Kusabi (December 1986-October 1987 Shōsetsu June; 1990; trans as The Space Between 2007-2008 [see Checklist for details]). Originally published in book form as a single hardback novel, it was later reissued as a six-part series, from which the English translation was made.
Yoshihara's work is strongly redolent of the sexually-charged mysteries of Ranpo Edogawa, and shares many overt themes with the controversial sf of Shōzō Numa. However, it reached an entirely different audience, one largely unaware of these precursors. The world of Ai no Kusabi is divided by decree into classes defined by Genetic Engineering as signalled by the hair colour of the blond rulers and their black-haired subjects. The Blondies are forbidden from sexual intercourse, but often keep members of the dark-haired underclass for use as "pets" and "furniture". In an attempt to curtail Overpopulation, no more than 10% of births may be female, effectively rendering the milieu as an all-male environment, as opposed to the female Keep of Yoshihara's contemporary Yumi Matsuo.
In a sense, Yoshihara's work is an extreme comment on Women in SF, by excluding them almost entirely from a narrative of intense homoerotic relationships and macho vendettas. In depicting abusive relationships between men, in a world from which women are removed or somehow distanced, she tapped into an unexpectedly large subsection of female fandom. Ai no Kusabi found a passionate readership in Japan, sufficient to secure a Seiun Award for its illustrator Katsumi Michihara, although not for its author. The series has twice been adapted into anime, as a two-part video in 1992 and on DVD in 2012; there have also been CD dramas in the style of Radio plays, as well as a Manga edition. Long before its licensed translation in the twenty-first century, it gained a similarly passionate fan following at the periphery of US anime fandom, often among viewers who were forced to guess at the Japanese plot. In its romanticizing of both abstinence and abuse, it can be seen as a forerunner of certain subsets of twenty-first century fantasy, particularly the depiction of Vampires typified by Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series.
Ai no Kusabi was the subject of a prolonged fan translation project, the results of which are often at odds with the output of the legal English-language publication. This is a feature of the sheer fanaticism of Fandom, but also of the many difficulties facing a translator of its complex, multi-layered situations. Even the title encompasses a multiplicity of meanings, with "The Space Between" in Japanese also a pun on "Bonds of Love", "Wedge of Interval" and numerous other possible readings. Moreover, some of Yoshihara's editions offer a decorative English-language subtitle on the Japanese cover, even though her English-language title is often an inexact or counter-intuitive rendering of the actual Japanese. Such fogging of meaning is commonplace in modern Japanese sf, but plays havoc with encyclopedia listings (> Hisashi Kuroma).
Although hardly one of the Mainstream Writers of SF, Yoshihara shares many of their concerns, being primarily an author in one genre (her mundane homosexual romances are largely unlisted here), who only occasionally dabbles in Fantastika. Several of her other books touch on otherworldly themes. Kage no Kan ["House of Shadows"] (1994) eroticizes the relationship between Lucifer and his sworn enemy, the archangel Michael. Although not listed as a sequel per se, the following year's Satan no Fūin ["Seal of Satan"] (1995), shares an illustrator, as well as an apparent continuation of the story as Lucifer lives out his exile on Earth (> Gods and Demons). [JonC]
Yoshihara's work is strongly redolent of the sexually-charged mysteries of Ranpo Edogawa, and shares many overt themes with the controversial sf of Shōzō Numa. However, it reached an entirely different audience, one largely unaware of these precursors. The world of Ai no Kusabi is divided by decree into classes defined by Genetic Engineering as signalled by the hair colour of the blond rulers and their black-haired subjects. The Blondies are forbidden from sexual intercourse, but often keep members of the dark-haired underclass for use as "pets" and "furniture". In an attempt to curtail Overpopulation, no more than 10% of births may be female, effectively rendering the milieu as an all-male environment, as opposed to the female Keep of Yoshihara's contemporary Yumi Matsuo.
In a sense, Yoshihara's work is an extreme comment on Women in SF, by excluding them almost entirely from a narrative of intense homoerotic relationships and macho vendettas. In depicting abusive relationships between men, in a world from which women are removed or somehow distanced, she tapped into an unexpectedly large subsection of female fandom. Ai no Kusabi found a passionate readership in Japan, sufficient to secure a Seiun Award for its illustrator Katsumi Michihara, although not for its author. The series has twice been adapted into anime, as a two-part video in 1992 and on DVD in 2012; there have also been CD dramas in the style of Radio plays, as well as a Manga edition. Long before its licensed translation in the twenty-first century, it gained a similarly passionate fan following at the periphery of US anime fandom, often among viewers who were forced to guess at the Japanese plot. In its romanticizing of both abstinence and abuse, it can be seen as a forerunner of certain subsets of twenty-first century fantasy, particularly the depiction of Vampires typified by Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series.
