This was the fourth book I read by this author and it is now, easily, the most weird, disturbing, thought-provoking and unique book I've read by Sayaka Murata. Even though it isn't my favourite (Convenience Store Woman still is, and I'm afraid it will always be), it certainly is a book that even if I want to erase from my mind, I know it will be virtually impossible to do so. haha
I love the title, too. It makes perfect sense to what the story unfolds.
I like how the story is divided into 3 parts and how provocative it is. Sometimes it was too weird for my taste haha but it definitely has impressed me. A LOT.
I don't often read many dystopian or sci-fi novels, but now and then I like to venture myself in the genre.
Here's a book I won't forget about in a long, long time.

To readers who have read and enjoyed Murata's Convenience Store Woman: be aware that Vanishing World is very, VERY different from that book - despite having a thing or 2 in common;
To readers who have read and enjoyed Earthlings: this one is even more weird and disturbing. LOL
I'd easily recommend this book to anyone who has read a book by this author before and enjoyed, and to some specific sci-fi readers out there who like to read thought-provoking and unique stories on how humans can use modern science to completely change basic and primitive relations among humans and their bodies.

Thank you, NetGalley and Grove Atlantic, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Murata is the queen of creating a protagonist living outside of societal norms. In Vanishing World, she flips the construct by creating a society that has changed its norms while the protagonist retains past practices regarding marriage, reproduction, sex, romantic love, monogamy, and parenting. Needless to say, it’s yet again a bizarre, bold approach that mostly works as it’s lacking a bit in plot and I felt distanced from Amane.

Sayaka Murata once again crafts a thought-provoking and unsettling world, where traditional concepts of marriage, intimacy, and family are entirely redefined. In this society, sex has become almost obsolete and is strictly forbidden within marriage. Marriage, in Murata’s world, signifies familial bonds akin to direct blood relations—making intimacy between spouses tantamount to incest. Procreation is possible only through artificial insemination, rendering the “traditional” act of creating life a relic of the past.

The basis for choosing a partner revolves solely around practicality: the balance of income and housework, trust, and communication. As a result, many of the novel’s characters question societal norms—wouldn’t it be simpler to marry a friend? Does the concept of same-sex marriage even matter in a society reliant on artificial methods of procreation?

The main character, Amane, stands out as yet another Murata archetype akin to Convenience Store Woman. While intimacy is no longer a societal necessity, she ironically yearns for it, carving out a lonely path in a world where such desires are seen as abnormal.

The book also introduces the concept of Experiment City, a place reminiscent of Under the Eye of the Big Bird. In this city, children—produced via artificial wombs—are collectively raised and called “kodomo-chans.” They address everyone as “Mother,” and the society emphasizes collective caregiving and shared affection.

Murata’s narrative subtly critiques modern societal shifts, particularly Japan’s declining birth rate and changing family dynamics. It raises profound questions about intimacy, connection, and whether humanity is prepared for such a radically different social structure. While reading, I found myself pausing to process the implications of this world and reflect on how much of it mirrors current societal trends.

And just when you think you’ve come to terms with the novel’s dystopian world, Murata delivers an unexpected and deeply disturbing plot twist that left me reeling. It adds a shocking layer to an already provocative narrative.

This novel is unsettling yet profoundly reflective—a sharp commentary on humanity’s evolution and the fragile boundaries of connection. It’s a haunting exploration of what we may gain—and lose—in the pursuit of societal progress.

I have read a Sayaka Murata book before and I already have the idea that her concepts are pretty unusual and extreme. Vanishing World is of course no exception.

Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata takes place in an alternate world where married couples no longer have sex because it is considered incestuous and old-fashioned. Both husband and wife can also have extramarital relationships outside their marriage, whether with a real human being or an animated/cartoon character. Additionally, if a married couple does want to have a child of their own, they will go through artificial insemination instead.

I like the conversation about parasocial relationships because it mirrors the messed-up reality of the celebrity culture that we're living in now. I also like the conversation about marriage, where it raises questions such as, is it still a need for people to have in order for them to start their own family? Like, isn't it just a tool for practicality? If it's just for practicality, then maybe marrying your best friend of the same sex is much more practical and convenient than marrying someone who's a different sex and is basically a stranger. 

