United States of Japan

Preface: I was given an ARC for this novel by the publisher.First line: The death of the United States of America began with a series of signatures.I saw the gorgeous cover of this book, and immediately wanted to read it. I assumed it was in the vein of Pacific Rim, Kaiju Rising, or Project Nemesis, and it would involve big ass robots fighting big ass monsters.It doesn't. There's a couple of scenes with hot robot-on-robot action, but for the most part this book is far more interested in delving into questions like "What would it be like to be on of Orwell's thought police?" and "What kind of weird tech would an Japanized America make?" with the emphasis on weird.We're not talking zany weird, either. This isn't Welcome to Night Vale or Terry Pratchett. This is a crimelord who has his minions that were genetically modified. At one point you get a gun grafted onto a main character. This is cyberpunk/dystopian/Netrunner kind of weird.The main characters aren't very likable, but I really think that's sort of the point. One's a government censor, and the other is a member of the secret police. Their job is to oppress the populace and ensure that the Emperor's rule is maintained. By making them the protagonists, it allows the author to examine the questions of "What's the place of government?" and "How should the populace be controlled/directed?"The book was well written, but I felt that the storyline was a little choppy with the transitions sort of jarring. It's very possible that this was the intention of the author, but it's not the sort of thing that I enjoy. The conclusion was satisfying and the book felt like it earned it.Final Verdict: I enjoyed it. I'm interested to see what else this author puts out.Other Recommendations:New Weird: Shield and Crocus by Mike Underwood, City of Stairs (The Divine Cities) (review forthcoming) by Robert Bennett, Annihilation: A Novel (The Southern Reach Trilogy) by Jeff VandermeerAlternate History: Anything by Turtledove. Especially the In the Balance series. Also the Weapons of Choice (The Axis of Time Trilogy, Book 1) series by John Birmingham.(More reviews on my website blackfishreviews.wordpress.com)

This is a great novel. It's relentlessly paced, clever, thoughtful, and tragically beautiful.This is, I think, a big step up from Peter's previous novel, Bald New World. In here, the worldbuilding has more depth and is more woven into the story. The plot is just as fast but more cohesive. The characters are just as diverse and interesting but carry more human weight, if that makes sense.Basically, I think Tieryas has taken a huge step forward as a novelist. He was already one of my all time favorite short story writers, so it's a pleasure to see him continue to grow as a novelist and writer.Though the cover may make you think it's all fun and games inside the novel--and there is a lot of fun here--it's also a very powerful story about imperialism, identity, choice, and history. We see the power of empire, not just in how it devastates, but how it controls. When citizens of the empire begin to take on the morality of the empire itself, rather than be governed by their own conscience. Because when that imperial morality overrides your own, violence and tragedy are waiting to bloom everywhere. Tieryas captures that so well.And while this is a novel about Imperial Japan(1868-1947), it's really a novel about our current US. Because even though Tieryas is switching the rolls here, it feels like the world we know. The horror we level against foreign countries and even ones we hold dominion over (even if that dominion is largely economic [Latin America] or militaristic [Middle East]) and our carelessness with their lives.But that's not to say that this is purely about america. It's about empire in general. How empires, throughout history, have shaped the world, have practiced brutal policies, have done horror in the name of gods or nations. And the worldbuilding is very thoughtful. Everything from technology to food to revolution.I do have a few complaints. The dialogue is a bit clumsy at times, but never in a distracting way. Also, I wish the plot could have slowed down a bit, though that's more of a personal preference than anything specifically wrong with the novel.And that last critique is mostly because of Tieryas' short stories that I love so much. They're so thoughtful and contained. They're about space and ideas. There's a quietness to them. My hope is that Tieryas' next novel finds a way to capture the beautiful and intensely interesting aspects of his short stories and tie that to his frenetic plotting. Because I think that would create an awesome effect. Where this and Bald New World are almost like races and so addictive to read, his stories are like breaths of the freshest, cleanest air that make you stop and see the world differently. If he manages to weave those two elements together, creating structural tension within the narrative itself, he may just write my favorite book ever!Anyrate, yes, you should absolutely read this.It's so addictive, so fun, so thoughtful, so powerful, and that ending! I think the ending really does what I'm talking about above. It captures this quiet, beautiful moment. The kind of moment that made me fall in love with Tieryas' work in the first place.

It fun mystery story with some giant robots in it . Man in the High castle meets cyberpunk

I really liked the book. It is first and foremost a good story, but set on an alternate US. The author pays attention to a lot of details, but does not get distracted or lost on them, but rather ends up telling a good detective novel.It obiously draws from Man on the High Castle, but is, in my opinion, it's own style and world.

Interessantes Setting. Amerika ist nach einem verlorenen Zweiten Weltkrieg zwischen Japanern und Nazis aufgeteilt. Die gesamte Handlung spielt auf der japanischen Seite und die Protagonisten sind Japaner, die irgendwie zwischen die Fronten des Kaiserreichs und des Amerikanischen Widerstands geraten. Hierbei dreht sich die Story vor allem um die Aufarbeitung japanischer Kriegsverbrechen und die Tatsache, dass sich auch die Amerikaner alles andere als Rühmlich verhalten haben. Dazu Mechs.Dazu wird übrigens auch stark auf die japanische Videospielkultur eingegangen. In Man in the High Castle ist das Objekt der Handlung ein Film über den Sieg der Alliierten, hier ein Videospiel das vom Widerstand in Umlauf gebracht wurde.

Cover art hooked me in but USJ is so much more than just an anime-inspired sci-do. It addresses a lot big questions relating to the big What-If? Ie what would happen if Japan and Germany had won the war and conquered the US? A heady mix of alternate history, gripping violence, complex characters and yes, giant bad-ass mecha robots.

近未来SF。第二次大戦、勝ったのは枢軸国で、米東海岸は独、西海岸は日本が支配。これはPhilip K. Dick, The Man in the High Castleに倣う。米国民は反体制ゲームを通じて、反抗を継続している。そんな中、反乱側に寝返った裏切り者の元帝国軍人を狙う特高エリート。少し複雑な筋。勝ったのは枢軸国の設定と、ゲーム思考が社会を支配、巨大戦闘ロボットが街を歩く近未来が面白い。特高や憲兵隊が支配する恐怖社会とか、やたら日本語が出てくる日本オタク。英語は普通。日本語は微妙にずれていて楽しめる：「殺す」クラス戦闘メカ、等は変！？話自体は面白いのだが、SFの道具立てがあれこれ沢山（過ぎ!?)で迫力を損なっているようなので星減。ただ、ガンダム好きのオタクには十分楽しめるのか？！

The pace of this book slowly takes you through USJ. What it appears to be. What it tries to hide. And what it is in reality. Ishimura as a conflicted character is special, and as you get to know him, you start to get him. Unputdownable towards the end. Wow.