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81st out of 348 books
—
1,239 voters
Spiral (Ring #2)
Dr. Ando who has yet to recover from his son's death at sea, conducts an autopsy on an old friend who has died under unusual circumstances. The corpse, that of cynical philosophy professor Ryuji Takayama, has something to tell him. And Ryuji isn't the only one who chooses to make a reappearance in this story.
You don't know what the RING is yet. The terms of the curse of th...more
You don't know what the RING is yet. The terms of the curse of th...more
Paperback, 283 pages
Published
August 1st 2005
by Vertical
(first published 1995)
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Huh. Well, that was...interesting. Overall, I can say I enjoyed it. But two things chipped away at the star rating: 1) not enough creee-py (though a few scenes work incredibly well) and 2) waaaaay too much solving of codes and clues and shop-talk about genetics and DNA (oh, and these biological aspects are much more strap on your suspension of disbelief fantastical than this guy's done his research science fiction with the emphasis on science).
There's some crazy ass theories going on in these p...more
Spiral is Koji Suzuki's second installment in the Ring series, picking up pretty much immediately where the first book leaves off--and shifting over to a new protagonist, Mitsuo Ando, who is a former classmate of one of the characters who dies in the first book. Ando winds up being the doctor called upon to do the autopsy on his classmate, and is thus drawn into the events that roared through the plot of the first book.
This one didn't quite work for me as well, though. It suffered from a bit of...more
This one didn't quite work for me as well, though. It suffered from a bit of...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Spiral is the second book after "Ring" by Koji Suzuki.
If your brain suddenly form an image of a long-haired woman climbing out from a well and crawling out from the television - trying to get at you - then you got that right. The film, as I have written in my previous review here, is made from Koji Suzuki's book.
And believe me, the book is hundred times scarier than the film!
The first book ends with the story on how Azakawa, the reporter, realises that the solution to the curse might not be tak...more
If your brain suddenly form an image of a long-haired woman climbing out from a well and crawling out from the television - trying to get at you - then you got that right. The film, as I have written in my previous review here, is made from Koji Suzuki's book.
And believe me, the book is hundred times scarier than the film!
The first book ends with the story on how Azakawa, the reporter, realises that the solution to the curse might not be tak...more
This book gets a three star rating by the grace of the fact that I actually enjoyed reading it. The plot was well-paced and I found the main character - pathologist Dr. Ando - sympathetic. If it hadn't been for the fact that the last third of the book was completely preposterous this would have been a solid four star novel.
This is a free-standing sequel to "the Ring". Dr. Ando has lost his young son to the sea and his wife has left him. He performs an autopsy on his old school friend Ryuji who h...more
This is a free-standing sequel to "the Ring". Dr. Ando has lost his young son to the sea and his wife has left him. He performs an autopsy on his old school friend Ryuji who h...more
Ah, so here's Koji Suzuki's official sequel to Ring. Not the crappy Hollywood sequel, nor the crappy Japanese film sequel, but the official continuation from the author of the original novel. All right! This is going to be awe--wait, it's a medical thriller?
The curse is a result of the smallpox virus hijacking Sadako's DNA and using her psychic powers to imprint images on a videotape which in turn causes the viewer's DNA to mutate and produce more of the --
There are a number of scenes in this b...more
The curse is a result of the smallpox virus hijacking Sadako's DNA and using her psychic powers to imprint images on a videotape which in turn causes the viewer's DNA to mutate and produce more of the --
There are a number of scenes in this b...more
Spiral is a superb follow-on to "The Ring". I call it a follow-on as opposed to a sequel as it could easily be read on its own, but, I'd advise you not to, simply because it would be foolish to miss a book as good as The Ring.
Suzuki chooses to keep the characters from The Ring in the background, our new hero has to figure everything out from scratch - and a load more besides.
Combining hard techno-science, a dose of modern philosophy and some truely creepy horror, Spiral takes the gimmick concept...more
Suzuki chooses to keep the characters from The Ring in the background, our new hero has to figure everything out from scratch - and a load more besides.
Combining hard techno-science, a dose of modern philosophy and some truely creepy horror, Spiral takes the gimmick concept...more
So this was... a little weird.
Sometimes I would read sentences/passages that I just couldn't believe I was meant to take seriously.
What if that DNA had inherited Ryuji's will, and was trying to express something in words?
