Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata is set in a futuristic Japan where the norms surrounding sexuality and reproduction are completely flipped, couples are no longer having sex as it is seen as a form of incest, therefore, artificial insemination has become the only proper way to conceive and have a family.

If there is one thing Murata is known for, it is her weird concepts that are not only thought provoking, but also deeply disturbing at times. Vanishing World is all of that and more. The beginning and end of this story contain CSA that was quite uncomfortable to read and really had me questioning its purpose since it did not do much for the plot. Additionally, much of the conversation felt redundant and cyclical in nature. I felt like I was being beat over the head by the same concept being parsed out over and over again.

Overall, the concept was full of potential, I just don't think the execution was there.

In her latest novel, Vanishing World, Sayaka Murata takes us in an alternative Japan, almost a whole another universe, where couples procreate only via artificial insemination, the concept of family is wildly different to our own and sex is acceptable only while having affairs (or with imaginary people).

If what I wrote makes little to no sense to you, it's okay and understandable. This author is known for writing unique stories that make you feel curious and confused but also a little bit uncomfortable at times, and Vanishing World brings up so many interesting topics, I can't wait to discuss it with my book club!

What I really enjoyed about this book is that it's essentially a critique of contemporary society, specifically on the topics of families and couples, gender, maternity/paternity, personal growth and accomplishments, love and sexuality. At the same time though, I find that the author included too many big topics and neglected (in my opinion) the biggest one: the relationship between the main character Amane and her mum, who is still attached to the "old world" where love and sex are connected and the foundation of families. I would have preferred a bit more focus on that part: even when Amane is a teenager and exploring her sexuality, it seems they barely speak?!
And that ending?! Disturbing, abrupt, unexpected - I can't say I liked it.

But I have to say, this book IS something and it will stay with me for a long time, even though I didn't love it.

* I'd like to thank Sayaka Murata, Grove Atlantic Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting commentary on conceiving and producing offspring in a world where sex is no longer needed to do so. Makes you think!

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

Vanishing World was an intriguing read. It read as a dystopian and sci-fi in my opinion which I enjoyed. One of my favorite aspects of author Sayaka Murata is she explores ideas at a deeper level in a unique and thought-provoking way. Usually it’s about what it is like to be human. In Vanishing World she dives deeper into the topics of gender, sex and reproduction, and community, and declining birth rates. Her books tend to be disturbing and this book was not different. The last section of the book had me uncomfortable but I couldn’t put the book down! Though the book as a whole was interesting to me, I feel like the execution did not hit the mark. There were two subplots that seemed unresolved towards the end and were outshined by the main character’s thoughts.

Thank you for the ARC!

I know Sayaka Murata‘s books are generally labeled as ‘weird’ and this was my first foray into her books. While I did love the social commentary on today’s Japan through this dystopian world where procreation via sex is outlawed and babies are made in labs but people are still obsessed with sex, the repetitive story telling took me out. The main character repeated almost every other paragraph that she was in sexual relationships and it was looked down upon.

I will check out her other works though.

Sharp social commentary and quiet unease are staples of Murata's work. Here, they are in full force once again.

Full review posted at BookBrowse: https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/reviews/index.cfm/ref/pr320064

My favorite book from Sayaka Murata to date. Unhinged plot per usual, interesting characters and an even more interesting ending.

This was my first Sayaka Murata, although one's still waiting for me on my physical tbr.
Man, was this a weird read. Obviously I was warned that weirdness was to be expected, but I still didn't know just how much of it would await me.
Sex between husbands and wives just isn't done anymore, is even classified as incest. Instead, it's perfectly normal to have multiple partners with whom to have sex instead, while procreation is done entirely artificially. I could never really figure out just why society would develop to outlaw marital sex, it never made much sense to me within the scope of the story, but alas, here we are. Also, there's new science supporting men becoming pregnant too, for which you have to move to a closed city that exists purely to create new babies, with the entire society caring for these children as one. It was a more than uncomfortable picture the author paints here, but the themes and criticism are quite obvious. Honestly, while an uncomfortable read it was kind of an enjoyable experience until something happens at the very end that took things just too far for me, which I know was the intent but that didn't save it for me.
So yes, very weird read that could absolutely be triggering for some people. The premise was intriguing, but because none of it is explained and we don't know how society got to this (honestly rather unbelievable in parts) point it feels a little hollow. Despite its weirdness, this book won't really stay with me for long.

