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| Author | Peter Tieryas |
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| Cover artist | John Liberto |
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TheMecha Samurai Empireseries is atrilogy ofalternate-historyscience fiction novels written by American authorPeter Tieryas.[1] The series centers around an alternateAmerica, known as the United States of Japan, afterthe Nazis and Japanese Empire have emerged victorious inWorld War II.[2] The stories focus primarily on Asian communities since the war, depicting the struggles of survivors in a newtotalitarianfascist regime. The novels explore themes such asgovernment propaganda and theblurring of fact and fiction.[3] Each book in the series is a standalone novel in the sameshared universe, featuring different protagonists, antagonists, and conflicts. The series has been the recipient of several awards, twice receiving theSeiun Award for Best Foreign Novel.[4] The first title in the series was published byAngry Robot in 2016; the latter two were published byAce Books, with the last title being released in 2020.[5][6] In Japan, all three books are published byHayakawa Publishing under the New Hayakawa Science Fiction Series imprint.
The series began as "a story revolving around the tragic events on the Asian side of WWII." Tieryas, who spent several years in Asia, experienced a different perspective on the war versus what he studied in schools in America.[7] The book is strongly inspired by books likeThe Man in the High Castle,Nineteen Eighty-Four,Moby-Dick, as well as the works ofHideo Kojima likeMetal Gear Solid II.[8] In particular, the contrast between the way histories often "censor" the horrific elements, presenting a glorified account of them, alarmed him. He originally intended it to be one book,United States of Japan, which focused on the conflict with the terrorist organization, the George Washingtons. But he felt there were areas of the universe he wanted to explore more thoroughly. The success of the first book opened the door for the duology ofMecha Samurai Empire andCyber Shogun Revolution, which revolved around the battle with the Nazis. His agent, Misa Morikawa, came up with the title for the series. Tieryas credits his Ace Roc editor, Anne Sowards, for helping come up with the title forCyber Shogun Revolution (titles includedSons of Wars andThe Revolution of the Bloody Mechas).[9]
TheMecha Samurai Empire series comprises three novels and several short stories. While the books can be read in any order, the author has described his intended sequence to beMecha Samurai Empire,Cyber Shogun Revolution, and lastlyUnited States of Japan.[9]
Most of the covers and mecha designs are done by illustrator John Liberto. Hokkaido graphic designer Gen Igarashi often creates new art and was featured in the special edition of the Japanese version ofMecha Samurai Empire.[10] Director Guillermo del Toro, upon seeing the art from the series, reacted with a "Wow!"[11]
An art gallery featuring art from the entire series was showcased in Akihabara, Japan.
Popular Mechanics includedUnited States of Japan as one of 16 Sci-Fi Things to Look Forward to in 2016, stating: "It's more the cyberpunk dystopia William Gibson promised us than the actual 1980s we know, with giant mechs enforcing the law and police trying to squash an underground gaming success that lets players imagine what might've happened if the allied powers won World War II. It sounds like a perfect patchwork of multiple sci-fi and anime subgenres rolled into one novel."[12]Publishers Weekly namedUSJ as one of the top 10 anticipated Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror books.[13]Kirkus Reviews listed it as one of "TheSpeculative Fiction Books You Can't Miss in March."[14]The Verge named the novel as one of the Best Books Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels of 2016.[15]
Financial Times stated, "The novel deftly portrays the horrors of oppression but also, with its giant military robots, sumo wrestlers and body-transforming technology, is a gleeful love letter toJapanese pop culture."[16]Barnes & Noble Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog said, "United States of Japan mixes alt-history with pulp-history, the plausible with the fantastical, in a vision of the 1980s with the glossy sheen and rain-slick neon of vintage cyberpunk."[17] Anthony Jones of SF Book Reviews stated: "United States of Japan is a tremendous book; it's got a wonderfully dark and rich atmosphere, great action, intelligent and twisted story and above all, not only does it pay homage to one of the finest authors of the 20th century but also continues one of his most celebrated and yet most difficult works — simply wonderful."[18]io9 reviewerAndrew Liptak wrote, "Tieryas has created a unique alternate world and populated it with fantastic characters and fixtures."[19] In a mixed review, N. Ho Sang ofSF Signal writes: "United States of Japan is a smart, gut-wrenching alternative reality that blurs lines between hope with a focus on emotional truths of human nature", but "there are small moments where transitions in environment, scenes and character developments may present themselves as sudden shifts, and feel slightly jarring."[20]
United States of Japan has been translated and published in Japan, Spain,[21] Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, and Mexico. It became aNikkei Best Seller[22] and the Japanese edition went to its 7th printing in the first month,[23] receiving acclaim fromAsahi Shimbun,[24]Yomiuri Shimbun,[25] andGizmodo Japan.[26]S-F Magazine's Yearly Poll of Japan's Top Science Fiction selectedUnited States of Japan as #2 of the best Best International Science Fiction.[27] It won the 2017Seiun Award[28] and won 2nd Place for theJapan Booksellers' Award.[29]
ForMecha Samurai Empire,Amazon Book Reviews listed it as one of the top Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of September 2018, stating, "Readers of alternate history will enjoy the details of the Japanese culture enfolded into the US and the ongoing tensions with the Nazis, while the plot itself packs a punch."[30]Financial Times includedMecha Samurai Empire as one of the best science fiction books of 2018, describing it as "action-packed and rousing."[31]Syfy Wire said the book was "an adrenalized fusion ofPhilip K. Dick'sThe Man in the High Castle andGuillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim as rampaging robots prowl a very different America."[3]
Hideo Kojima praised the book, stating it intermixes "the experience of cinema, literature, anime, comics, and gaming" and "is the new generation of Science Fiction we've been waiting for!"[32]
It won the 2019Seiun Award and was the first consecutive book in a series to win in over twenty years.[33]