Terminal Boredom

Stories

By: Izumi Suzuki

Narrated by: Cindy Kay

The first English-language publication of the work of Izumi Suzuki, a legend of Japanese science-fiction and a countercultural icon.

At turns nonchalantly hip and charmingly deranged, Suzuki's singular slant on speculative fiction would be echoed in countless later works, from Margaret Atwood and Harumi Murakami, to Black Mirror and Ex Machina. In these darkly playful and punky stories, the fantastical elements are always earthed by the universal pettiness of strife between the sexes, and the gritty reality of life on the lower rungs, whatever planet that ladder might be on.

Translated by Polly Barton, Sam Bett, David Boyd, Daniel Joseph, Aiko Masubuchi, and Helen O'Horan.

©2021 Izumi Suzuki; “Women and Women” and “Terminal Boredom” translation copyright 2021 by Daniel Joseph; “You May Dream’” translation copyright 2021 by David Boyd; “Night Picnic” translation copyright 2021 by Sam Bett; “That Old Seaside Club” translation copyright 2021 by Helen O’Horan; “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” translation copyright 2021 by Aiko Masubuchi; “Forgotten” translation copyright 2021 by Polly Barton (P)2021 Tantor

A Hauntingly Subtle Take on Sci-Fi

Terminal Boredom offers a fascinating glimpse into Japanese SF, where Suzuki’s unique narrative style and thematic focus truly stand out. Her stories capture emotional struggles and social critiques with a subtlety that’s often missing in Western SF, blending a sense of detachment and existentialism that’s deeply rooted in Japanese storytelling. There’s beauty in the quiet, almost haunting way these tales unfold, often leaving more questions than answers. For those not familiar with Japanese narrative styles, this approach might be challenging, but for anyone willing to engage with it, Suzuki's work has much to reveal.

Great story, the characterization was a bit bland

Great listen, I think I'll come back often, I doubt I read slmething like this before, it gave me a melancholic after taste.

Amazing SF From a Giant

If Izumi Suzuki isn’t the mother of the anime aesthetic her work has, without a doubt, nurtured the ideas of all it’s most notable creators. It’s a shame these works have only now been made available in English, but one can hope this is a sign of more to come. I do feel the audiobook should have come with an introduction of some kind to each story, as well as a quick bio about the author as, I can tell from the reviews, many of the people reading this book don’t fully grasp the significance of the work.

A mixed bag

A collection of stories mostly threaded together by the paralysis of ennui and listlessness - boredom is certainly the main theme. There are interesting ideas certainly, but not such compelling plots. The ideas are mostly done better elsewhere by more skilled writers.