A very different kind of dystopian world… in here people don’t use sex to reproduce, but at the same time sex is very present but more in a kind of self serving way, because people thing sex with other person is dirty, falling in love with anime characters is everyday situation… I think the author is actually exposing a hidden reality in japan… the Main character is obsessed with sex and with what is kind of forbidden because she was the last child being born of real sex between her parents before that overturned… this book is not for young people, since sex is very present while being really distant, its hard to explain… while this book is very different reminded me of the machine stops, and if I try to explain why, wont make sense, because while in there, people where isolated inside of individual homes, in here people kind are isolated inside of themselves, for instance the main character and her husband both move to experiment city, but they need to hide the fact that they are married, and while there, they gradually move even away from each other, and to be honest I think our main character go deep into madness….

I will just say that we have a couple of triggers in this book, even sex with a minor, kidnapping of a relative… yeah I know this book is not for everyone, so thread with care…


Thank you Netgalley and Grove Atlantic | Grove Press, for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

Sayaka Murata is certainly not everyone’s taste. Her stories are one of a kind.

I loved “Convenience Store Woman” and her short stories “Life Ceremony” - touching a more radical and surreal ground than “Convenience Store Woman” - but had to stop reading “Earthlings”.

“Vanishing World” by Sayaka Murata is fascinating. It is set in a utopian/dystopian version of Tokyo. Sexuality has long become obsolete. Where children are conceived artificially physical intimacy has become unnatural a something to be ashamed about. Marriages and relationships are purely heterosexual and functional to ensure efficient reproduction.

The story centers around Amane who explores a romantic and sexual relationship with an anime character.

Murata’s writing is very distant and detached. It contrasts the surreal and wildly emotional events.

Sayaka Murata is such an important voice. Her radical worlds challenges the readers expectations of how we view the world and society. Artificial wombs may not be the answer but what if women just stopped everything

What did I just read???

In a near future world where married couples do not have sex and babies are conceived by artificial insemination, Amane feels like she is not normal because she feels sexual attraction. This is a quick foundational synopsis; there’s a lot more going on here but I don’t want to spoil anything! For the majority of the book, I was uncomfortable, both physically and emotionally, struggling to find my own definitions and feelings about love and sexuality and family. I mean this in a complimentary way - it’s incredible what Murata can make me feel with her writing. The way she depicts social norms and how humans conform to them is fantastic. The end took my discomfort to a whole new level - a new stratosphere, really - and I am still reeling. I don’t know if I can say I enjoyed the ride, but I’m very glad I read this! You are either the kind of reader who will like this or the kind who will not. Either way you have to admit it’s a unique and powerful piece of writing.

One thing about Sayaka Murata's books is that they're always WEIRD. I have yet to read a book of hers that has really worked for me, but I can see the potential of one eventually going that way for me. This book is an interesting speculative fiction take on a world where the "rules" of reproduction have outlawed many things we consider "normal". While Murata's use of sex in her novels has always left me feeling uncomfortable, this book kept me engaged despite whatever negative feelings I was experiencing. I just wanted to know more! The concept was super interesting, and even though it isn't really a future I can see happening, it was still based enough in reality that I could wrap my head around the societal expectations of this world. I always feel like this author's books lack in world building and character depth, but that seems like the point? Either way, I will keep reading this author's novels until they either scare me away, or I fall in love!

Sayaka Murata, thank you yet again for the existential dread 😂

This book starts out kind of slow but then I was drawn in by the eerie dystopian world she’s created. The ending was BANANAS and I’m going to go ahead and stare at a wall for the next 2 hours now

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC 😊

Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0

A haunting story that makes one angry and scared. A dystopian world that is terrifying because parts of it feel so familiar to ours.

This is a book you will reread and talk to others about.
So far my most impacting read for 2025.

