From the New World: Once you’re addicted to the hunt, you won’t find yourself the hunted until the last minute.

I haven’t finished reading it yet, but I think the basic story structure and themes are clear. While I have some time to myself, let’s organize what I have to say.

I. Story setting and perspective

Unlike the usual anti-utopian works, this one does not have a symbolic image of a strong government. In terms of characters, there are no absolute “bad guys”. The protagonist and his companions and classmates are not bad guys, no doubt. The old men of the committee, who seem to represent the ruling class of evil, are shown in contact with the ordinary people. The only possible villain is “Squall” (Wild Fox Mara), whose actions against the Queen and against humans are in fact no different from what humans do to unqualified children and the rule of the chemical rats. Both are for the betterment of the race.

In this way, as an anti-utopian work, but without a solid emotional venting point (usually the emotional venting point in anti-utopian works comes from the image of the opposite Iron Curtain government); it constitutes a subtle and strange structure.

Again, let’s look at the perspective of the story. The story unfolds with Hayat’s self-reported experiences growing up. Hayat is one of the most “normal” of the group of five. She is more capable than her classmates outside the group, but her conformist nature gives her the opportunity to enter the ruling group. So the author can use her perspective to see the whole system. And because of the unusual and “abnormal” nature of the other members of the Five, she is able to access another side of the story. As an entry point to the story, she is the perfect candidate. Of course, some would mention that Joe could also take on such a role. But how can we show the thoughts of the most “abnormal” child, Tran, in detail if we don’t have the first love that Hayat has for him? (Joe’s observation of Tran is rather careless, as evidenced by the pseudo-BL love triangle, he did not notice what Tran was thinking.)

Second, role analysis

Early season: Early season is an “ordinary person”, often mixed with emotional components in judgment. Although he has doubts about his environment, he is always able to accept it in the end. In addition to Mamoru, he is often the first to retreat from an unusual situation.

Joe: Somewhat similar to Hayat. But the judgment is bolder, and curiosity is a bit more. When faced with unusual situations, he is calmer than Hayat.

Tran: A character that represents the author’s ideal. Strong action, curious and rational, strong sense of justice, and natural leadership， But such a character is destined to be the first to perish in this monstrous world. Although the direct cause of Tran’s demise is due to his own curiosity. But the real embodiment of the system is the suppression and exclusion of dissidents and the concealment of information.

Guard: very weak but very observant character. After the disappearance of the first girl in the same group to be disciplined, somehow has always represented the vulnerable in the world.

Shania: A character who is strong, opinionated, and affectionate. Doing things not very rational, but very important friendship and love，Has a high enough awareness to make a decision. In a way, she is the second most “unusual” existence in the group of five after Tran.

The Committee’s Elders: The rule of the Ethical Society itself is full of irrationality and symbolizes “evil”. But on an individual level, it is the “goodness” of “ordinary people” that is reflected. The Ethics Council has absolute power, so there are inevitably arrogant and conceited people among them, but on the whole they seem to be the “normal” reaction of normal people in high places. What all the old people have in common is the preservation of the existing system and the elimination of any potential harm to it.

Squall (Wild Fox Mara): The antithesis of humanity, theoretically a villainous character. But in reality he is no different from what the older members of the committee do. And the contrast in impressions created is precisely the logical conflict carefully set up by the author.

III. Mapping and symbolism

We all know that Yusuke Takashi did not write science fiction or overhead works before. Therefore, in my opinion, since the new world, it is just a way for Yusuke Takashi to map his habit of exploring Japanese social phenomena in the far-future space world, and unfold it in a more absurd and absolute form to intensify the conflicts.

The protagonist of the work, Hayat, is a representative of ordinary Japanese people. Seemingly harmless and conformist, he resists the unreasonable things only by making some emotional choices, and finally compromises and becomes a member of the system. Blind to the harm caused by the people around them, content to “do nothing wrong” within the scope of what they see. Self-paralysis and self-satisfaction with the facts against you is enough. It is this quality that suits the “stability” interests of the committee’s seniors. Therefore, the most easily controlled and assimilated of the five became a member of the committee.

Whether it is the education committee or the ethics committee, the senior members of the committee are just like the Japanese decision makers (not only the state but also the companies) who are inactive and do not want to do anything but not to make mistakes, which is their common mentality. For the selection of the successor, naturally, things are also the same. For the dissidents, the concealment of information and the unmerciful punishment are the manifestation of their simple and brutal way of governing and lack of supervision, as well as their fear of future trends. If not for the rebellion of the rats that almost destroyed the committee, Hayat would have been a part of it in the future.

And whether it’s the transient who can’t control the spell power, or the timid Mamoru, or the independent Zeya, they are actually the minority group in this world, whether strong or weak, good or not, they are destined to be the object of exclusion and suppression. This reminds me of the bullying phenomenon in Japanese schools, and the exclusion of highly talented students studying abroad by Japanese clubs.

Finally, I would like to discuss the relevance of the theme of this work. In my opinion, anti-utopian works are simply political allegories without secular significance. Instead, the unconscious actions of ordinary people, which may bring harm to others, explored in this work are more relevant in today’s society. Many people go with the flow, with the mentality of “if it were someone else, I would do the same thing”, without any sense of responsibility, causing harm to others, or adding to the system that hurts others, or turning a blind eye to the suffering of others. This is not an isolated tragedy, but a common phenomenon. The descriptions of the “good” people’s actions that bring “bad” results constitute a strong conflict and give people a more intuitive feeling. It seems that we all have good intentions, but no one is willing to change the unreasonable system, and even to suppress people and things that want to change. The misfortunes around us are not just the result of “bad luck”, but are closely related to each person’s words and actions. This is exactly what Yusuke Takeshi often emphasizes in his other works: “The line between good and evil is not so clear”.

In the end, when the old people and the rats return to the earth, I hope that Hayat and Joe will lead the human race to a new world.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)