Under the Eye of the Big Bird

Praise

The Millions, A Most Anticipated Book of Summer

“Haunting . . . Less experimental fiction and more fiction on the human experiment—what kinds of new approaches to mating, community and family will allow people to survive? . . . [Kawakami] finds humor and warmth in the puzzles of existence and extinction.” —Hilary Leichter, The New York Times Book Review

“Under the Eye of the Big Bird is a disquieting work of speculative fiction from celebrated Japanese author Hiromi Kawakami . . . [It] offers a poignant look at a dying civilization looking to rebuild . . . Kawakami poses questions about cloning, reproduction, identity, memory, and evolution, while also offering solutions to combat mankind’s downfall.” —Shannon Carlin, Time

“A series of interconnected vignettes that take place in a world in which sexual reproduction, family ties and societal roles have been reimagined . . . an atmospheric vision of a civilization adrift.” —Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times

“Kawakami takes her idiosyncratic and quirkily funny eye to science fiction . . . With signature style, Kawakami writes a distinct and off-kilter epic of Earth on the brink of collapse across 14 distinct geological epochs.” —Sam Franzini, Our Culture Mag

“[A] visionary speculative work . . . This will stay with readers.” —Publishers Weekly

“[Kawakami] examines the disturbing fate of humanity, intriguingly fused with biblical references and (r)evolutionary theories. Notable translator Yoneda deftly captures Kawakami’s meticulous balance of doom-and-gloom and a surprisingly poignant charm.” —Booklist

“Speculative, artful . . . [It] sketches out the end of the world while simultaneously positing nearly unthinkable solutions and grappling with fundamental questions about identity, evolution, memory, and individualism . . . A wild take on humanity’s last stand and our flawed understanding of who we are.” —Kirkus Reviews

“No other book of hers convinces me more that Kawakami used to be a teacher of chemistry. A sad but beautiful depiction of a perishing world.” —Banana Yoshimoto

“When I finally closed this book, I felt as though I’d become one of Kawakami’s narrators. I even found myself glancing behind me to make sure no one was watching. Calling this book ‘worth reading’ does it hardly any justice at all.”–Yukiko Motoya, author of The Lonesome Bodybuilder

“This delicate story about the future of humankind is fantastical, serious, and nostalgic. I was absolutely stunned by it.”–Yasutaka Tsutsui, author of Paprika

“It’s as if all of the stories Kawakami had accumulated inside her brain suddenly broke through its membrane and burst into the world. I have a feeling that Hiromi Kawakami will someday win the Nobel Prize.”–P+D Magazine