Ai no Kusabi was the subject of a prolonged fan translation project, the results of which are often at odds with the output of the legal English-language publication. This is a feature of the sheer fanaticism of Fandom, but also of the many difficulties facing a translator of its complex, multi-layered situations. Even the title encompasses a multiplicity of meanings, with "The Space Between" in Japanese also a pun on "Bonds of Love", "Wedge of Interval" and numerous other possible readings. Moreover, some of Yoshihara's editions offer a decorative English-language subtitle on the Japanese cover, even though her English-language title is often an inexact or counter-intuitive rendering of the actual Japanese. Such fogging of meaning is commonplace in modern Japanese sf, but plays havoc with encyclopedia listings (> Hisashi Kuroma).
Although hardly one of the Mainstream Writers of SF, Yoshihara shares many of their concerns, being primarily an author in one genre (her mundane homosexual romances are largely unlisted here), who only occasionally dabbles in Fantastika. Several of her other books touch on otherworldly themes. Kage no Kan ["House of Shadows"] (1994) eroticizes the relationship between Lucifer and his sworn enemy, the archangel Michael. Although not listed as a sequel per se, the following year's Satan no Fūin ["Seal of Satan"] (1995), shares an illustrator, as well as an apparent continuation of the story as Lucifer lives out his exile on Earth (> Gods and Demons). [JonC]
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 1, 2012
Icy, cold perfection gets to be awfully boring after a while. So when the previously emotionless android Iason Mink finally shows signs of life and warmth, the reader has to sit up and take notice.
Emotions are plumbed here as psychosexual situations are taken to their absolute limit. There are scenes that are decidedly potent in their sexual charge; what deepens them from being merely sick thrills are the emotions of the people involved. Iason and his fellow Blondys are presumably nothing more than androids without human feeling. But Iason is beginning to experience them and this makes him baffling and somewhat disturbing to his fellows. In his way, he is becoming as much a freak among the Blondy dolls, all engineered to have similar coloring and sex, as Riki is amongst his companion slum mongrels.
Character growth is essential if any story continuation is meant to be more than a retread of everything that came before it. That is amply demonstrated in this volume and thus I give it slightly higher commendation than the first two books in this series.
Emotions are plumbed here as psychosexual situations are taken to their absolute limit. There are scenes that are decidedly potent in their sexual charge; what deepens them from being merely sick thrills are the emotions of the people involved. Iason and his fellow Blondys are presumably nothing more than androids without human feeling. But Iason is beginning to experience them and this makes him baffling and somewhat disturbing to his fellows. In his way, he is becoming as much a freak among the Blondy dolls, all engineered to have similar coloring and sex, as Riki is amongst his companion slum mongrels.
Character growth is essential if any story continuation is meant to be more than a retread of everything that came before it. That is amply demonstrated in this volume and thus I give it slightly higher commendation than the first two books in this series.
July 16, 2025
The story got more interesting in this volume and Iason remains fascinating but I really dislike the writing style. Probably won’t continue the series
December 16, 2010
An engaging continuation of a great story.
I was very intrigued to have a glimpse at those three years that Riki spent as Iason's pet.
The translation still leaves much to be desired, but it can't spoil my pleasure.
And I really don't remember whether it was mentioned in the anime or not that Iason was an android! Omg!
I was very intrigued to have a glimpse at those three years that Riki spent as Iason's pet.
The translation still leaves much to be desired, but it can't spoil my pleasure.
And I really don't remember whether it was mentioned in the anime or not that Iason was an android! Omg!
November 23, 2022
The ugliness behind the glitter of Eos is revealed. First the existence of a Pet’s life, the emptiness felt by Riki, a slum mongrel tossed amongst them. The roles of Pet and slum mongrel are very specific in this dystopian world, yet there are qualities about the humilation which are universal. Someone finds themselves in an elite group where they don’t belong or want to be. Just by being there they expose how shallow that group is to the group themselves. The group can never admit it nor can it ever escape the revelation. The members of that group take their frustration and humilation out upon the outsider who doesn’t belong.
The second revelation was truth about Furniture; exposed by Daryl and Katz. There’s a hint of hope in these revelations even if Katz doesn’t see it that way. As tormented as he might have been, Katz is one of the most well-adjusted representatives of this messed-up world, a mess made up of hierarchy, humiliation, and lies.
Iason seems to be the master of Daryl’s misery as well as Riki’s and Katz’s. He’s about to become Guy’s as well. At the same time I wonder if the master at the top of this misery isn’t rebelling against the order he’s part of the elite for by causing trouble in Eos, what’s supposed to be Paradise, a Paradise he and others know isn’t Paradise at all. If in tasting the forbidden fruit that is Riki, Iason hasn’t been infected with something of Riki’s spirit. The passion between them, even as one tries to cage and tame the other sizzles, giving this dark corner of the universe light and heat. The spice of that forbidden passion spurs the story forward, winding it into mysteries I wonder about even as I guess what lies beneath it all.
