Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the free eARC!

I don’t even know where to begin with this book. I don’t mean that in a bad way at all! This book was extremely poetic, and very thought provoking.

The story takes place in an alternate Japan. Married couples do not have sex. Sex between married couples is seen as incest. Babies are no longer conceived through copulation…they are conceived through artificial insemination. Sex is a thing of the past. Amane was born the old, traditional way. She has many “lovers” throughout her life. These lovers are not what we think of lovers. Most of them are anime characters, and characters from other forms of media.

The story follows Aname through her childhood, up through her adulthood, including becoming a Mother. It was a very fast read, and the story kept spinning more and more out of control as it went on. I loved it! It’s a great take on society, and loneliness. Highly recommended!

I enjoyed this book! As a huge Murata fan, this was highly anticipated. Though I felt like the usual Murata-isms were very much so prevalent throughout the book, I did feel as though it was missing the cohesiveness that her last 3 books had. Though I understood the underlying message of trying to confront the social norms around child bearing, family structures, marriage, love & relationships, I did leave feeling like I wanted more. I would have liked for these messages to be driven home more, rather than merely challenged.

Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata (To be released in April 2025)
Shōmetsu sekai (Dwindling or Vanishing World) in Japanese (released in 2015)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Firstly, a huge thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the advanced copy of Vanishing World in exchange for an honest review!

Secondly, OH. MY. GOD. Sayaka Murata has truly outdone herself with this one. If you thought Convenience Store Woman or Earthlings was bizarre, Vanishing World takes “unhinged” to a whole new level. This dystopian masterpiece is Murata at her boldest and most provocative, tackling taboos and societal norms with an unsettling precision that will leave you reeling.

Set in a dystopian Japan where sex between married couples is considered incestuous and procreation occurs entirely through artificial insemination, the novel explores a society obsessed with control, conformity, and the eradication of “messy” emotions. It’s a horrifyingly fascinating vision of the future, one that feels disturbingly plausible as it examines issues like declining birth rates, social isolation, parasocial relationships, and the commodification of human life.

The story unfolds in three parts, each more engrossing (and unsettling) than the last. We first meet ten-year-old Amane, who discovers her parents committed the ultimate taboo: they conceived her through natural procreation, an act of love that is reviled in her world. As Amane grows up, she does her best to conform, cultivating intense relationships with anime characters and sticking to the socially acceptable practice of extra-marital sex. But beneath her attempts at fitting in, Amane can’t help but question the bizarre norms around her.

Part Two deepens the story’s complexity, albeit with a slightly slower pace, setting the stage for Part Three—an unrelenting, mind-bending climax that cements Murata’s brilliance. When Amane and her husband move to Eden, an experimental town where artificial insemination is the norm and children are raised collectively and anonymously, the narrative delves into even darker territory. The collective parenting model, the artificial wombs fitted onto men, and the uniformity imposed on the residents are both horrifying and eerily fascinating. It’s Brave New World meets The Handmaid’s Tale, but with Murata’s level of bizarre at it’s highest peak.

Murata’s writing is dry, precise, matter-of-fact, yet utterly engrossing. She has a way of making the bizarre feel normal and the normal feel alien, forcing readers to question their own perceptions of love, family, and identity. Her exploration of parasocial relationships—people’s attachment to fictional characters as replacements for romantic love—felt especially poignant and relevant in today’s world.

The ending? Let’s just say it left me sitting in stunned silence, processing the sheer madness of what I had just read. It’s disconcerting, fascinating, and utterly unhinged—the kind of finale that guarantees this book will stay with you long after you’ve closed it.

My only critique is that the middle part of the story was a little slow for me. Otherwise, everything was fantastic experience reading. I finished the book in two sittings.

Vanishing World is not for everyone, but it’s an experience like no other. It’s a book that will make you uncomfortable, challenge your worldview, and leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about human nature. You’ll either love it or hate it—there’s no in-between—but that’s precisely what makes it so brilliant.

If you’re looking for something thought-provoking, wildly imaginative, and completely out there, Vanishing World is the book for you. Fans of dystopian fiction, feminist literature, and bold, unconventional storytelling—this one is a must-read.

Thank you, Sayaka Murata, for yet another unforgettable ride. Now, excuse me while I immediately add Earthlings to my TBR pile.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for giving me an e-ARC of the Vanishing World.

I have been a fan of Sayaka Murata's work since Convenience Store Woman. I love how she challenges social norms in her books, but I have to say I'm quite disappointed with this new novel.

Vanishing World is a dystopian novel set in post-WW2 Japan where the act of sex is not normal and considered incest between married couples, and procreation is only done via artificial insemination. Chiba Prefecture is turned into an Experimental City, where all babies are sent into the Center to be raised, men can get pregnant, and everyone is a Mother.

The more I read, the more confused I became. I was so sure this was Murata criticizing society as a whole as usual. But by part 2, I wasn't so sure what her intentions are anymore and I was just uncomfortable. Part 2 was also very repetitive. Amane getting married, then divorced, then finding new lovers -- same with the 2 husbands and her lovers that made it into the story. Saku, her final husband, and his relationship with his lover -- these took up too much time.

The Experimental City? Now, that was interesting. Too bad it was only appeared by part 3 and there wasn't enough space for it. I wish she had focused on this instead of the repetitive themes of cheating and incest.

As for the ending, I am not a fan of it. It's too absurd. This is all too absurd for me and I'm not sure what the point of this novel is. I'm 100% sure I missed it.

Props to Ginny Tapely Takemori for translating Sayaka Murata's world.

This was my first Murata and it is definitely not for the uninitiated. I had no idea what I was stepping into. It was very strange, and I almost DNFed except that it was a fast read and I was curious as to how it would end. The ending was just as strange as the rest of the book, and with speculative worlds it's important to me to understand why the world is constructed as it is and what the larger meaning is behind it. While I could trace some of that, I truly did not understand the point of all the bizarre decisions that were made. Further, the characters were unrelatable and I did not feel invested in any of them. That said, I admire Sayaka Murata's boldness and originality.

Sayaka's Vanishing World continues to maintain her signature style of crafting relatable and intriguing characters who feel out of place in their societies while offering fresh perspectives within a sci-fi backdrop. Though I found the concept engrossing, I was quite disappointed with the execution of this book.

The novel recounts the journey of our protagonist, Amane through her teenage years into middle age, exploring themes of sexuality, parasocial relationships, and the impact of societal norms on her identity. These themes are thoughtfully divided into three parts, making the book relatively easy to read without feeling overwhelmed, despite its unusual premise. Moreover, in this 240-page novel, the story unfolds primarily through dialogue, with minimal plot development. Amane frequently engages in inner monologues or discussions with other characters. As a result, the book raises many intriguing questions, such as the nature of parasocial relationships and the emotional validity of falling in love with fictional characters.

Also, in a unique world where unions are strictly between men and women, and the primary purpose of these marriages is to raise children or to have a life partner based on practicality. On top of that, any sexual relationship between married couples is deemed incestuous. Our protagonist's friend, Juri questions these societal norms " To tell the truth, I wish I could have married you, Amane...Wouldn't it make far more sense to start a family with a friend you've known before? ". Lastly, in Eden, the experimental city where children (kodomo-chans) are conceived via artificial wombs and all the residents are called 'Mother,' the concept of family becomes even more complicated. This societal setup eliminates the traditional parent-child hierarchy and raises a profound question that challenges the foundations of motherhood and familial bonds. 

That said, what didn't work for me was that the analysis of these themes didn't go as deep as I had hoped. It often felt more like a summary than a thorough examination, leading to a sense of repetitiveness as the narrative progressed. I grew quite disengaged during the first two parts, as the lack of a cohesive plot was noticeable. Nonetheless, part 3 quickly escalates and delivers a shocking ending, which I had come to expect from Sayaka.

In conclusion, while the book may not offer a comprehensive examination of its themes, it did successfully capture the struggles of resisting societal norms. Amane stood out as a deeply intriguing protagonist who struggled with feelings of alienation. Her journey of self-discovery is incredily haunting, vividly showing the emotional toll of internal conflicts and societal pressures.

Fans of Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica may enjoy this.

I started 2024 with a Sayaka Murata read, so it was only fair I ended the year with one too. I was like a little schoolgirl waiting for her crush to walk by, refreshing to see if I was picked for this eARC. She’s my kind of weird, I’m here for it.

This book was absolutely everything I thought it was going to be & then some. The pressures of societal norms, and her wild take on them, which I’ve come to realize is her signature. Here for it. If felt like if society took one wrong turn, this book would be the future.

If you loved Earthlings, you’re gunna love this.

If Sayaka Murata is writing it, I’m reading. Point blank, period.

Sayaka, if you see this, pls be my friend. lol. 🖤

Thank you to my fav author ever, the publishers & Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I saw there was a new Sayaka Murata book coming in English I was super excited. Immediately wanted to read it as I love the way she writes (Earthlings and Life Ceremony are two of my favorite books). Though it is not my favorite from this author I still really enjoyed it. It was another interesting read this time all about sex and family, romantic love and relationships.

This author has a very unique style of writing and very different stories. Lots of talk of the status quo and how people might try and break from it In this one we have Amane who was conceived of naturally in a world where everyone is conceived via IVF. And the whole thoughts around sex and love and family were really interesting to read. People fall in love with characters from Anime and Manga, some with real people, but sex is still a bit taboo. Not something people do. And that sets up a really interesting story. People get married and have kids, but they don't have sex. They have relationships outside the marriage, but the marriage is not based on love. I loved it.

There is also this experimental village where people are inseminated en masse and everyone is a mother to all of the children. Men can conceive with a false womb and oh, I really enjoyed reading where this story went. How the society changes within Amane's lifetime and the thoughts on where it will go. This was a what if IVF was the default. What would happen to relationships and why do people get married? This, like all of this author's works, is one I will be thinking about for a while.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Huge thanks to Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you've ever wondered what Aldous Huxley's Brave New World would look like had it been set in Japan, read this book. I think that's the best way to describe it.

I'm not sure where to start with this, to be honest. The novel is creepy, visceral, and uses language in such a clever way to make you want to gauge your eyes out. It goes deep into the topics of sex, romantic love, family, human nature, and how the effectiveness and cleanliness that capitalism demands of us simply can't mesh with any semblance of normalcy and humamity. It's a horrifying glimpse into a dystopian world that, unfortunately, isn't too impossible to imagine.

My favorite theme explored was how difficult it is to go against the grain and the established societal norms, no matter how unsettling and alien you find the world. In the end, more often than not, you'll cave and become a part of the problem—it's a terrifying throught. I also found the exploration of parasocialism and attachment to fictional characters as a replacement for romantic love fascinating and very fitting in today's world. And, of course, it's impossible not to mention sex and pleasure vs love and affection as the main themes of the book—the author did a hell of a job of deconstructing them and presenting all the ugly layers for us to examine.

The ending was the creepiest, most unhinged part and truly ensured the book concluded with a bang (literally). I need to go and cleanse my eyes with something else, otherwise I'll go insane.

i've been a fan of murata's work for years now, and vanishing world has only served to solidify her standing as one of the greats. her succint style serves the bleak, sterile narrative well. she paints a world where sex is no longer needed, where men and women alike give birth by means of artificial insemination. the family structure is shattered and disposed of—babies are born and treated as pets, an entire city is full of "mothers" who take care of the children as a community. the dystopian society is a perfect metaphor for the loneliness epidemic that accompanies the digital age, and murata discusses sex, masturbation, love, family and the human body in a way that enthralls and amazes. her work is original and intelligent, even if a bit heavy handed at times (especially in this novel), and i will anxiously wait for every new release

Sayaka Murata’s Vanishing World takes readers into a thought-provoking and eerie future where strict societal rules rewrite human relationships. In this unsettling vision, marriage, love, and intimacy are completely redefined. Physical closeness between spouses is forbidden and viewed as incest, while procreation is managed entirely through artificial insemination. Romantic love exists only outside the family, making traditional ideas of love and connection obsolete.

In this world, marriage is built on practical foundations—such as shared responsibilities, financial stability, and communication—rather than passion or emotional bonds. Murata’s story raises difficult questions: If intimacy is no longer tied to family life, does it become meaningless? If reproduction is controlled through technology, what happens to human desires that fall outside the system? The characters in this world navigate lives where personal freedom clashes with social expectations, a theme that Murata explores with stark clarity and sharp commentary.

Murata’s writing is simple but sharp, and her commentary on societal control over love and relationships is striking. Vanishing World felt both timely and timeless, asking profound questions about where humanity is headed. I finished it feeling unsettled, and thoughtful, despite the bleakness of the story. If you enjoy books that challenge you to think about the boundaries of freedom, intimacy, and progress, this one is definitely worth picking up!

i will read everything written by this author - spectacular and always so different than others - I'm curious to know the writing process

this story takes place in an alternative japan where people barely have sex anymore, where a marriage means a family means husband and wife would commit incest by being together. every child is born through artificial insemination and people take lovers openly outside their marriage.

as an asexual person, I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy this book as much as murata’s other works, but the story and its questioning were fascinating.

the main character, amane, is one of the rare people to be sexual with her lovers — whether they’re real, or anime characters. she’s properly unhinged, and her evolution as a character is captivating (and horrifying).

the book explores the notion of family when it’s stripped of romantic love and sex — a very interesting dive into another type of love and what binds people together.

the narration got a bit messy sometimes, but I didn’t exactly mind since it still made sense. the ending is very murata-esque and I was not disappointed.

i think this is a book that you have to read to understand the essence of it. it’s an experience, both entertaining and thought-provoking. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good compelling and stimulating scenario.

My first encounter with Sayaka Murata and I am utterly blown away. I loved both the writing style and originality of the story.

Sayaka Murata back again to make you thoroughly uncomfortable! Vanishing World details a post-war society that has redefined love, sex, and family by making artificial insemination the moral way to reproduce. Our main character, Amane, came to be through traditional copulation and her mother tried to brainwash her to pursue traditional marriage and reproduction. This makes Amane a bit of an outsider and from the viewpoint of the reader in our own world, kind of a predator.

This is thoroughly Murata, where ignorant innocence clashes with dystopian environments. I love the unique way she writes dialogue and the uncomfortable world building she brings to each story. Having read two others of hers though, this was the weakest. Even at 240 pages, it felt way too long with similar conversations happening back to back. Parts one and two could have been trimmed down substantially and either kept as a novella or let part three move the narrative even further.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the eARC. Sayaka’s weird lit will always be an auto-read for me, even if this one didn’t fully land.

Thanks to netgalley and grove atlantic for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Sayaka Murata does it again, and once again proves why she's one of my favourite authors. This was delightfully strange, unsettling and thoughtprovoking. Vanishing world is both completely sterile and kinda gross. In short, this book is set in a society where sex is almost completely shunned. Instead, children are conceived through artificial insemination, and sex between husband and wife, who are family, is seen as incest. The main character Amane is a rare exception, having been born out of traditional sex. The story starts in a relatively normal society where people get married and fall in love outside of marriage, but at the end we find ourselves in Experiment City, where everyone is Mother and children are collectively conceived and raised as near identical 'Kodomo-chans'. Amane's slow slide from resistance to complete assimilation into the world around her is so well executed.

What i love about Murata is her way of looking at humans, humanity and social constructs as if they are a completely alien concept. I think this book does that even better than her previous works. Cannot wait for this to be published so i can buy it and proudly add it to the collection. Vanishing world is out on april 15, 2025!

Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me access to an ARC in return for my honest opinions.

I feel line Sayaka Murata has a distinct and unique voice and the ideas for novels are so original.

This one is somehow extremely sterile and clinical whilst still being the incredibly visceral and animalistic. It’s Murata continuing to produce thought provoking, subversive work, which exists to warn as much as to entertain.

This book shows Murata going from strength to strength- presenting to us a world that is both very clinical and sterile whilst still conjuring up very visceral feelings. By the end, I felt ill and dirty and like I needed to take ten minutes before reading again, which is the biggest compliment I can give.

Sayaka Murata's writing style has always fascinated me beyond any that I have ever expected. She weaves in a unique plot that contains curious and peculiar aspects that undeniably draws you in. I went into the book without an inkling of what's inside as I read her Convenience Store Woman and I truly appreciated her work.

This book however took me some time to adjust but to be fairly honest it is absolutely unique and intriguing. Without further ado let's explore the plot and storyline.

So, the story is set in a different place in Japan where copulation between couples is not highly looked upon. In fact it is considered as incest. Only artificial insemination is allowed. We follow our protagonist, Amane Sakaguchi from her childhood to adulthood. In the experimental city children are brought up in a scientific manner. Amane in her early teen years begins to explore sexuality and later on she marries Saku. As husband and wife they gone on to multiple relationships after their marriage with both of their consents and happiness.

With intimacy vanished and men are now enable to carry babies, their definitions are polar opposites of what our current world adheres to.

Vanishing worlds has the most bizarre yet intriguing plot and redefining concepts of what should be and what ifs. This book cannot be compressed into the boundaries of just a few words because the more you read, the more you begin to become acquainted with the world building. It was definitely a book that focuses on a world your concepts of normalcy is questioned by the advancement of a new world.

An interesting and very smooth read. It creates a hesitation between disturbing material and societal critique. The ending sealed the deal; otherwise, I would have found it a bit light. At one point, it was repeating itself, but I never got bored because the book is rather short. I would say I wasn’t exactly the target audience but it didn’t stop me from liking it. Overall, it is very enjoyable and thought-provoking.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book 🫶🏼

such an interesting concept but unfortunately lacked so much in execution. page after page of the same conversations about family and sex and childbearing being had with the words slightly re-arranged each time. the premise is set up beautifully for meaningful conversations on societal norms but fails in every way to pack the punch. 1.5 stars rounded up 🙃