The Winged Darkness

Name: The Winged Darkness
ISBN: 9787513315371

麻耶雄嵩 / 张舟New Star Press · ChinaAug 2018

4.2

Word count: 146K words
Chapters: 14
ISBN: 9787513315371

Report an error Find this book

Summary

A letter of request and a letter of intimidation arrive at the same time to the private detective Yuya Kigarashi. He and his assistant Kazuki arrive at the Imakagami residence and step into the murderous world of Crow Castle. One by one, members of the Imakagami family are found decapitated, and no one can fathom the killer's intent or scheme; in their predicament, they finally welcome another detective—Mataro Maya...

Editor's review

Wings of Darkness is the debut work of Japanese neo-orthodox mystery writer Yukimasa Maya and the first book in his series featuring the famous detective Yuya Kigarashi. Since its publication in 1991, the novel has provoked sustained and far-reaching discussion in the mystery-literary world with its shocking ending and subversive reasoning logic, and it has been hailed as an 'unconventional classic' of the neo-orthodox movement. This book is not a mystery novel in the traditional sense of pursuing 'fair-play puzzle-solving' or 'emotional consolation'; it is more like a carefully designed logical trap and philosophical meditation. The story revolves around a series of deaths in the wealthy Kura family, and the detective Yuya Kigarashi intervenes to investigate. Yukimasa Maya's writing is cold and precise; the early setup apparently follows the conventions of orthodox detective fiction, only to be thoroughly deconstructed and reversed in the final solution. This challenge to the established conventions of detective fiction has polarized its reception: readers who love it hail it as a masterpiece, while those unaccustomed to it may feel stunned or even uncomfortable. As an editor, I believe the core reading value of this book lies in experiencing the unique pleasure of being 'betrayed' by the author and then having to marvel at the logical coherence, and in thinking about the boundaries and possibilities of detective fiction. It is more like a metafiction about 'detection' itself, suited to veteran readers who are dissatisfied with formulaic solutions and crave intellectual stimulation and conceptual shock.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Veteran mystery fans, especially readers with a strong interest in the neo-orthodox school
Readers who enjoy challenging narrative tricks and seek unexpected endings and logical reversals
Literary enthusiasts who philosophically contemplate the conventions and boundaries of detective fiction
Readers who want to understand Yukimasa Maya's distinctive style and his place in mystery history

Not a good fit for

Readers new to detective fiction or who prefer warm, healing stories
Readers who seek pure justice and emotional satisfaction from a case's resolution

Reading tips

Temporarily set aside expectations of 'fair play' from traditional detective fiction and accept the author's narrative guidance with an open mind
While reading, pay attention to details in dialogue and foreshadowing, but the final solution may require stepping outside conventional thinking
After finishing the ending, look back over the whole book and consider the author's intent in the setup and his reflection on the genre

About the publisher

New Star Press China · Founded in 1989

New Star Press focuses on classic works, mystery and detective fiction, science fiction, history, foreign literature and art, and its 602 titles in the library show a balance between popular reading and humanistic depth. Representative books include The Complete Works of Shakespeare: Illustrated Collector's Edition, And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, The Player of Games, Local Government in Qing China, A Good Man Is Hard to Find and A Collection of Fine Ukiyo-e Prints, spanning classic literature, detective fiction, science fiction, local history and visual art. Its authors and contributors include William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie and Iain M. Banks, as well as translators such as Zhu Shenghao and Su Fuzhong and illustrators such as John Gilbert and George Cruikshank. Known for the detective series Midnight Library and for social-science and humanities titles, the press emphasizes edition design and reading experience; public information is limited, so this profile highlights the publishing features reflected in the library's books.

版权信息
第一部
第一章发端
第二章序幕
第三章死神与少女
第四章邂逅
第五章安魂曲
第六章勒克纳诺瓦书
第二部
第七章麦卡托登场
第八章イマカガミ
第九章悲惨的结局
第十章尾声
自作解说

FAQ

Is the ending really that shocking?

Yes. It is famous for its extremism and for completely overturning readers' expectations, and it is one of the most controversial endings in the history of detective fiction. Avoid spoilers beforehand.

Do I need to know Yukimasa Maya's or other neo-orthodox writers' works first?

Not necessarily, but readers with some grounding in orthodox detective fiction will better appreciate the book's subversion of tradition. The book itself is a typical entry point for understanding the author's style.

Is the story obscure or hard to understand?

The narrative itself is clear, but the core reasoning logic and its ultimate direction may challenge conventional understanding. It focuses more on the interest of logical structure than on creating a friendly reading experience.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

麻耶雄嵩 Author

Maya Yutaka is a Japanese mystery and detective fiction writer. Public information about him is limited, and details such as his birth year, education, and awards are not clearly documented. Judging from the six works held in the collection, his writing is rooted in orthodox detective fiction, creating tension between rigorous logic and an eerie atmosphere. Representative works such as Goodbye, God; A Sonata for Summer and Winter; The One-Eyed Girl; The Winged Darkness; Murders Dedicated to Makatto and Mimagi; and Firefly often revolve around closed spaces, serial puzzles, and narrative tricks, with plots that repeatedly overturn readers' expectations. His works have generated discussion among Chinese mystery readers and are usually categorized as suspense and detective fiction, suited to readers who enjoy challenging puzzles and unexpected endings.

张舟 Author

Zhang Zhou is an author about whom limited public information is available. The library currently holds two of the author's works, namely You Yi Zhi An (Wings of Darkness) and Yi Shu Mi An (The Suicide Note Mystery). Judging from the common categories, the author's writing touches on suspense and mystery fiction as well as foreign literature, and the works are often placed in reading sequences related to detective fiction. Both titles suggest riddles and enclosed spaces, indicating that the subject matter tends to revolve around cases, with attention to planting clues and building suspense. Since background details such as dates of birth and death, nationality, education, and writing career cannot be confirmed, no speculation is made here about the author's life; the introduction is limited to an objective account of the available titles. Readers who wish to understand the writing style may begin with these two works and observe how the cases are constructed and how the narrative unfolds.