The second revelation was truth about Furniture; exposed by Daryl and Katz. There’s a hint of hope in these revelations even if Katz doesn’t see it that way. As tormented as he might have been, Katz is one of the most well-adjusted representatives of this messed-up world, a mess made up of hierarchy, humiliation, and lies.
Iason seems to be the master of Daryl’s misery as well as Riki’s and Katz’s. He’s about to become Guy’s as well. At the same time I wonder if the master at the top of this misery isn’t rebelling against the order he’s part of the elite for by causing trouble in Eos, what’s supposed to be Paradise, a Paradise he and others know isn’t Paradise at all. If in tasting the forbidden fruit that is Riki, Iason hasn’t been infected with something of Riki’s spirit. The passion between them, even as one tries to cage and tame the other sizzles, giving this dark corner of the universe light and heat. The spice of that forbidden passion spurs the story forward, winding it into mysteries I wonder about even as I guess what lies beneath it all.
May 3, 2020
Well, this is was quite disturbingly dark but also deliciously entertaining. Can't properly say with words how absolutely amazing Iason the devious and highly compromised Blondie is. The level of command he has over everyone in every scene, the smoothness of his dialogue, the way he is somehow highly unpredictable and yet completely in his element in any situation... perfection, your name is Iason Mink.
I loved Katze and his coming forth with at least part of his backstory and I'll be damned if Iason does not attract intelligence like a magnet. His household is full of genius hackers and his best friend goes by the name of Mad Scientist. Speaking of, Raoul's endless but well meaning haranguing of Iason if probably my favorite part of every volume. It's so obvious how worried Raoul is about his friend how shocked by the changes in Iason and it breaks my heart a little every time.
I loved Katze and his coming forth with at least part of his backstory and I'll be damned if Iason does not attract intelligence like a magnet. His household is full of genius hackers and his best friend goes by the name of Mad Scientist. Speaking of, Raoul's endless but well meaning haranguing of Iason if probably my favorite part of every volume. It's so obvious how worried Raoul is about his friend how shocked by the changes in Iason and it breaks my heart a little every time.
August 5, 2019
Tkjv
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2022
3,5 estrellas.
Lo sentí como muy de relleno.
Lo sentí como muy de relleno.
December 20, 2022
Hey if chi if we know stuff fnt fee good if FF if FF TX he do you the thx fnt in JC screen for eth high is scratch JC Tokyo in the the you u if did r
April 1, 2023
I just love how the story unravels and how everything is interwoven and connected.
Can't wait to start Vol.4....
Can't wait to start Vol.4....
September 20, 2023
I like how Yoshihara seems to digress to circle back to the scene she started, it's an interesting narration
February 2, 2024
"non è necessario uccidere quello che non si lascia vivere."
quattro stelle perché no iason, no party
quattro stelle perché no iason, no party
February 13, 2025
RIP Daryl, gracias por tanto, perdón por tan poco.
2025
June 23, 2025Aún ando un poco perdida con toda la sociedad pero creo que se está cocinando algo guay
January 25, 2026
Та, очікувано крім такої-сякої послідовності на краще ніщо не змінюється. Пас. Краще б ОВА передивився.
May 16, 2013
This book is definitely better than the previous two books except the Chronology that made kinda confused .
Well , after reading 3 books of the series I noticed that the ovas are nothing compared to the novels & I mean both the old & the remake & they don't fulfill the story , the characters & etc . But the most shocking thing to me that Iason-sama is an android ! WTF!?! That was never mentioned in the ovas as much as I remember at least !
Anyway , I enjoyed it so much & I hope the rest will be even better <3
Well , after reading 3 books of the series I noticed that the ovas are nothing compared to the novels & I mean both the old & the remake & they don't fulfill the story , the characters & etc . But the most shocking thing to me that Iason-sama is an android ! WTF!?! That was never mentioned in the ovas as much as I remember at least !
Anyway , I enjoyed it so much & I hope the rest will be even better <3
August 9, 2016
It's good. Perhaps the most entertaining volume that those two before it. Yet I wish for more on what happened between Iason and his recalcitrant pet, Riki. It would be lovely if I could read more on the new pet training phase with greater details and focus.
* 9th August 2016
* 9th August 2016
April 16, 2021
Rikis 3 years as a pet and we learn more about "furniture". Not for the faint of heart.
January 15, 2014
Way better and more readable than the first two volumes.
June 17, 2015
This just gets better and better! Ahh if only volume 4 wasn't exorbitantly priced! T_T I neeeeed ittttt
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews