Mu Shi Shi, Volume 1 Book

This is a review for whole series.

I start the review with one warning: this manga has sloowww pace storytelling.

That's it. Now some backgrounds.

The story of Mushishi happened in an alternate Earth with setting around late mid 19th century Japan. In this universe, there is life forms called mushi. Mushishi is a person who studies mushi. We follow the journey of Ginko, a mushihi, studying mushi and helping people that affected by mushi (some mushi treatments are like disinfected from micro organism).

The rest of the review will be my praise. This manga has strong ideas, round characterizations for most stories, and unpredictable plots. The sole protagonist, Ginko, is a mature scientist with cool head but kind hearts. He is not a doctor, but he treated people who are infected by mushi.

Mushi sometimes showed as some kind sprits or supernatural creatures, but mushishi approach to study mushi is pretty much scientific. I like the scientific approach, it makes the magic system of this series as pretty hard.

There is not a simple good vs. evil story. The stories are mostly around people's life that affected by mushi. By the premise alone, you can bet this manga has unique idea. Actually, I rarely find a simple bad/evil person in this series. So, basically the conflicts in this series are man vs. nature, and man vs. self.

Some stories are so bizarre, I cannot even imagine how the stories will end, or I don't have any idea what should be the happy-ending condition.

Recommended for readers who seek untraditional fantasy, and fiction that could entertain both our minds and hearts.