A Wild Sheep Chase (lit. An Adventure Surrounding Sheep) is the third novel by author Haruki Murakami, first published in Japan in 1982, and translated into English seven years later in 1989 by frequent Murakami translator Alfred Birnbaum. It is considered an independent sequel (that is to say, a spiritual sequel) to Pinball, 1973 and is the third (and final) book in the ‘Trilogy of the Rat’; it is preceeded by Pinball and Hear the Wind Sing. Interestingly, this trilogy was released in English out-of-order, as Pinball (the second book) was the first to be translated, followed by Hear the Wind Sing (the first) and this novel. Also, while the previous two were re-translated in 2015, this novel has yet to receive one.
Taking place in a post-WWII Japan, the detective noir-style story (which also includes a chain-smoking unnamed narrator) follows our recently divorced protagonist, who, after posting a photo in a magazine ad sent to him by his old friend ‘The Rat’ (who is a recurring element in the trilogy, obviously), is contacted by a mysterious man representing ‘The Boss’, which control Japan’s elite. Having been told that a sheep pictured in the ad is somehow the secret source behind the power of ‘The Boss’, and that his life will be over if the sheep is not found within two months, our protagonist and his unusually perceptive girlfriend must travel to the north of Japan to find the strange sheep, all while encountering new and old friends, victims – and chasing an immovable force.
Despite being rather short and being part of a trilogy (meaning you’d have to read the other two novels if you want to understand anything thats going on here), A Wild Sheep Chase is rather enjoyable. It blends together both Japanese and English literature tropes in front of a Japanese contextual background, so even if you don’t know or aren’t interested in Japanese history regarding the time period of the book, it still ‘feels’ like a typical American detective story. As a Murakami fan, reading this was a unique experience, as the early Murakami novels have a very different style compared to those of today – a lot more youthful, slangy, and allegorical. It’s like a time machine. That being said, if you don’t mind reading the previous two, A Wild Sheep Chase is a fun time.
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