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The Sleeping Dragon
「我失去了原有的能力，而活得很辛苦；但他卻因具有額外的能力而痛不欲生。」
一個颱風夜、一個異想天開的念頭，一名小男孩就此失去了身影。
少年緊握著小男孩留下的傘，感應到了小男孩的驚恐，甚至從人孔蓋感應到了那劇烈的疼痛……
究竟少年是真有感應能力？還是目睹了一切經過？或者，兇手就是……
每個人的體內都有一條龍，那是一條外型極不可思議、蘊藏著無窮力量的沉睡的龍；當牠甦醒之時，我們唯一能做的，就只有祈禱！
當眼前的事實令你顫慄不已時，是該直視還是逃離？
一名讓少年搭便車的記者，又是如何被少年說服他不僅可以透視別人的思想、過去的記憶，甚至讀取殘留在物品上的記憶的特殊能力？而之後他又是如何被少年的朋友說服這種特殊能力根本是一派胡言？接連而來的不具名空白信又是怎麼回事？誰又會在暗夜裡失去了蹤影？
一個颱風夜、一個異想天開的念頭，一名小男孩就此失去了身影。
少年緊握著小男孩留下的傘，感應到了小男孩的驚恐，甚至從人孔蓋感應到了那劇烈的疼痛……
究竟少年是真有感應能力？還是目睹了一切經過？或者，兇手就是……
每個人的體內都有一條龍，那是一條外型極不可思議、蘊藏著無窮力量的沉睡的龍；當牠甦醒之時，我們唯一能做的，就只有祈禱！
當眼前的事實令你顫慄不已時，是該直視還是逃離？
一名讓少年搭便車的記者，又是如何被少年說服他不僅可以透視別人的思想、過去的記憶，甚至讀取殘留在物品上的記憶的特殊能力？而之後他又是如何被少年的朋友說服這種特殊能力根本是一派胡言？接連而來的不具名空白信又是怎麼回事？誰又會在暗夜裡失去了蹤影？
301 pages, Hardcover
First published January 30, 1995
3 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
About the author
Miyuki Miyabe
314 books559 followersSee also 宮部 みゆき (Japanese language profile) and 宮部美幸 (Chinese language profile).
Miyuki Miyabe (宮部みゆき Miyabe Miyuki) is a popular contemporary Japanese author active in a number of genres including science fiction, mystery fiction, historical fiction, social commentary, and juvenile fiction.
Miyabe started writing novels at the age of 23. She has been a prolific writer, publishing dozens of novels and winning many major literary prizes, including the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize in 1993 for Kasha and the Naoki Prize in 1998 for Riyū [The Reason] (理由). A Japanese film adaptation of Riyû, directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, was released in 2004.
Miyuki Miyabe (宮部みゆき Miyabe Miyuki) is a popular contemporary Japanese author active in a number of genres including science fiction, mystery fiction, historical fiction, social commentary, and juvenile fiction.
