Harmony

A science fiction novel set in a future society where health is managed by medical nanotechnology and an ethics of mutual surveillance. In a world that regulates bodies and emotions in the name of perfect welfare, the resistance and memories of young women expose the darkness inside utopia.

dystopiamedicinebodily controlfriendshipfree will

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Work Information

When kindness becomes the language of governance, what happens to bodily freedom?

After a global catastrophe, people have internalized health as a social obligation. Tuan Kirie carries the memory of a starvation pact she once attempted with her friends and moves toward the core of a world that appears peaceful. Project Itoh's major novel depicts a utopia that enforces survival through questions of consciousness and the body.

Review Summaries

Readers praise the sharpness of the premise and the striking structure revealed near the end. The calm narration draws attention because it carries a strong critique of managed society beneath its surface.

Book Information

Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Published: 2010-07-20
Pages: 300 pages
Language: 英語
Size: 13.34 x 1.78 x 20.32 cm
ISBN-13: 9781421536439
ISBN-10: 9781421536439
Category: 洋書/Science Fiction & Fantasy/Science Fiction/High Tech

Reads L to R (Western Style). In a perfect world, there is no escape In the future, Utopia has finally been achieved thanks to medical nanotechnology and a powerful ethic of social welfare and mutual consideration. This perfect world isn't that perfect though, and three young girls stand up to totalitarian kindness and super-medicine by attempting suicide via starvation. It doesn't work, but one of the girls--Tuan Kirie--grows up to be a member of the World Health Organization. As a crisis threatens the harmony of the new world, Tuan rediscovers another member of her suicide pact, and together they must help save the planet...from itself.

Keikaku (Project) Itoh was born in Tokyo in 1974. He graduated from the Musashino Art University. In 2007, he debuted with Gakusatsu Kikan(Genocidal Organs), and took first prize of the “Best SF of 2007” in SF Magazine. He is also the author of Metal Gear Solid: Guns of the Patriots, a Japanerse-language novel based on the popular video game series. After a long battle with cancer, Itoh passed away in March 2009. Harmony was revised by Itoh while in the hospital, receiving treatment for the disease.

Reviews

I want to watch the video with live-action version of this masterpiece. Would not have thought so many fans Project Ito

英訳は2010年7月、オリジナルは2008年12月リリース。電子書籍化は2012年4月25日リリース。伊藤計劃の作家としての時間はその才能に比して余りにも少ない。そして作品も余りにも少ない。その中でこの『ハーモニー』の孤高の完成度は圧倒的だ。WEBディレクタの傍ら執筆を開始した伊藤計劃の作品は、WEBとゲームのDNAが組み込まれているかのようだ。少しでもプログラムを書かれる方なら、この作品の端々に登場するHTMLタグの変化形(それを伊藤は『etml』として最後のほうで説明している)で、実際には存在しない拡張系のタグを生成し、タグとタグの間を詩的なフレーズで挟みながら進行させていく手法は、まるで小説と詩とWEBページのアモルファスのような質感を読む者に感じさせる。実に斬新だ。既に病の床にあって書かれた本作は『人というリソース』の集合体である社会に対しての『自分の身体』というものを常に意識して書かれている。それはSFのように見えてSFでは無く、近未来のようで現在の一部のような気すらしてくる。『WatchMe』をインストゥールされていようがいまいが、既にリソースとして時間的にも税的にも『生府(政府)』には認識され、織り込み済みになっている。本当はそう伊藤計劃は言いたいのではないか、と思えてくる。この傑作を実写版映像で観てみたい。多くの伊藤計劃のファンはそう思っているのではないだろうか。あるいは伊藤計劃自身が熱狂的なファンであったゲームデザイナー小島秀夫の手でゲーム化して欲しい、多くの伊藤計劃のファンはそう思っているのではないだろうか。今は亡き伊藤計劃のために是非日本のクリエーターに手がけて欲しい。
<3

Easily one the best books I've read this year
A novel not to read if you are at all unsure you are a zombie.

Deeply thoughtful and terrifying in its conclusion
Fascinating novel

Quickly sent and received, mint condition. Very pleased with my purchase.
Excellent Book

An excellent science-fiction story by Project Itoh. It is very well written with a nice, well-thought and well-written story that has consistency. It offers an interesting insight and food for thought for a future Orwellian society that is perhaps not so distant from our reality and timeline. The story flows well and has a relatively fast pace. It raises a lot of points and questions about humanity and society that will make you think about them, however, do not expect an analysis as deep and thorough that delves into the depths of human soul as you would expect from a Dostoevsky's book. Overall, it is a contemporary Japanese sci-fi novel so if you are a fan of these type of novels as well as the writing style of contemporary Japanese authors, you will enjoy the story.
Damn

This book is so good its better then the movie because its so much more in detail