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Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex #3
Ghost In The Shell - Stand Alone Complex Volume 3: White Maze
The year is 2030. Advances in robotics and cyberbrain technology have transformed the world into a miraculous place where almost anything is possible - even the melding of humans and machines. In this not-too-distant future, the crimes of flesh and metal are investigated by Section 9, an elite counterterrorist squad headed by Chief Aramaki and his cyborg sidekick, Major Motoko Kusanagi. When dead bodies, drained of blood and with two bite marks on their necks, start turning up on the streets of Tokyo, it isn't long before the entire city is in a panic. As Major Kusanagi and the other members of Section 9 investigate the killings they begin to wonder - is the killer a real vampire or something much worse? In a dark world of murder, where cyberbrain hacks and treacherous conspiracies reach to the furthest heights of government, Section 9 is all that stands between the people and anarchy.
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2006
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 22, 2022
Ghost in the shell: The White Maze Vol.3, By Junichi Fujisaku is media tie-in novel based on the anime series “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.� The story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi and the various members of Public Security Section 9 as they try to investigate a cyber virus that infects people's cyber brains and seemingly turns them into vampires of some discription. The plot might sound kind of dumb, but it actually ends up being pretty deep and interesting and takes a lot of unexpected turns. The story kept my interest from start to finish with both action, suspense, and just all around good writing. The writing here is done so well that it feels like this could have actually have been a movie or an episode of the anime series, defiantly worthy of the ghost in the shell name. My only gripe with the book was it’s very short length it left wanting more. All in all, if your a fan of either the ghost in the shell franchise or the sci-fi cyberpunk genre, then this is defiantly a must read.
July 28, 2008
Based on the TV show; I always wondered what happened to Tokyo after seeing its sunken remains on the show-- this book takes us into future Japan's refugee zones, and it doesn't pull any punches in depicting Japan's racism [present day presented here as the past] toward other Asians. The book starts out simple enough - a case that involves vampire-like murders, where the victims are bitten, and through their skin are injected with tiny viral nanites [not the word I'm sure]that wipe their memories clean, and turn any form of comforting thoughts into hatred that must be acted on with violence. As always, the victims lives lead to the real culprit-- which takes Kusanagi into the heart of dystopic Tokyo. Great fighting scenes in this book, strong plot, and a tragic ending.
I definitely recommend books 1 and 2 of this series.
I definitely recommend books 1 and 2 of this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2024
An interesting light novel shedding light in the S.A.C. universe. Knowing the background of the series is helpful, but not necessary. Pacing was decent, dialogue clunky in a typical fashion for translated Japanese works into English. Intriguing plot with little to no political commentary on the implications of the actions and motivations of the antagonists, which is typical for this IP. Something to read if you want a scifi mystery. However, it is clearly written by someone not familiar with firearms. "submachine with bolt action". Lol lololololololololololololololololol
June 23, 2023
A good read for people who enjoyed the anime and want more. The ending was really good!
December 29, 2012
As a self admitted fan of the entire GitS series, I came into reading this book from a biased standpoint. Any semblance of story and interaction between the characters that I have grown to love (and written by one of the shows original writers, no less) would be good and relished, giving great leeway to any level of composition the novel is at.
And that is, in a sense, what it came to. The book is fit perfectly in the GitS universe both in atmosphere, plot, and character. It could very easily have been adapted into an independent episode (or two) during either season and been acclaimed. However, the prose itself is lacking. In truth, I do not know whether this is the writer or the translator's fault (or, what is likely, some combination thereof).
There are a few passages that shine, give good credence to what was painted in the mind of the author. But the story is also littered with very terse, poorly phrased lines that break up the normally even flow of the book in an attempt to overemphasize the imagery. The dialogue is decent overall, though occasionally falls into anime/manga tropes which I tend to roll my eyes at, though that is merely my own personal reaction.
As for the good, that plot is the kind that I pine for in cyberpunk; intriguing, smart, compact, and reliant on the philosophy of advanced technology and its applications. While reading the summary, the notion that 'vampires' were on the loose gave me pause for doubt (and even through the first 40 or so pages), but those were quelled as the actual meat of the plot was served.
Overall, if you like GitS, the book is a lost episode in a series that should have had a longer reign. If you are not a GitS fan (you should be), the book won't have the same impact but will still entertain any well read cyberpunk reader.
And that is, in a sense, what it came to. The book is fit perfectly in the GitS universe both in atmosphere, plot, and character. It could very easily have been adapted into an independent episode (or two) during either season and been acclaimed. However, the prose itself is lacking. In truth, I do not know whether this is the writer or the translator's fault (or, what is likely, some combination thereof).
There are a few passages that shine, give good credence to what was painted in the mind of the author. But the story is also littered with very terse, poorly phrased lines that break up the normally even flow of the book in an attempt to overemphasize the imagery. The dialogue is decent overall, though occasionally falls into anime/manga tropes which I tend to roll my eyes at, though that is merely my own personal reaction.
As for the good, that plot is the kind that I pine for in cyberpunk; intriguing, smart, compact, and reliant on the philosophy of advanced technology and its applications. While reading the summary, the notion that 'vampires' were on the loose gave me pause for doubt (and even through the first 40 or so pages), but those were quelled as the actual meat of the plot was served.
Overall, if you like GitS, the book is a lost episode in a series that should have had a longer reign. If you are not a GitS fan (you should be), the book won't have the same impact but will still entertain any well read cyberpunk reader.
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May 25, 2015
I enjoyed this book the most out of the three volumes by Junichi Fujisaku. I had the most compact story and really features the Major more than any other character. The writing (or translation) is much more fluid in this final volume and descriptions depict more imagery than in the first two novels. The "program" that the Major enters is very memorable, even after a couple weeks of finishing the book.
Unfortunately, it was a bit hard to find at a decent price and I settled for a book that had seen better days - I wish light books were more easily available!
Unfortunately, it was a bit hard to find at a decent price and I settled for a book that had seen better days - I wish light books were more easily available!
December 27, 2007
This book is very centered around Motoko, which allows for a little more introspection, though you won't see much action from the other characters. As you'd expect fro GitS, the plot is twisty and full of mixed motives and half-criminals, as well as some awesome action scenes and blazing new ideas.
May 17, 2011
The third installment of the Ghost in the Shell:Stand Alone Complex was a good read. Focusing on the Major basically going out on an undercover mission to uncover the creator of a vampire-like nano-machine virus. The tech-speak wasn't too bad this time around, but I may have gotten used to it by now.
Definitely worth a read if you enjoy the the anime series and movies.
Definitely worth a read if you enjoy the the anime series and movies.
June 28, 2009
my favorite out of the three I fell like a really am watching the series
April 15, 2010
Of the three GitS novels by Fujisaku, I probably enjoyed this one the most.
The events are a little over-the-top but still a fun read.
The events are a little over-the-top but still a fun read.
August 16, 2015
Non ci posso credere. Vampiri anche nel mondo di Ghost in the shell (o almeno presunti tali). E' un segno, la fine del mondo si avvicina. Si salvi chi può.
October 12, 2017
Oh I just love Ghost in the Shell.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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