Miyabe started writing novels at the age of 23. She has been a prolific writer, publishing dozens of novels and winning many major literary prizes, including the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize in 1993 for Kasha and the Naoki Prize in 1998 for Riyū [The Reason] (理由). A Japanese film adaptation of Riyû, directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, was released in 2004.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 29, 2021
宮部美幸的小說總是讓我看得酣暢淋灕。披著奇幻的、推理的外衣，中心思想卻是身為異類的那種與世界格格不入的傷感故事。
能感應他人心中所想是一件很可怕的事。所有惡意都將無所遁形，人性的醜惡想必發出陣陣惡臭，讓人無法呼吸吧？慎司和直也的超能力再怎麼強大，也只是兩個懵懂少年，是該被保護起來的年紀。但他們卻承受了這種能力，日夜被自己和他人的不同折磨著。
兩個有同樣能力的少年，一個在愛中長大，另外一個卻沒那種運氣，被迫在小小年紀就出來面對社會。這造成了他們個性兩極。雖然同樣的痛苦，但被保護被愛的慎司積極，也想著用他的能力去改變世界，幫助別人。而年幼便家庭破碎的直也則到處躲藏，年紀輕輕便流離失所。
故事在主角高坂的前未婚妻被綁架後真正進入高潮。前面的鋪陳卻一點也不馬虎。一點一點的，高坂發現犯人瞄準的並不是他，他只是一個幌子。但還沒確認，案件就發生了。
故事的結局讓人有點意外卻完全合情合理。直也做出了看起來不像，但確實像他會做出的選擇。七惠和直也在他嚴寒的人生中，給了他溫暖和愛，所以他報以性命。是個既悲傷又合適的結局。
「希望我們可以好好地活下去，希望可怕的災難不要降臨在我們身上。」
「每個人的體內都有一條龍，那是一條外型極不可思議、蘊藏著無窮力量的沈睡的龍；當牠甦醒之時，我們唯一能做的，就只有祈禱！」
能感應他人心中所想是一件很可怕的事。所有惡意都將無所遁形，人性的醜惡想必發出陣陣惡臭，讓人無法呼吸吧？慎司和直也的超能力再怎麼強大，也只是兩個懵懂少年，是該被保護起來的年紀。但他們卻承受了這種能力，日夜被自己和他人的不同折磨著。
兩個有同樣能力的少年，一個在愛中長大，另外一個卻沒那種運氣，被迫在小小年紀就出來面對社會。這造成了他們個性兩極。雖然同樣的痛苦，但被保護被愛的慎司積極，也想著用他的能力去改變世界，幫助別人。而年幼便家庭破碎的直也則到處躲藏，年紀輕輕便流離失所。
故事在主角高坂的前未婚妻被綁架後真正進入高潮。前面的鋪陳卻一點也不馬虎。一點一點的，高坂發現犯人瞄準的並不是他，他只是一個幌子。但還沒確認，案件就發生了。
故事的結局讓人有點意外卻完全合情合理。直也做出了看起來不像，但確實像他會做出的選擇。七惠和直也在他嚴寒的人生中，給了他溫暖和愛，所以他報以性命。是個既悲傷又合適的結局。
「希望我們可以好好地活下去，希望可怕的災難不要降臨在我們身上。」
「每個人的體內都有一條龍，那是一條外型極不可思議、蘊藏著無窮力量的沈睡的龍；當牠甦醒之時，我們唯一能做的，就只有祈禱！」
February 3, 2012
On the cover of THE SLEEPING DRAGON, Miyuki Miyabe is noted as Japan's Number 1 bestselling Mystery Writer, known for her ability to write strong suspense novels. Which made this particular book an interesting prospect, even allowing for the inclusion of an ESP sub-thread which isn't often something I'm particularly comfortable with.
But I am very comfortable with something that has a strong sense of place, and a strong sense of the culture that it comes from. Even allowing for the novel being translated, there remained something quintessentially Japanese about this book. Considered, subdued even, the story of THE SLEEPING DRAGON is told in a sparse, careful and thoughtful manner, particularly given the central premise of the book - whether or not a careless or even reckless act is murder, whether or not you know who did it.
The book is telling a complicated story. The disappearance of a little boy, the identification of who moved the manhole cover, their reactions and everyone's belief about culpability. The pairing of an older, life-worn journalist Kosaka, and the young psychic teenager Shinji. The relationship between Shinji and Naoya, and Naoya's struggle with his own psychic ability. Intertwined friendships, the past returning to affect the present, love lost, good and bad new relationships, and the whole catastrophe.
Despite the complications of the various sub-threads throughout the book, there is a stately progression, more than a thriller style ride. The whole book does not, however, concentrate on the "mystery" or the loss of the little boy. There are other aspects to the people within the story that frequently take centre stage. Because of that, this is not a "traditional" mystery in which a crime is committed, an investigation undertaken, and a resolution arrived at. This is a book which resolves a mystery, and looks deep into the consequences of that mystery, and to the fall out in the lives of the people involved. Within this context, the ESP sub-thread is really more about the battle that somebody with a different "gift" in life has in dealing with the consequences of that gift.
