Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World

By: Haruki Murakami

Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 1Q84 and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle comes a relentlessly inventive novel that dives deep into the very nature of consciousness.

“Fantastical, mysterious, and funny . . . a fantasy world that might have been penned by Franz Kafka.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer

Across two parallel narratives, Murakami draws readers into a mind-bending universe in which Lauren Bacall, Bob Dylan, a split-brained data processor, a deranged scientist, his shockingly undemure granddaughter, and various thugs, librarians, and subterranean monsters collide to dazzling effect. What emerges is a hyperkinetic novel that is at once hilariously funny and a deeply serious meditation on the nature and uses of the mind.

Critic reviews

“Murakami’s bold willingness to go straight over the top [is] a signal indication of his genius . . . a world-class writer who has both eyes open and takes big risks.” –The Washington Post Book World

“He has become the foremost representative of a new style of Japanese writing: hip, cynical, highly stylized, set at the juncture of cyberpunk, postmodernism, and hard-boiled detective fiction. . . . Murakami [is] adept at deadpan wit, outrageous style.” –Los Angeles Times Magazine

“Fantastical, mysterious, and funny . . . a fantasy world that might have been penned by Franz Kafka.” –Philadelphia Inquirer

“Rich in action, suspense, odd characters and unexpected trifles . . . [a] provocative work.” –The Atlantic

“Murakami’s gift is for ironic observations that hint at something graver. . . . He is wry, absurd, and desolate.” –Los Angeles Times Book Review

“[A] mix of American fun and Japanese dread.” –Esquire

“An intertwining DNA model of seemingly contrary elements . . . a combination of Kafka’s castle, Borges’s library, and the Prisoner’s TV village.” –Village Voice Literary Supplement

“Off the wall . . . hilariously bizarre . . . splendid . . . a remarkable book . . . Alfred Birnbaum . . . has captured the crazed, surreal feel of Murakami’s Japanese.” –The Times (London)

“His novels . . . are set on fast-forward: raucous, slangy, irreverent.” –Details

Highly recommend

Always love this author, but this book I loved more than most. Melancholy and poetic, it was so engaging. I also loved the narrator. The voice acting for this was perfect and really suited the story.

30% Akira 70% Seinfeld

In a good way. I’m also very picky about my narrators and major credit to this guy because his delivery throughout was incredible.

It's ok

Not bad but not my thing. Doesn't stack up against the classics but wasn't a terrible audio book.

The intrigue and mystery.

I liked how the story draws you in with cryptic detail yet the duel story telling threw me off at first. The subject content was interesting. Situations varied throughout the story, from riveting to unique perspectives, that brought on a hrmph here and there and maybe a chuckle or two.

well done!

one of my favorite Murakami stories. the performance here felt a little flat at first but i pretty quickly got into it and it carried the rest of the story well. great quality audio, and about as much as you can ask from any audiobook.