蛇棺葬

作家

by Kodansha

三津田信三作家同名系列，與最終曲《百蛇堂》彼此有承接關係，《蛇棺葬》是《百蛇堂》中的主角聽聞的一個故事。注意：故事的結束，才是恐怖的開始！「它」，會去到想要知道「它」的人身邊。所以，千萬別告訴旁人這個故事……三十年前，父親替驟逝的祖母送終，卻憑空消失在名為「百蛇堂」的密室裡。如今，輪到我為後母舉行相同的儀式，父親當年的經歷，即將在我身上重演……五歲時，父親帶「我」回到老家──鄉下望族的百巳家。私生子的我是家族之恥，彷彿只是空氣，默默過著備受冷遇的生活。衰老的祖母逝世那天，親族們遵循代代相傳的詭異儀式舉行葬禮，不料，父親竟在形同密室的「百蛇堂」中消失無蹤！三十年過去，接獲後母惡耗的我重返睽違許久的百巳家。這次，換成我與繼母的遺體一起被關進那座「百蛇堂」……

Paperback Bunko

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Kodansha Ltd. (Japanese: 株式会社講談社, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Kōdansha) is a Japanese privately-held publishing company headquartered in Bunkyō, Tokyo. Kodansha is the largest Japanese publishing company, and it produces the manga magazines Nakayoshi, Afternoon, Evening, Weekly Shōnen Magazine and Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine, as well as the more literary magazines Gunzō, Shūkan Gendai, and the Japanese dictionary Nihongo Daijiten. Kodansha was founded by Seiji Noma in 1909, and members of his family continue as its owners either directly or through the Noma Cultural Foundation.

Reviews

[Mizuki]

4.5 stars, this book is creepy and well written, although the ending is a little bit weak and some of the mysteries are not explained, but I like the parts narrated by the protagonist's six years old self, I like his experience living in his father's family mansion, I like how the twisted relationships among family members are revealed, and how the protagonist's unusual friendship with the old woman in the family is formed. I like how creepy and frightening the spooky scenes are written, I like the description of the family's complicated burial rituals and how the Japanese folklore, belief and traditions are revealed through the story telling.

I equally enjoy the part about the protagonist's journey back to the family mansion 30 years after he was taken away from there, I also like how the ending part of the book is focused more on the nurturing love between him and the old lady than focusing on the ancient family grudge.