The Ark Sakura

The Ark Sakura is a book from Kobo Abe, a Japanese Sci-fi author.

It is very chaotic book about a man that believes that world is going to end very soon. He commits his life to build a shelter that will withstand the disaster of nuclear war. In the abandoned mine, he created almost all things man would need to survive such thing. He also gathered lots of food, drink and other necessities that a group of people would need. The main thin is toilet. But it is not the only one.

In book the main thread is weaved around his search for people that are worthy of surviving and would accept his leadership and his conditions. He find sectarian that fits his profile. He offers him a ticket on his “boat”. But because he was not careful enough two more people find out about his “thing”. And that is when all gets complicated. Things get more complex when we find out who is the owner of the “ship”, where did mole (nick of ship’s captain) get all the founds for things he has. Who is really a young beautiful girl that was deceiving him. What would he do just to be alone with her. Why is ha as fat as he is. Did he really rape a woman when he was young. Who are other people that live in abandoned mine. Where goes everything from his toilet. Why are traps that guards his “ship” disabled. Who is deceiving who. And in the end; did the nuclear war really started.

The book is quite good. But it doesn’t have much to do with Sci-fi. Well except the nuclear war. It explains relations and thoughts of individuals.