I doubt very strongly that this would be a book that dedicated fast paced thriller fans are going to find exactly their cup of tea. I suspect that fans of the crime straight through to resolution style of mystery fiction may also find it a little disappointing, but I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed THE SLEEPING DRAGON. I found the style of storytelling very engaging, the intricacies of the lives that the book looked at absorbing, the moral dilemmas raised, addressed or never resolved realistic and quite challenging. The style of the book felt Japanese to me, but the characters within the story, and the battles that they fought, essentially very human and realistic.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
But I am very comfortable with something that has a strong sense of place, and a strong sense of the culture that it comes from. Even allowing for the novel being translated, there remained something quintessentially Japanese about this book. Considered, subdued even, the story of THE SLEEPING DRAGON is told in a sparse, careful and thoughtful manner, particularly given the central premise of the book - whether or not a careless or even reckless act is murder, whether or not you know who did it.
The book is telling a complicated story. The disappearance of a little boy, the identification of who moved the manhole cover, their reactions and everyone's belief about culpability. The pairing of an older, life-worn journalist Kosaka, and the young psychic teenager Shinji. The relationship between Shinji and Naoya, and Naoya's struggle with his own psychic ability. Intertwined friendships, the past returning to affect the present, love lost, good and bad new relationships, and the whole catastrophe.
Despite the complications of the various sub-threads throughout the book, there is a stately progression, more than a thriller style ride. The whole book does not, however, concentrate on the "mystery" or the loss of the little boy. There are other aspects to the people within the story that frequently take centre stage. Because of that, this is not a "traditional" mystery in which a crime is committed, an investigation undertaken, and a resolution arrived at. This is a book which resolves a mystery, and looks deep into the consequences of that mystery, and to the fall out in the lives of the people involved. Within this context, the ESP sub-thread is really more about the battle that somebody with a different "gift" in life has in dealing with the consequences of that gift.
I doubt very strongly that this would be a book that dedicated fast paced thriller fans are going to find exactly their cup of tea. I suspect that fans of the crime straight through to resolution style of mystery fiction may also find it a little disappointing, but I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed THE SLEEPING DRAGON. I found the style of storytelling very engaging, the intricacies of the lives that the book looked at absorbing, the moral dilemmas raised, addressed or never resolved realistic and quite challenging. The style of the book felt Japanese to me, but the characters within the story, and the battles that they fought, essentially very human and realistic.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
June 4, 2014
If you like dark Japanese thrillers, this is one to pick. A journalist picks up a teenage hitchhiker in the pouring rain and drives over a manhole cover that's been removed. Upon stopping, he gets out, finds a little yellow umbrella and then comes upon an elderly gentleman looking for his young grandson who had run out to look for a pet. After the teenager claims to have ESP and to know not only that the man's grandson is dead but also the identity of the people are who removed the manhole cover, the journalist meets another young man who claims to have stronger powers than the teenager and warns him against him.
In the meantime, the journalist has also been the recipient of strange anonymous letters at the office.
Is there a link to all this? Is he being played by the two young men? What do they want with him? Do they have anything to do with the strange letters and why was there a reference to his ex-girlfriend?
The thriller does not appear to have suffered from being a translation and the reader is taken on a rollercoaster ride of unexpected twists and turns throughout the book.
In the meantime, the journalist has also been the recipient of strange anonymous letters at the office.
Is there a link to all this? Is he being played by the two young men? What do they want with him? Do they have anything to do with the strange letters and why was there a reference to his ex-girlfriend?
The thriller does not appear to have suffered from being a translation and the reader is taken on a rollercoaster ride of unexpected twists and turns throughout the book.
July 10, 2015
Good start to hype things up but the story started off with an accident which sort of had no relevance but just to prove that the kid is really psychic. The whole kidnapping part is pretty bull and i don't get why these kids cant just tell the police or the protagonist ahead. Overall pretty disappointing twist like the devil's whisperer. I was hoping for more than some stupid kidnap plot staged by two lustful couple.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2017
Entertaining mystery by well-known Japanese author Miyuki Miyabe. Someone is trying to frighten magazine writer Shogo Kosaka and his ex-fiancee. In the meantime, a young boy dies when he is swept into a sewer during a typhoon because someone has removed the manhole cover. Two mysterious teens know more than they care to admit. Miyabe's twists and turns make for an engrossing read.
