Set at the time of the catastrophic 1995 Kobe earthquake, the mesmerizing stories in After the Quake are as haunting as dreams and as potent as oracles.. An electronics salesman who has been deserted by his wife agrees to deliver an enigmatic package— and is rewarded with a glimpse of his true nature. A man who views himself as the son of God pursues a stranger who may be his human father. A mild-mannered collection agent receives a visit from a giant talking frog who enlists his help in saving Tokyo from destruction. The six stories in this collection come from the deep and mysterious place where the human meets the inhuman—and are further proof that Murakami is one of the most visionary writers at work today.
Thoughts
I enjoyed the event theme of the collection—all of them happening in the wake of the 1995 Kobe earthquake. Standout: "Super-Frog Saves Tokyo" (of course). "UFO in Kushiro" was also enjoyable—or at least memorable. I really liked the physical deliverance/journey of the main character's "box of air" (the nothingness his wife said existed inside of him) and the main character not understanding the significance of the delivery/journey while it's happening. He leaves behind his married life on this mission, unaware, floating—until he wonders what was actually inside the box. It's only then when he realizes: it's gone. She's gone. I am changed forever.