Review: Earthlings

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’m a rabid proponent of artistic freedom and will defend the artist’s right to create his version of his craft at all costs, provided no one is being abused, violated or exploited in the process. I don’t have to agree with the vision to appreciate or accept the product produced. It is with that mindset that I offer three faintly shining stars (actually 2.5, rounded up) to Earthlings. I respect Sayaka Murata and her artistic endeavors, but for me, this read as nothing more than a series of strung together scenes designed to shock the reader, each increasingly bizarre and off beat, difficult to read and certainly disturbing. The themes of asexuality, pedophilia, the sanctity of marriage and mental illness are all on parade here, addressed with a detachment that is as chilling as the subjects themselves. There is, however, no value in the treatment of these societal taboos. Instead, they are used much like jump-scares in horror films—a cheap trick to elicit a visceral reaction, void of any additional intent or deeper meaning. I was reminded of Sick Bastards by Matt Shaw, though Shaw’s work carried just beneath the surface some semblance of a plot that unfolded as the story progressed, while Murata’s “story” lacked this basic component. The fragile thread that functioned in lieu of a plot was loosely twisted, then stretched to the point of being almost nonexistent. That sometimes invisible thread of continuity would surface then disappear, used by this author in an attempt to stitch together a haphazardly constructed train of thought that went off the rails more often than it stayed on track.

Overall, three stars for originality and for Murata’s courage in staying true to her vision. This just wasn’t the book for me.

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