Reviews and Comments

Dull and incredibly dated book, with a style that is both hard to read and tedious. The author is unable to depict characters through their actions, so everything is described through other characters thoughts in the most implausible way. The dialogue is stilted. Supposed based upon real events and people, though you'd never know it.

No idea how this ended up on my shelves, and it shall depart them quickly...

I expected to enjoy this more than I did, being familiar with Cybernetics from previous books and sharing many of Dan's views on management and economics.

Parts of the book are very good, particularly the way he outlines why neoliberalism/neoclassical economics fail to manage effectively, and the flaws with accounting. Other parts feel strangely unfinished, as if he had an idea and wasn't quite sure how to complete it. It's never entirely clear how he thinks cybernetics ideas can be incorporated into management, or how measurement can in practice be improved. And I found his belief in AI and aspects of management strangely naive, as was his belief that increased complexity is inevitable and we must deal with it (that maybe we need to simplify instead never really occurs to him).

I expected to enjoy this more than I did.

This book relies on a plot twist than when it finally arrives is neither surprising, or terribly well thought out. Stylistically it tries to use Venice as a way to disguise that it really doesn't have a lot to say.

Elderly and dying Cabalist, who has discovered how to use cabalism (though what he can do - we never really discover, oddly), tries to leave his legacy to the world. The world is fairly indifferent, and he fails. Which is really all that this amounts too.

The standout story in this is 'The Enigma of Amigara Fault', which is one of Junji Ito's most disturbing and iconic stories. Like his best stories, the horror is entirely in the premise and its strange dream like logic that can't be resisted.

There are some adaptations which are fine, but not essential. And not all the stories are horror. Venus in the Blind Spot is more horror adjacent, and there are a couple of mildly amusing comic stories.

Of the remaining horror stories. They're all fine, but second tier.

Every story in this is good, while the standout stories (the majority) are excellent. If you're a horror, or Junji Ito, fan - this is well worth it.

Every story in this is good. Unlike many of his stories, these are legit creepy.

Fun romp with two siblings who cause havoc wherever they go. The premise is clearly intended as a parody of Japanese public apologies, and it works quite well as that. Gives off a similar energy to early Alan Moore (his British stuff). Would probably have worked well as a Deadline cartoon in the 90s.

The art is fine, though not comparable to his best work.

All the stories in this are decent, and while there are no classics, there are still a couple of stand outs. The level of originality in this collection is surprisingly high, while of course the artwork is glorious.

Earthbound is a great weird anime, where the twist is both surprising and powerful. While Secret of the Haunted Mansion is a lot of creepy fun (the other stories expanding its mythos are also pretty good, including a story with one of the most disturbing cats I've ever seen). And who knew nails could be that disturbing?

Death Row Doorbell is messed up in all the right ways. And smashed with its predictable, but still very funny, ending.

Got bored of the Frankenstein adaptation, but the Oshikiri stories are great. I want more stories about the unfortunate high school student who keeps getting dragged into baffling and annoying supernatural mysteries.

More mystical than Junji's normal work, but it still works surprisingly well.

The artwork in this manga is gorgeous, and the story telling is effective. But it suffers from poor characterisation (like a lot of manga), while the twists are fairly obvious. A couple of stories stand out, but over all a little disappointing.

Japanese soldiers at the end of World War II die pointlessly in a series of pointless battles, culminating in a suicide attack that exists for no purpose other than the honor of the Japanese military.

Despite the bleak and depressing material, this is a compulsively readable comic.