July 11, 2019
Review from Asia Thrills - https://asiathrills.com/the-sleeping-...
I was hooked right from the start of this stirring and atmospheric mystery.
A magazine reporter is driving through a vicious typhoon when he nearly collides with a teenage boy, Shinji, with a punctured bicycle.
He takes Shinji into his car, but then has another shock when he apparently hits a heavy manhole cover that could have become dislodged in the rain. Worse, a man suddenly appears desperately searching for his young son, who may have fallen into the manhole.
Subsequently, matters take a strange turn when it seems that Shinji is able to read the minds of people around him. He has psychic powers, he claims. He knows what happened to the young boy.
Now the novel might have lost me at this point, as I am not especially a fan of supernatural thrillers. But such was the intensity of the plot that I kept reading, and soon mystery is piled upon mystery.
Another “psychic” appears, and he casts doubt on Shinji’s powers. But is either of them really able to read minds? And why is the reporter’s former fiancé – now married to another man – suddenly becoming involved? As for the little boy who apparently fell into the manhole – was it actually murder? Indeed, might the journalist himself be the killer?
Miyuki Miyabe, one of Japan’s leading crime fiction writers, takes us on a thrilling ride in what is probably her best work to appear in English.
I was hooked right from the start of this stirring and atmospheric mystery.
A magazine reporter is driving through a vicious typhoon when he nearly collides with a teenage boy, Shinji, with a punctured bicycle.
He takes Shinji into his car, but then has another shock when he apparently hits a heavy manhole cover that could have become dislodged in the rain. Worse, a man suddenly appears desperately searching for his young son, who may have fallen into the manhole.
Subsequently, matters take a strange turn when it seems that Shinji is able to read the minds of people around him. He has psychic powers, he claims. He knows what happened to the young boy.
Now the novel might have lost me at this point, as I am not especially a fan of supernatural thrillers. But such was the intensity of the plot that I kept reading, and soon mystery is piled upon mystery.
Another “psychic” appears, and he casts doubt on Shinji’s powers. But is either of them really able to read minds? And why is the reporter’s former fiancé – now married to another man – suddenly becoming involved? As for the little boy who apparently fell into the manhole – was it actually murder? Indeed, might the journalist himself be the killer?
Miyuki Miyabe, one of Japan’s leading crime fiction writers, takes us on a thrilling ride in what is probably her best work to appear in English.
August 9, 2019
Pretty good! ... not great? This is the first of Miyabe's novels that failed to really sink its hooks in my by the 1/3 mark. It's also markedly less psychological or sociological in focus: this is more of your standard potboiler: psychics, murder, kidnapping, romantic intrigue, oh my. Because it's Miyabe the characters are still beautifully three-dimensional and believable -- Miyabe's characters never fail to be people I enjoy spending time with -- and the supernatural elements are handled deftly with an emotional weight that almost lends them the certainty of realism. It's fun, and even sweet, and funny in parts. I'm just used to being so overwhelmed and impressed by Miyabe's gestalt, but Sleeping Dragon is basically the sum of its parts.
August 10, 2023
“Inside all of us, we have a dragon, a sleeping dragon with infinite power of an amazing form. Once a dragon wakes and rears its head, you can only pray for what might happen next..” (301)
Usually not a mystery novel person but this was a fun read with mind-reading teenagers and their Middle-aged dad friend. Ending was a little forced with the quick addition of Kawasaki and Reiko’s storyline (I think it should have been added sooner) but good time, quick fun read
Usually not a mystery novel person but this was a fun read with mind-reading teenagers and their Middle-aged dad friend. Ending was a little forced with the quick addition of Kawasaki and Reiko’s storyline (I think it should have been added sooner) but good time, quick fun read
October 12, 2021
Read the Chinese translation version, an interesting blending of crime mystery with supernatural story. Each by itself is quite ordinary, author managed combine them into a unique plot of the main character got tangled in kidnap, murder, telepathy and suspense. Fast pace and never got bogged down by long drawn out narration of nothingness.