It is thought-provoking, unsettling, and weird, but I really like it nonetheless. Sayaka Murata is a genius in her craft and I'm going to be thinking about this for a long time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#VanishingWorld #Netgalley

This is genuinely the hardest book to review, but that doesn't mean I didn't love it! It was such a fast read to eat up (pun intended) and the last 20% very much bordered if not entered entirely the territory of body horror subgenre and was definitely my thing. I'd compare the pacing and ending to Tender is the Flesh in terms of the way the world changes and the protagonist refuses to move with it then all of a sudden finds themselves caught up beyond their own expectation. But it was just... so much and so speculative!

Sayaka Murata does a fantastic job in writing this book, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed getting to know this world. I was engaged with what was happening with the characters and how they were written. I was invested in what was going on and enjoyed the way everything worked to tell the story.

In an alternate Japan, sex between married couples is taboo, people procreate through artificial insemination, children are raised communally, every adult is a Mother, and men are capable of pregnancies with artificial wombs. Amane learns that she was conceived through sex and spends the rest of the book trying to get away from the “curse” placed upon her by her mother.

Murata paints a strange world that may not actually be that strange after all. It’s normal to be married and yet have a lover. Romantic life and family life are seen as separate. Not exactly strange since in the old days, marriage is more a social contract than a love-based commitment, and some wives are tolerant of infidelity as long as the husband fulfills their familial duties.

The concept of marriage is also deconstructed here and challenged. If men could have their own children with artificial wombs and women could bear children on their own, would marriage between opposite sexes still happen?

This was an unsettling page-turner, one that leaves me questioning my reality. It’s crazy to think how quickly the world is moving. We’re already developing technologies that defy nature. Who is to say the next one that comes along won’t be even more absurd? And if so, will you conform or differ?

Devoured this one over my New Year’s break! Thank you to Grove Atlantic for the ARC!

This is an ideas book. It takes a concept and runs it to its eventual 'end-point'. This does not make it bad or good but simply an idea book. You will not fall in love with the characters as they do not have deep backstories or endlessly turbulent lives. In fact we know very little about any of the characters emotionally.

Story-wise, this is an examination of what a world might be like were 'family' to mean people who live together but are not romantically involved in any way. And 'sex-life' is something that happens outside the home. Continuously extrapolating on this idea, Murata proposes a stale, emotionless world where ones feelings and actions need to be separated from the stuff of life.

It is an interesting concept delivered in a brisk pace. A good idea novel in the vein of Camus or Coetzee.

Thanks to Grove Press and NetGalley for the advance copy of Vanishing World. This was unsettling and disturbing, you won’t read a book like it. I expected nothing less from Sayaka Murata, this is a page turner to say the least!

Amane is embarrassed by her mother who delights in ingraining to her that she was conceived naturally in a society who is dispensing with natural conception and views physical love between husband and wife the ultimate taboo. As Amane grows older she begins to wish for a child of her own but the world around her is further changing the concept of families and motherhood.

This is my second book by this author. I read Convience store woman about 6 years ago and remember very little except being intrigued by it. Vanishing world I liked and I suspect the way the ending landed is probably quite a considerable part of that. I enjoyed the writing, it’s very matter of fact, very frank, economical and they way it talks about the nature of physical love and its act is curiously functional. It’s a dystopian world which believes it a utopia, and the act of love is becoming more and more insulate even between lovers. Amane’s desire for it becoming more and more of an outlier. It’s curious and fascinating, although for a short book I felt it got a little Groundhog Day in the centre although that sort of works with the vibes. I did like the way it leant into the conventionality and traditional bias of Japanese society (still one of the most misogynistic) but played it forward to a quite extreme degree.