Ideal reader:⭐️
Fan of dystopians
Fan of books that make you think
Fan of books that changed you
Fan of translated reads
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia

soooooo delightfully strange & incredibly gross

I am not exactly sure what I was expecting going into this, but I got more than I bargained for....in a good way??? The conversations happening throughout the book of what is now the "new normal" was so shocking and had me feeling grateful in an odd way for how marriages, relationships, and having children is carried out in OUR present world.

What if the way we functioned as a married couple and furthermore a family was totally flipped on its axis and it was no longer normal to be intimate with your partner. Furthermore to see any intimate relations of any kind being seen as INCEST! Beware that that isn't even the most shocking new normal in this new world, but I want to leave that to you to read about for yourself.

Sayaka Murata does it again with another weird world where society is very different to what we have today. Where family and relationships dynamics are framed by the new idea of having kids in this society.

I LOVE Sayaka Murata, so I was so grateful to be approved for an early copy of Vanishing World. I'm a mood reader, and I just could not get into this one during the review period. I'm excited to revisit this again when I'm able to accept its energy, but unfortunately I could not connect with it and DNF. It felt dull without being bleak enough, spooky without being engaging enough. This is a me problem, and Sayaka Murata still remains a NetGalley-request author for me.

A strange, interesting, and introspective book.

"As a girl, Amane realizes with horror that her parents “copulated” in order to bring her into the world, rather than using artificial insemination, which became the norm in the mid-twentieth century. Amane strives to get away from what she considers an indoctrination in this strange “system” by her mother, but her infatuations with both anime characters and real people have a sexual force that is undeniable. As an adult in an appropriately sexless marriage—sex between married couples is now considered as taboo as incest—Amane and her husband Saku decide to go and live in a mysterious new town called Experiment City or Paradise-Eden, where all children are raised communally, and every person is considered a Mother to all children. Men are beginning to become pregnant using artificial wombs that sit outside of their bodies like balloons, and children are nameless, called only “Kodomo-chan.” Is this the new world that will purify Amane of her strangeness once and for all?"

In totality, this book is a large conversation (and comprised of many conversations between couples, friends, and family.) As the characters abstain from things in their life, the text reflects this and is filled with repetitive talking and not a lot of action. I think this was a strength to the novel and, in the end, made the action of Amane even more extreme.

If you've read anything by Murata, you know she goes to lengths and places not expected or, like Amane, extreme. Vanishing World does not disappoint. This shows a vanishing world and the new one taking its place, in both we can see reflections of the world we live in. The style is detached and almost clinical highlighting the strangeness of everything. The end finishes in the midst of a confrontation of sorts and leaves all sorts of thoughts and questions, as does many other Murata novels.

Days later, I'm still thinking about this read.

Thank you to Grove Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

Full review on halfextinguishingthought.com

This was good and very thought provoking. It would make a great discussion for a book club and touches on lots of subjects that are relevant to society today. I will say that the last few pages were just so unnecessary! Otherwise very interesting.

Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata is an unusual and fascinating novel set in a dystopian version of Tokyo, where sexuality has become almost obsolete, children are conceived artificially, and real emotional intimacy is a rarity.

The story follows Amane, a girl who falls in love with an anime character and begins to explore her sexuality through this connection. What starts off as naive and innocent gradually becomes a deeper exploration of identity, desire, and the boundaries between reality and fantasy. In this world, relationships are often purely functional, same-sex marriage is prohibited, and family structures are designed for efficient reproduction rather than emotional bonds.

One of the most curious elements is “Experiment City” – a place where children are raised collectively, men can become pregnant, and the concept of parenting is completely redefined. It’s a bold and strange vision of the future that raises many questions.

Murata’s writing style is simple and emotionally detached, which makes the strange events in the story feel even more surreal. Although the book talks a lot about sex, it’s not erotic – it feels mechanical and clinical, and that contrast is what makes it so compelling.

Vanishing World is a truly unique experience. It challenges the reader, offers fresh perspectives, and lingers in your thoughts long after the final page.

Conclusion: A strange and original look at a possible future, full of questions about human connection, sexuality, and what it means to build a life.
4 stars