I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
This does not affect in any way my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
This does not affect in any way my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
Series: The Ghost in the Shell Deluxe Edition #1 Published by Kodansha Comics on February 21, 2017
Demographic: Seinen
Genres: Cyberpunk, Sci-fi
Source: NetGalley
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Definitive edition supervised by creator Shirow Masamune. Published it in its original Japanese right-to-left format in English. Released simultaneously with deluxe editions of The Ghost in the Shell 1.5 and 2.
Deep into the twenty-first century, the line between man and machine has been blurred as humans rely on the enhancement of mechanical implants and robots are upgraded with human tissue. In this rapidly converging landscape, cyborg superagent Major Motoko Kusanagi is charged to track down the craftiest and most dangerous terrorists and cybercriminals, including "ghost hackers" who are capable of exploiting the human/machine interface and reprogramming humans to become puppets to carry out the hackers' criminal ends.
What better time to read one of the most iconic sci-fi manga than just before the release of its new anime series adaptation, which is set to premiere worldwide on 7 July?
Kodansha kindly gave me the opportunity to read the first 100 pages of the deluxe edition’s first volume of a three-volume series, and it was an interesting experience. While the ’80s atmosphere evokes a sense of nostalgia, the futuristic themes feel particularly relevant all these years after the manga was created. In fact, it almost seems as if it was ahead of its time, offering a glimpse into some of the topics present in the modern world—although clearly not to the same extent. The plot can be a bit confusing and overwhelming at times, as we find ourselves thrown straight into the midst of events, sometimes even getting lost in the dialogue . . . Nevertheless, it remains thought-provoking. I particularly love the artwork, including the coloured pieces, which at one point switch to black and white, returning to the original maga style—a lovely addition that blends in very well.
Despite being a sci-fi series from decades ago, The Ghost in the Shell remains highly relevant today, prompting reflections on identity and the relationship between humanity and technology.
About Silvia
Silvia is a dreamer at heart, drifting through ink and imagination, reading and playing stories alike, forever drawn to East Asian wonders ♡ Anything that sparks her creativity fills her with joy and makes her want to explore, play, and create even more!
Peek into all the corners of her world ⟡˙⋆
I’m not really into sci-fi even though I’m familiar with The Ghost in the Shell, but your review made me quite curious. I like the mix of ’80s vibes and modern times, and I particularly loved the way you described the transition from colour to black and white, it makes me want to pick this up just for that reason!
I’m glad I managed to catch your attention with that detail too! You could start with the anime series to get to understand the concept better, as I know you find sci-fi a bit difficult to read . . . It might give you the motivation you need to have a go at reading the manga as well 😉
I love sci-fi and you’ve certainly made me curious about this one!
That’s great, if you ever do give it a go, let me know what you think!
Ghost in the Shell is a classic. It was the second anime I was introduced to, after Inuyasha.
Kristin @ Book Sniffers Anonymous
That’s absolutely true, and I’ve only watched bits and pieces of Inuyasha, but at some point I’ll watch it properly from start to finish.
I’ve never read this! Especially since I’m a fan of cyberpunk and human/ robot interactions- the nature of identity and when does technology have a soul- and a new series adaptation as well! So glad to see this.
I hope you’re well!
Greg! Can you believe I was actually thinking of you whilst I was reading it? Seriously, I was wondering if you’d ever given it a go, precisely because I know how much you like this sort of thing *hehe* If you decide to read it and/or watch the anime, do let me know!
I’m trying to survive this heatwave, which is getting worse by the day 🥵 and I’ve been a bit busy with photography. I don’t know if you’ve seen the vertical banner in the right sidebar of my blog, but if you click on it, you’ll find something interesting . . . Let’s just say I’ve made a dream we both shared come true 😉 I sincerely hope you’re well, it’s always a pleasure to see you stopping by!
Silvia! Were you? That’s so awesome. 🙂 I will definitely let you know- you have me so intrigued!
I hope you stay cool. It’s been killer here too and now we have all this particulate smoke from Canadian wildfires- I was downtown today and the big hotels were all hazy from th smoke and indistinct. And ooh have you? I just went and looked are you referring to the photography site? omg amazing. I LOVE that night shot of Tokyo!
I’m so glad you’re sharing those wonderful experiences. I don’t know if we’ve talked about this before but I love Japan and its culture too, I’m solooking forward to seeing wha you share in future.
Thank you so much! It’s my pleasure to visit!
Yes, I swear! Actually, you come to mind every time I read a sci-fi story, especially if it deals with these themes, because you’ve always shown such a passion for this genre on your blog over the years 😊
We’ve heard the news here too about the forest fires in Canada and the impact they’re having on air quality, and the situation seems really worrying . . . Please, stay safe! And yes, we’d talked about this passion, which is why I said I’d made a shared dream come true *hehe* On that Instagram account, you’ll find a new photo every four days. Last year I spent nearly three months in Japan and I also went to Hong Kong for a week, so sooner or later you might see something from there too 😉
You’re always welcome, and I’m always so pleased to hear from you!
Awww! I love that!
Thank you! It’s a little better today, this morning it was still so hazy but it cleared up over time. And yes I thought so, when you said a dream we both shared I wasn’t sure if you meant us, but YES! *hug* I will definitely be checking that ccount out to see what else you share.
I hope we can chat more about this!
I’m glad to hear that, and I hope things keep getting better 🤞🏻 I also hope the photos bring you a bit of joy and inspiration!
Of course, we can chat more about this whenever you like and however you prefer 😊 *hugs*
I’ll email ya!