If you’re enjoying it you do not want to miss the ending which is one that will either elevate or break it for you. It elevated it for me

DNF @ 49%. Although the premise of this story is really intriguing and the parts of the book that go into the development of this premise are very well written, the dialogue between the characters is extremely painful. To the point that I simply can’t take it anymore. It’s so dull. And the book is not even that long so why fill it up with unnecessary, boring dialogue? This is the third book from this author that I’ve tried and I have to say that her writing is simply not for me. If you enjoyed other work from her, you will definitely love this!

I liked this book! It brought up a lot about women and how they are viewed in terms and in regards to childbearing. I think it was a bit eye opening and could be a possible future one day. I liked it!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

In Sayaka Murata's Vanishing World, sexual intimacy has disappeared. Marriage and family have evolved into concepts focused on mutual support and building networks, but copulation has become obsolete, and children are born through artificial insemination. People still fall in love, though it is frowned upon to have romantic feelings for one's spouse. In this way, Murata presents us with a future shaped by disconnection and the restructuring of the traditional family.

In this context, we follow Amane, one of the last people born through the traditional method, who has grown up with her mother’s now outdated ideas. When she realizes that her experiences at home are not the norm, she will want to integrate into this world of normalcy. Yet, Amane will always remain an outlier. At every turn, she must grapple with the contradiction between her desire to belong and her need to explore the forbidden.

The book has little plot and seems more like a vehicle to explore contemporary issues that clearly trouble the author, such as Japan's declining birthrate and the dissolution of the traditional family. In this sense, we see innovative and rather radical ideas through which Murata makes us uncomfortable. With an almost clinical coldness, she presents us with an experimental city where all adults are mothers to the kodomo-chans, children born through insemination. In this city, even the sanitized family model has been abandoned, and the desire to become a mother disappears, as pregnancies are decided through a lottery.

Personally, I found the novel too disturbing to feel comfortable while reading it, and I cannot fault the author for that. Without a doubt, it is a fascinating experiment that deserves attention for its literary value beyond my personal enjoyment. I would recommend this novel to those seeking stories that challenge their perspectives and leave them reflecting long after closing the book. That said, be prepared to face a reading experience that, in its depth, may shake your sense of comfort and morality.

Thanks to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic, and Sayaka Murata.

This book is set in an alternate Japan where artificial insemination has become the default way of procreating and sex between married couples is considered incest. It’s about family, motherhood, humanity, sexuality, society, but overall love.

My only complaint about Sayaka Murata books is that they have such a rich world I would read happily read 700 pages of it. But the shorter length makes them all the more impactful.

If you liked Earthlings you’ll like this (though it may be important to note that Vanishing World was actually published first in Japan, despite it really speaking to today's times). It does explore similar sensitive topics as well.

The translations of Murata’s work by Ginny Tapley Takemori are always beautifully done as well.

(I wish I could add quotes to this review but I will have to wait for the final draft on publishing day)

If you read both of her novels, I can tell you to expect more Earthlings than Convenience Store Woman. If you read only the latter, oh boy do I have news for you.

Murata’s mind is one of a kind. She is able to pack here commentary on social isolation, the dangerous rise of technology, parasocial relationships with fictional characters, distorted views on love and family structure and one topic that is present in all of her novels: conforming to society’s view of what is “normal”.

We follow Amane and her attempt to not conform to such a soulless society where babies are basically conceived like products in a factory and people are forgetting how to fall in love with real human beings.

Murata’s writing and the translation are both approachable and fluid. I found the book easy to pick up and got quickly gripped by the dystopian Japan she imagined.

I strongly recommend this book to lovers of sci-fi, weird books and people who might be on the fence about Sayaka Murata’s books.

I would like to thank Grove Press and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This surprise in my inbox inspired me to open this book on the very first day of 2025. I still don’t know very wll how this whole blogging thing works but I’m going to try my best. 🙂

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Vanishing World.

First, great cover! It's eye-catching and creepy in a way the premise is.

I've read the Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings so I knew the author had something really unique and imaginative up her sleeve for readers.

I'm not sure how to describe the narrative or the theme.

It's hard to explain. You have to read it for yourself.

Not everyone will like it; I think some readers will find it too bizarre for their tastes, too icky or creepy, or too close to comfort.