September 29, 2023
Call it, four and a half stars. A rather brilliant book including a down in the dumps reporter, a mute and two psychics and ghost of additional well described and defined characters. This would actually be a great beginning of a series following Kosaka the journalist and those around him. This was very well written and the translator seemed to do an excellent job as well.
May 25, 2020
宮部美幸又一奇幻縣懸疑題材，不過這次的主題是「特異功能」。
主角遇上了具有「讀心術」特異功能的少年，對少年來說，知道事情的始末 - 例如兇案的預謀及發生 - 卻不揭穿甚至是阻止，都有愧於擁有該能力的優勢，於是少年遇上了他認為可以信任的主角，請主角相信他，並與他一起揭穿與他一起遇上的意外事件。之後主角又遇上了與自己相關的綁架事件，也透過這少年及少年同樣有特異功能的朋友，成功破了這椿陰謀多端的綁架案。
這本書的心得我寫得意興闌珊，總覺得搔不到癢處。
主角遇上了具有「讀心術」特異功能的少年，對少年來說，知道事情的始末 - 例如兇案的預謀及發生 - 卻不揭穿甚至是阻止，都有愧於擁有該能力的優勢，於是少年遇上了他認為可以信任的主角，請主角相信他，並與他一起揭穿與他一起遇上的意外事件。之後主角又遇上了與自己相關的綁架事件，也透過這少年及少年同樣有特異功能的朋友，成功破了這椿陰謀多端的綁架案。
這本書的心得我寫得意興闌珊，總覺得搔不到癢處。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2020
A 3.5 stars. May have been 4 if the story in the later half was as good as the first half. Too many diversions and useless information towards the last 30% that resulted in a mystery reveal which seemed force fitted and not interesting enough.
May 10, 2023
3 1/2 stars rounded up. Always enjoy this author. I did enjoy this book too, but I did find the story went off track from being about a little boy who drowned and what events led to that to something else entirely. It was different, though, and I liked the characters.
November 24, 2025
得獎的書耶！可惜，實在看不出好在哪裡？主題希鬆平常，不過是人類潛能無限之夢囈。沒有特殊的社會意義，也沒有深刻的人物刻畫。在我看來，推理小說以沒有根據的靈異為主體，實在是下下乘。因為推理應該是一種嚴密的邏輯活動，甚至像《柯南》那種特別強調英雄的推理故事，更賦予主角超乎常人的科學知識及生活技能。這些，主要是做為破除事物的虛妄表象而存在的。讀心、測心之類缺乏嚴格證據的市井傳言皆在破除之列。這本小說竟然以虛妄幻想為主體，立足點已然違反「推理」之精神。大謬！
July 3, 2017
3.5 stars
October 20, 2017
ibland äre förvirrande ånte läsa baksidor utan gå på känslor genrer å titlar. förväntade mig en saga om en drake och den dök som aldrig upp.
February 8, 2022
A mystery involving a reporter and some young men with ESP.
February 6, 2024
A little different from the usual mystery novel as it involves some slightly supernatural elements. Overall a very absorbing read.
November 25, 2024
I really enjoyed the first half of the book but by the last 100 pages I was done with it and wanted to finish it (which took me way more time than I'd anticipated).
November 27, 2024
Good book. Stephen King-ish with interesting twists and characters.
June 26, 2025
Я не сильно любитель есперів, та і таємниця в цілому очевидна, коли всі гравці виходять га поле, але це більше не про детективи і надзвичайні здібності, як про те, наскільки важко а суспільство, особливо японське, вписуватися тим, хто чимось інший.
January 4, 2018
A twist on the journalist detective story.
Full Review:
https://ianjoshyateswriting.blogspot....
Full Review:
https://ianjoshyateswriting.blogspot....
