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Kowloon Generic Romance, Volume 1: 01/14/23
Kowloon Generic Romance, Volume 1 by Jun Mayuzuki and Amanda Haley (Translator) (2020) is a seinen manga set in Kowloon, a walled city. Reiko Kujirai, a real estate agent who loves the taste of watermelon when paired with a cigarette is finding herself falling in love with a coworker who is caught up in the cult of nostalgia. And that's when things get weird. This first volume has a similar vibe to Dark City (1998). Kowloon seems to be a self contained entity, one that is past its prime and is now propping itself up on the power of nostalgia. In the background of the rather generic (at first glance) office romance plot, is a corporation, Generic Terra. It's mostly a subject of office conversation, something discussed on the radio, and a visual reminder in the form of a mascot, Gene Terra. Clearly, though, Generic Terra is a bigger, all encompassing thing, as hinted at by the shocking end of this novel. Volume one also sits on the Road Narrative Spectrum. The office coworkers are a traveling couple (33). Their destination is uhoria (CC). Their route is the maze (CC), as evidenced by the ending, which I won't spoil here. Five stars Comments (0)
1997-2025 Sarah Sammis |