I have to say it's a dystopian or utopian world (depending on your perspective) the author has created where sex no longer occurs and children are born via IVF, which is now incredibly easy and successful for most women.

Amane, the main character, was born via the old school way (S-E-X) and the knowledge both terrifies and fascinates her in equal measure.

As she navigates teenhood and adulthood, getting married and envisoning a family of her own, she must come to terms with this new world order and where she fits in.

Amane makes pointed comments that hit really close to home; such as how idolizing pop idols and actors are a safe way for young people to channel their romantic feelings.

It made me think of the fandom surrounding K-pop idols like BTS.

The new community Amane and her husband relocate to made me think of cults but at the same time reminded me of how hard it is to raise a child in a community. It really does take a village.

You may have the help of a spouse or partner but you also need your family, friends and a support network and many people do not have the luxury of such resources.

The narrative made me reflect on marriage and what it means to have a family and relationships especially as our modern world rapidly evolves.

The author has unwittingly (or wittingly) hit upon rising trends in society; how infertility and the choice to remain childless for younger generations will impact the future of humanity; how more people are choosing to remain single or adopt, and raise a family with friends, not partners or spouses.

Some of Amane's observations and reflections made me laugh out loud but I'm still not sure if it was because her thoughts were so outlandish or because they hit so close to how I feel about the subjects she was ruminating on.

Vanishing World isn't for everyone; some people might even find it offensive.

But this is a must read for fans of the author or a reader who wants to read something...different.

Honestly, props to Sayaka Murata for finally getting to go full fucking sicko on this one, it seems like. This one was a weird one for me to sit with personally, because it seems to go with a lot of the views that antis on the internets espouse (and if you don't know what any of those words mean, god bless you, you are living a better life than I am) and takes them to logical, absolutely absurd conclusions, but starts with attraction to fictional characters as the starting point. This ends up challenging the incest taboo in the end (because is it REALLY incest if all the kids are made in test tubes and all the adults are referred to as parents?), and that last scene is going to sit with me for a while. My logic is if something makes you this deeply uncomfortable, you should pay attention to why. Either way, highly recommended read, even if it's going to weird out a good chunk of the readership.

Wow, what did I just read?
"Vanishing World" by Sayaka Murata feels like a Black Mirror episode come to life. Set in a dystopian society where love and sex between spouses are taboo and babies are conceived exclusively through artificial insemination, the premise is both fascinating and chilling.

The story takes an even darker turn when the protagonist enters “Experiment City.” By the final pages, the narrative pushes boundaries to "Lolita-like" levels of discomfort and disgust, leaving me reeling.

This book serves as an important cautionary tale, especially in light of rising loneliness and declining birth rates in countries like Japan and Korea. However, while the themes are provocative, I found myself wanting more. The world-building could have been deeper, and the characters lacked the depth needed to make their actions and transformations in the second half feel fully believable.

Additionally, the repetitive dialogue early on—centered almost entirely on the taboo of love and sex—felt heavy-handed at times. These aspects made it harder for me to fully immerse myself in the story.

Overall, this is a thought-provoking and unsettling read, but it falls short in execution. 3.5/5 stars.

I'm still trying to process what I just read 😂, but that's exactly why I always reach for this author. I know I’m about to dive into something completely different, weird, and messed up, and this was no exception.
Murata takes us into a world where procreation between a man and a woman is seen as taboo, like incest. Instead, everyone is fitted with contraception devices, and IVF is the norm. Technology is so advanced that even men can get pregnant.
While Vanishing World isn’t as gory or unhinged as Earthlings, it still delivers a thought provoking, unsettling experience that only Murata can deliver. .

"Vanishing World" by Sayaka Murata is a fascinating and unsettling look at a future where traditional relationships and reproduction are seen as outdated. The story follows Amane as she navigates a society that replaces intimacy with artificial means and fictional fantasies, making her feel increasingly isolated. The writing is straightforward and engaging, pulling you into a bizarre world that feels strangely believable. While some ideas are repeated a bit too often, the book’s unique concept and gripping story make it hard to put down. It’s a strange, thought-provoking read that sticks with you long after you’ve finished.