Koko was born in Japan, and grew up in Japan + additionally in South Africa, Australia, and the US in various phases of life. She wishes that reading a book you like in peace is a freedom that every single person on this earth can enjoy, and likes doing small stuff that might take our world closer there. Their special ability is tsundoku, whose new level just got unlocked by starting to work at Firestorm in 2024🤩
Koko
Eriko's Staff Picks
An anthology of unique, fantasy-taste short manga stories by the author of "Delicious in Dungeon"! You get to enjoy a variety of Kui's imaginative worlds in this one. Of the seven short stories, only one of them have a D&D flavor (= dragons and medieval-Europe-looking people). My favorites may be the heartwarming explorations of how to coexist with mermaids or werewolves in modern-day Japan. It was also fun to see the different art styles including caligraphic drawings. Common to all the stories are (despite the uniqueness of the worlds) adorable ordinary people doing their best to do something difficult (to them). The combo of these often comedic and lovable people in imaginative stories made me smile a lot and awe at the author's creativity. I think this is a really enjoyable anthology to everyone💚
*The original Japanese title was Seven "Children" not "Sons" how dare you :/
If you read all seven volumes (it requires a bit of patience...), the ending is so different from the movie! (Warning that the war violence is more explicit and graphic in the books. The depiction of the unique world is more detailed and beautiful too.) An 80s exploration of survival as humans, nature, and technology in an apocalyptic world. Nausicaä may be almost too idealized, but love her flying with the wind, searching the secret of the world with animals like a squirrel-fox, bird-horses, and sacred insects.
I loooved this intriguing '90s LA story starting on the summer solstice, starring 7 characters that all evade stereotypes of a "minority," crescendoing with mysteries, conflicts, and fantastical events over 7 days. Philosophical, social, and poetic elements sprinkled throughout the book made my mind work and wander. This was such an awesome reading experience.
Does bureaucracy have anything to do with Batman, police, flying cars, Sci-fi, or D&D? Or with human imagination, alienation, and creativity? Graeber amazingly connects all of the above in relation to state power and capitalism. Following this thinking tunnel was so fascinating, and it alarmingly reminded me how easily these oppressive systems can creep in our daily lives and in our mind. This book was such a fun mind sharpener, and a supreme enjoyment if you like thinking!
*Bonus if you read "Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology," where Graeber argues that certain theories on anarchism should be written by anthropologists. Some of those arguments are included in "Utopia of Rules," and it's cool to see how Graeber kept their words to accomplish those works years later!