Product Description

Masamune Shirow`s acclaimed cyberpunk epic about ESWAT operative Deunan and her robot lover Briareos continue their work to stabilize the uneasy worldwide peace they fought so hard to establish in this fourth collection. Beautiful art and a complex and fully realized future world make this among the best of the manga titles available in the United States.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1019186 in Books
• Published on: 1993-03-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 132 pages

Amazon.com Review
Even if Masamune Shirow is more widely known for creating Ghost in the Shell, it is for his magnum opus Appleseed that he became known as a master comics storyteller. And it's easy to see why. The fiction world that Appleseed takes place in--a near-future, post-WWIII utopia--is exquisitely crafted and detailed. Into this new utopia come Deunan Knute, a nomad street-smart soldier, and her cyborg partner, Briareos. This book moves at a leisurely pace as we are introduced to the characters and their new home on the island of Olympus. But once the stage is set and the pieces are in place, an action scene erupts that carries through the rest of the book. From here the central thematic conflict of the series is established: the human race's two options of (1) pursuing their every desire, thereby dragging their whole world into destruction, or (2) changing their very nature to preserve the present sterile utopia forever. This is essential reading for anyone interested in science fiction.

Customer Reviews

Master at work
These books have to be some of the best storylines on the market. Shirow delivers a indepth, vibrant and not-so-perfect view of the future. With all of the advances in genetics and technology, will humanity ever find true happiness? These books look at this and other issues that might face humanity in a eutopian society. This book is a must for those who either love Shirow's work, or are looking for a more intense, and thought provoking story.

Welcome to the golden cage...
World War Three is over. Nuclear weapons were not used, but just about everything else was. Old nations have died out and new powers have replaced them. A nomad soldier, Deunan Knute, and her cyborg partner, Briareos, have been taken from the ruins, out of the wastes, to utopia. A utopia called Olympus, the central city of the new Earth.
Yet, even utopia has power struggles. Will mankind be changed and became something better IF nonhuman or embrace total peace at the cost of his spirit? Or will it all be destroyed again by uncontrolled emotions such as hate and greed?
Or will mankind be able to find a way, a path that combines it all? Shirow is the best artist to help us ask the question and maybe the only one who can help us answer it.

A great collection
Masamune Shirow's works are THE standard by which all sci-fi/cyberpunk mangas are written, and Appleseed is no exception. This first book is filled with action, amazing technical designs, and great characters, all of which is rounded off by a nice dose of humour (which is sadly lacking from books three and four). A highly recommended purchase.