January 26, 2013
Begins as a plausible Japanese mystery novel, on a dark and stormy night. The normal elements start to fall into place-- the protagonist is a newsman who hasn't had luck in love, sleeps little, and is trying to quit smoking for the fourth time. Fine, ultra generic, but let's go; maybe some cultural wrinkles will appear to make this different...
Atmosphere is gritty and the story unfolds mysteriously enough, but all isn't well. After a bit, we're treated to an unusual character who is both teenaged and psychic. Worse still, there are signs that his family tree has also been home to other, gifted practitioners. The first dealbreaker in the book appears when we find our original psychic teen has a friend. And unfortunately for us, the author has opted to make the friend a psychic as well. A sidekick psychic.
The uncanny and the seemingly impossible do battle for the next few chapters, and finally the dagger is plunged in, to the hilt. The Sidekick Psychic can do tricks. Major tricks, even beyond the usual mindreading hijinks. The sidekick can teleport.
And this is the moment, on page 132 of 301, where this book ends. At least for this reader, and anyone else over the impressionable age of about twelve. What was most annoying about all this is the tell-tale presence of that staple of Young Adult writing, the sensitive, emo-loner teen with paranormal powers. I'm a mystery reader, I've read hundreds of detective novels --- why didn't I detect that ?
When you have misunderstood, hyper-intuitive teenagers mooning all over the place, and then someone teleports ... make no mistake-- you're in a YA Pulp Novel. And if you're beyond middle school age, you'd better get out of there instantly. Your brain is at stake.
I did, but I could use a cigarette.
Atmosphere is gritty and the story unfolds mysteriously enough, but all isn't well. After a bit, we're treated to an unusual character who is both teenaged and psychic. Worse still, there are signs that his family tree has also been home to other, gifted practitioners. The first dealbreaker in the book appears when we find our original psychic teen has a friend. And unfortunately for us, the author has opted to make the friend a psychic as well. A sidekick psychic.
The uncanny and the seemingly impossible do battle for the next few chapters, and finally the dagger is plunged in, to the hilt. The Sidekick Psychic can do tricks. Major tricks, even beyond the usual mindreading hijinks. The sidekick can teleport.
And this is the moment, on page 132 of 301, where this book ends. At least for this reader, and anyone else over the impressionable age of about twelve. What was most annoying about all this is the tell-tale presence of that staple of Young Adult writing, the sensitive, emo-loner teen with paranormal powers. I'm a mystery reader, I've read hundreds of detective novels --- why didn't I detect that ?
When you have misunderstood, hyper-intuitive teenagers mooning all over the place, and then someone teleports ... make no mistake-- you're in a YA Pulp Novel. And if you're beyond middle school age, you'd better get out of there instantly. Your brain is at stake.
I did, but I could use a cigarette.
February 16, 2015
Note: This review is for the JAPANESE version of the book, not any translations, so I can't comment on the quality of any other versions.
This is probably the best Japanese novel I've read in the past year. It has amazing pacing, tons of suspense, great/interesting characters, and a wonderfully clear, straight-forward writing style. I couldn't put this down and couldn't wait to see where the story was going to go. It was an extremely satisfying read with a lot of impact, and I loved it. Miyuki Miyabe is an excellent author!
I have one huge complaint (and one I saw from other Japanese reviews) and that's the awful romance. Both of the characters involved in the romance are fine, and a romance between them would be fine if it were developed, but it's not--they basically meet all of 2 times and chat for a bit, and then the next time they see each other, BAM, suddenly they're making out, totally in love, and basically live together from that point on in the book. When everything else in the book was meticulously put together and well written, this really stood out in a bad way. It felt like a huge waste, and I almost thought the book would've been better off without it at all.
This is probably the best Japanese novel I've read in the past year. It has amazing pacing, tons of suspense, great/interesting characters, and a wonderfully clear, straight-forward writing style. I couldn't put this down and couldn't wait to see where the story was going to go. It was an extremely satisfying read with a lot of impact, and I loved it. Miyuki Miyabe is an excellent author!
