'A brilliant display of pyrotechnics, a compelling tour de force ... by a master jeweller of polished prose' The New York Times A private detective is hired to find a missing person, but nothing is normal about this case. Why has the beautiful, alcoholic wife of the vanished salesman waited over half a year to search for him? Why are the only clues a photo and a matchbox? As the investigator's ever-more puzzling hunt takes him into the labyrinthine depths of the urban underworld, he begins to wonder if it is in fact he who ...
Read More
'A brilliant display of pyrotechnics, a compelling tour de force ... by a master jeweller of polished prose' The New York Times A private detective is hired to find a missing person, but nothing is normal about this case. Why has the beautiful, alcoholic wife of the vanished salesman waited over half a year to search for him? Why are the only clues a photo and a matchbox? As the investigator's ever-more puzzling hunt takes him into the labyrinthine depths of the urban underworld, he begins to wonder if it is in fact he who is lost. An intoxicating blend of noir thriller and surreal dream, The Ruined Map questions identity itself. 'An exciting, imaginative and entertaining novel' San Francisco Chronicle
Read Less
Add this copy of The Ruined Map to cart. $6.97, very good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1993 by Kodansha.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp.
Add this copy of Ruined Map to cart. $8.00, very good condition, Sold by Weller Book Works, A.B.A.A. rated 1.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Salt Lake City, UT, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by Vintage Books.
Add this copy of The Ruined Map: a Novel to cart. $8.96, very good condition, Sold by Solr Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Skokie, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by Vintage.
Add this copy of The Ruined Map: a Novel to cart. $8.96, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Diamond rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by Vintage.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of The Ruined Map to cart. $11.27, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2001 by Vintage.
Add this copy of The Ruined Map Format: Paperback to cart. $11.80, new condition, Sold by Websew Inc rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Avenel, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by Vintage.
Add this copy of The Ruined Map: a Novel to cart. $12.00, very good condition, Sold by Bluewater Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fort Gratiot, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by Vintage Books.
Add this copy of The Ruined Map: a Novel to cart. $13.36, good condition, Sold by ZBK Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Woodland Park, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by Vintage.
Add this copy of The Ruined Map: a Novel to cart. $14.95, new condition, Sold by GridFreed rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from North Las Vegas, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by Vintage.
Add this copy of The Ruined Map: a Novel to cart. $15.99, very good condition, Sold by Ebooksweb rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bensalem, PA, UNITED STATES, published 2001 by Vintage.
Kobo Abe is a master of crafting deliberate, suspenseful tales with decidedly surreal twists; The Ruined Map is a haunting, excellent read. Very complex, beautifully drawn characters in a grey world where everyone seems to have something to hide. The story of a detective tracking a man who disappeared without a trace. Although many people want him found, they are also deliberately obtuse and misleading. As the novel progresses, the protagonist begins to see the appeal and beauty of simply slipping off into the mist, until he begins to mentally and spiritually overlap with his quarry. Abe's books move at a glacial pace, slowly drawing you in until the characters problems become your own, and you begin to feel their hopes, anxieties, and frustrations. I have returned to this book many, many times over the years, and will return to it many more. Very, very highly recommended.
