Ishi no Ketsumyaku
 Cover of the 2007 republication | |
| Author | Ryō Hanmura |
|---|---|
| Language | Japanese |
| Genre | Science fiction, Horror |
| Publisher | Hayakawa shobou |
Publication date | 1971 |
| Publication place | Japan |
Ishi no Ketsumyaku (石の血脈 Blood Ties to a Stone) is a science fiction novel by Ryo Hanmura. It won the third Seiun Award in 1972,[1] and was the first major work to popularize Hanmura in the world of Japanese science fiction literature. Fukushima Masami, the first editor-in-chief of S-F Magazine, included it in '100 Best Science Fiction', when he made the list in 1976.
Overview
[edit]The novel rewrites the mythology of vampires and werewolves, positing that such creatures are garbled references to a race of immortality seeking "secret masters" who have existed since ancient times. These "secret masters" are infected with a virus transmitted through sexual intercourse, which instills in them a vampiric craving for blood. The end stage of the disease puts the victim in a chrysalis state, who then awakens after several centuries as a newly formed immortal. The story concerns many dramatic intrigues among the wealthy modern individuals who seek to acquire the infection and ensure protection for themselves during the long chrysalis period.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "List of Seiun Award Winners" (in Japanese). Federation of the Science Fiction Fan Groups of Japan. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
- ^ "SFE: Encyclopedia of Science Fiction online". Archived from the original on 2017-11-01. Retrieved 2013-03-06.