Dragon. Golem. Behemoth. Godzilla. What is it about the idea of a giant creature smashing its way through civilization that people love so much? Perhaps we use them as a metaphor to represent our more unstoppable fears, like nuclear war. Or, maybe, it’s just fun to watch a big old beast smash stuff up.
Attack of the Kaiju: Age of Monsters is an anthology with a pretty clear theme. Featuring fifteen short stories from the contemporary masters of kaiju fiction, this collection runs the gamut, containing tales about everything from sentient Nazi killing machines to orphaned dragons throwing civilization’s peaceful co-existence out of alignment.
As with any collection, some don’t quite hold their own. It isn’t clear if these weaker inclusions are inherently flawed, or if they simply don’t measure up to the better stories, and feel lacking by comparison.
Despite this, I can guarantee there’s something for everyone in this book. What happens when a light-and-love focused fairy has to do the unthinkable to save her people? How do you defend against an interdimensional beast who’s blood turns other creatures into chattering inside-out zombies? How did Sherlock Holmes wind up in a kaiju collection? Read on to find out!
This area is still a bit niche in the literary world, but between older examples like the Godzilla and King Kong franchises, and newer ones like the Pacific Rim films, kaiju are gaining a lot of popularity in mainstream media. Check out this collection soon, because as the genre gains momentum, you’re probably going to see a few of these names making a huge impact.
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