Earthlings by Sayaka Murata, translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori (Granta)

In Sayaka Murata’s previous novel, Convenience Store Woman, the main character feels like she doesn’t fit into society and doesn’t understand why people won’t leave her alone. Now, in Earthlings, her second book to be published in English and translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori, she has taken the subject of “fitting in” to an extreme as Natsuki, the main character, does her best to be a functioning part of society. 

However, readers should be warned that this is definitely a title that should not be judged by its cover. The image of the cute stuffed doll may have one imagining that this might be a heartwarming fantasy about an alien stranded on earth, like E.T., who just wants to go home. The reader would be so far off the mark and may be disappointed to find out that Sayaka Murata’s world is not that simple. Her world is much darker and more real than any fantasy. 

As a child, Natsuki thought she was an alien. She believes that she is a wizard and has magic powers, given to her by a stuffed animal she bought with her new year’s money when she was just six. Her special friend was called Piyyut. She’s now eleven but still believes she is a magician,  “a real one with actual magical powers”. 

Every summer, Natsuki and her family would leave their home in Chiba and go visit her grandparent’s home in the fictitious town of Akishina, located high up in the mountains of the Southern Alps. Along with Piyyut, she carried an origami magic wand and a magical transformation mirror in her bag. 

Piyyut is from the Planet Popinbopopia. “The Magic Police had found out that Earth was facing a crisis and had sent him on a mission to save our planet”. By now, we can either believe that Natsuki really does have magical powers or that she just has an extremely active imagination. It’s also hard to determine if Piyyut is just a stuffed animal that doesn’t say anything or if he really is an alien, come to help save the earth.

The only one who knows her secret is her cousin Yuu who lives in Yamagata. Summer is the only time when they meet. Natsuki calls him her boyfriend. They made a pledge to each other when they were nine. Yuu shares with Natsuki his own secret, telling her that he is also an alien. 

After returning to Chiba one summer and going back to cram school, Natsuki has an experience that will affect her for the rest of her life. She is molested by her teacher. A teacher that is popular among students. She once tried to tell her mother about the incident but her mother wouldn’t listen.

The following summer, the family is once again in Akishina. Natsuki is happy because she will see her boyfriend who is also her cousin (of course the parents and relatives don’t know about their relationship). Unfortunately for Natsuki and Yuu, they are caught having sex togther the night before Natsuki’s family was to return to Chiba. 

The book then goes twenty three years into the future. Natsuki is now a housewife. However, her marriage is a marriage of convenience. Her husband is desperately trying to escape society while Natsuki hopes to become “tool for the Factory”, meaning she hopes to be able to be a “baby factory” because that’s what society expects for women. Her husband thinks otherwise. 

Natsuki’s husband convinces her to take him to Akishina since he’s heard so much about it. The family feels it might not be the best timing as Yuu is currently living in the house. After the two were caught together, both families refused to let them see or talk to each other. It would be twenty-three years since the incident. 

Will Natsuki’s husband be in shock if he learns about their secret? Does Yuu remember the promises they made as children? And will Natsuki become a “tool for the Factory” to produce “humans connected by flesh and blood”? 

Sayaka Murata’s new world in Earthlings is not for the weak of heart. She deals with a lot of taboo subjects - incest, rape, murder, violence, cannibalism, secrets, and spins it into a story that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. I’m still not sure if Natsuki was an alien to begin with, like she said! ~Ernie Hoyt