after the quake (神の子どもたちはみな踊る, Kami no kodomo-tachi wa mina odoru

Translated by Jay Rubin

First Japanese publication Shinchosha (2000)

US Edition:
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Vintage (May 13, 2003)
ISBN-10: 0375713271

UK Edition:
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Vintage (6 March, 2003)
ISBN-10: 0099448564

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A collection of stories all set around the Kobe earthquake.

contents:

UFO In Kushiro
Landscape With Flatiron
All God's Children Can Dance
Thailand
Super-Frog Saves Tokyo
Honey Pie

excerpt available from the Random House site (UFO IN KUSHIRO)

synopsis

The six stories in Haruki Murakami’s mesmerizing collection are set at the time of the catastrophic 1995 Kobe earthquake, when Japan became brutally aware of the fragility of its daily existence. But the upheavals that afflict Murakami’s characters are even deeper and more mysterious, emanating from a place where the human meets the inhuman.

An electronics salesman who has been abruptly deserted by his wife agrees to deliver an enigmatic package—and is rewarded with a glimpse of his true nature. A man who has been raised to view himself as the son of God pursues a stranger who may or may not be his human father. A mild-mannered collection agent receives a visit from a giant talking frog who enlists his help in saving Tokyo from destruction. As haunting as dreams, as potent as oracles, the stories in After the Quake are further proof that Murakami is one of the most visionary writers at work today.

reviews / articles

Read an excerpt from UFO IN KUSHIRO

Hackwriters review by  Sam North

Village Voice review (September 25 - October 1, 2002)  by Roland Kelts

A couple of reviews from the New York Times can be found here and here. Thanks to Bev Vincent.

'After' the catastrophe, Murakami's post-earthquake stories reverberate with Sept. 11 - SF Gate (4th Aug 2002) by Alan Vheuse

Rain Taxi - Review by Emily Johnston

A Short Guide to Murakami's Short Fiction by Matthew Tiffany

That Shakespeherian Rag review by Steven W Beattie

On shifting ground - Stories measure lives in aftermath of tragedy - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel By JOHN FREEMAN

The earth moved - Alex Clark discovers cause for optimism in Haruki Murakami's dazzlingly elegant stories, The Guardian review

Murakami tells what makes a nation quake Rocky Mountain News Review - By Brian Evenson

Interesting review by Felicity

Books & Culture Corner: After the Quake Bedside reading for the anniversary of 9/11. By John Wilson, Christianity Review 

Solon review By Laura Miller

Complete-review.com review

Book Reporter review by Becky Ohlsen

'After' the catastrophe - Murakami's post-earthquake stories reverberate with Sept. 11 - Review by Alan Cheuse - San Francisco Chronicle  - Aug 2002

Nobody reads 'em by Julie Myerson - The Daily Telegraph - Nov 2002

Mostly Fiction.com review by Bill Robinson

The La Jolla Playhouse perform a production of after the quake, with the Berkeley Repertory Theatre and a Steppenwolf Theatre production

librarything.com page on the novel

The wikipedia page on the novel

The Concretebadger.net review