I have one huge complaint (and one I saw from other Japanese reviews) and that's the awful romance. Both of the characters involved in the romance are fine, and a romance between them would be fine if it were developed, but it's not--they basically meet all of 2 times and chat for a bit, and then the next time they see each other, BAM, suddenly they're making out, totally in love, and basically live together from that point on in the book. When everything else in the book was meticulously put together and well written, this really stood out in a bad way. It felt like a huge waste, and I almost thought the book would've been better off without it at all.
April 2, 2012
A typhoon strikes Tokyo one night, flooding the city streets. Someone has unlawfully removed a manhole cover, and a little boy out searching for a lost pet is missing. Is it murder or accidental? While driving in the storm, Kosaka, a journalist, assists a young boy, Shinji, who may have psychic powers. Another possible psychic, a young man, Naoya, enters the scene, and the three form an awkward team to solve the case of the missing boy and to solve the mystery of Kosaka’s former fiancée, Saeko, who disappears.
Kosaka's career and personal life have been in a rut since his breakup with stagnated since his breakup with Saeko. Meanwhile, the two clairvoyants are struggling with their powers in their own ways. Kosaka does not believe in clairvoyance, but is forced to go along to save the life of Saeko.
This is a dark, well-structured, well-plotted work. At times the pace slows but picks up to make this a good read.
Kosaka's career and personal life have been in a rut since his breakup with stagnated since his breakup with Saeko. Meanwhile, the two clairvoyants are struggling with their powers in their own ways. Kosaka does not believe in clairvoyance, but is forced to go along to save the life of Saeko.
This is a dark, well-structured, well-plotted work. At times the pace slows but picks up to make this a good read.
August 9, 2012
Kept me reading with a fluid style. There is a simplicity to the story that makes it easy to slip into. I don't know if some of the things I found bothersome (like some of the dialog seemed a little hokey) is a cultural issue or not. I have also noticed that in the Japanese fiction I've read there is the same use of short, terse sentences. Description is kept to a minimum. I don't see that as a negative thing; just an observation.
The supernatural aspects of the story were kept low-key, which made the plot believable. Characters dealt with the supernatural not as gee-whiz, but as real people probably would: as a burden rather than a prize (like winning the lottery; we think it would solve all our problems, yet it introduces other ones).
The supernatural aspects of the story were kept low-key, which made the plot believable. Characters dealt with the supernatural not as gee-whiz, but as real people probably would: as a burden rather than a prize (like winning the lottery; we think it would solve all our problems, yet it introduces other ones).
January 4, 2014
I loved this book. It is the first book by Miyuki Miyabe that I have read and I have fallen in love with her was writing style and real characters. I would love to read more of her books but only 4 teen books are available on kindle and goodreads doesn't even list the books like "crossfire", "all she was worth" and "the Devils Whisper"!!!! My library (small that it is only has the sleeping Dragon!) What absolute torture to not be able to get my hands on another of her books and what a shame that more people cannot have access to them!
May 17, 2016
Dithering between three and four stars, because it seems as though this lost a little something in translation. It was an interesting and unique mix of domestic drama, suspense and the paranormal - people motivated by the comparisons with Stephen King's Firestarter might be disappointed, and I don't think it's fair to place the two side by side based upon their most obvious similarities. The descriptions of early 1990s Tokyo are intriguing, calls to mind the industrial cinema of the time. Indeed, I'm pretty sure the author refers to Shinya Tsukamoto at one point...but maybe I'm just reaching.
October 23, 2010
this is Miyabe's 5th novel translated into English. though i've read all 5, her first one is still the best "All She Was Worth" and is one of my fave novels to date. she's a master at writing mysteries and often times combines supernatural theories into her stories, such as this one. this particular story deals w/ ESP and its use in solving a specific kidnapping case. however she weaves an intricate story-line amongst the cast of characters long before the kidnapping occurs.
May 27, 2013
Hardboiled Japanese woo woo: a young boy who can see the future and can't help but try to change it. Miyabe's a master of the Japanese mind, playing with guilt and fear, with cultural expectations. She's a master of the genre, setting up the reader to accept and reject, consider and decline. Glad she's in translation and there's more to read in translation thanks to Kodansha.
--Ashland Mystery
--Ashland Mystery
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