I'm pretty sure that DNA doesn't even begin to work that way... Ah, who am I kidding. This is j-horror, of course DNA would work that way in this wacky world.
Could Ryuji be trying to tell me where she is with this code?
He considered the possibility for a moment, but then discard...more
Sometimes I would read sentences/passages that I just couldn't believe I was meant to take seriously.
What if that DNA had inherited Ryuji's will, and was trying to express something in words?
I'm pretty sure that DNA doesn't even begin to work that way... Ah, who am I kidding. This is j-horror, of course DNA would work that way in this wacky world.
Could Ryuji be trying to tell me where she is with this code?
He considered the possibility for a moment, but then discard...more
Dec 30, 2012
Alexandra
added it
Cartea este continuarea primei parti Ring - Cercul. Aici cel care descrie evenimentele este medicul legist Mitsuo Ando. Dupa moartea fiului sau, medicul legist devine obsedat de munca sa, vazand-o ca pe singura activitate care il poate linisti emotional. Viata lui v-a fi zdruncinata a doua oara, cand Ryuji Takayama, un fost coleg de facultate, reapare brusc pe masa de disectie. Odata cu el, un mesaj format din doua numere: 178 si 136. De aici, evenimentele se suprapun un pic peste cele din Cercu...more
It's a good thing this book was written in such a fluid, easyily-read style, because I don't know that I'd have stayed with it otherwise. As it was, several portions got bogged down in a textbook-type science language that I tended to skip over (and the narrative lost nothing for it).
This story incorporates more horror elements than did the first book (Ring), and so is closer in nature to a horror novel for it. However, the heavy use of science (both real and imagined) places the story technical...more
This story incorporates more horror elements than did the first book (Ring), and so is closer in nature to a horror novel for it. However, the heavy use of science (both real and imagined) places the story technical...more
Il medico patologo Mitsuo Ando si ritrova ad eseguire l'autopsia del suo ex compagno di corso, Ryuji, e trova sul suo corpo un pezzo di carta recante una serie di numeri che, decrittato, rivela un'unica parola: ring. In seguito agli esami scopre inoltre che il suo amico è morto in seguito ad un virus simile al vaiolo...
La maledizione di Ring non è stata placata, e mentre Mitsuo ripercorre la strada di Ryuji e Asakawa deve anche scoprire un modo per salvare l'umanità. Il romanzo mantiene parte de...more
La maledizione di Ring non è stata placata, e mentre Mitsuo ripercorre la strada di Ryuji e Asakawa deve anche scoprire un modo per salvare l'umanità. Il romanzo mantiene parte de...more
Although I haven't read Book 1 (The Ring) of Suzuki's Ring series, I had seen all the different movies and TV series that were made based on it. I read the Japanese version of this sequel at a friend's recommendation, but found it to be overly complicated and at times boring - Suzuki tried too much to tie the supernatural to science, in ways too complex for the reader to truly grasp, much less believe.
After losing his son, and seeing his marriage fall apart, Ando has steeled himself to a mundane existence. Seeing his classmate on an autopsy table was the last thing he expected to see. Reports of mysterious deaths are cropping up, and Ando is convinced of them being connected. Following signs and clues set by Ryuji from beyond the grave, Ando is determined to see the extinction of a virus set by a certain videotape. The events, however, prove more horrifying than Ando could ever imagine.
This...more
This...more
Pojďte pane, budeme se bát!
O kultovním filmovém hororu Kruh jste už slyšeli asi všichni. Ne každý ví, že byl inspirován knižní trilogií - která je, jak už to bývá, mnohem zajímavější. :)
Mimochodem, druhý díl u mě vede nad prvním, protože je o dost děsivější. I když ne zdaleka tak strašidelný, jak dokáže být film.
V prvním díle se objevila vražedná kazeta. Hrdinové první části (Kruh) přišli na to, jak zlomit její kletbu a zastavit řetězec podivných úmrtí (view spoiler)...more
O kultovním filmovém hororu Kruh jste už slyšeli asi všichni. Ne každý ví, že byl inspirován knižní trilogií - která je, jak už to bývá, mnohem zajímavější. :)
Mimochodem, druhý díl u mě vede nad prvním, protože je o dost děsivější. I když ne zdaleka tak strašidelný, jak dokáže být film.
V prvním díle se objevila vražedná kazeta. Hrdinové první části (Kruh) přišli na to, jak zlomit její kletbu a zastavit řetězec podivných úmrtí (view spoiler)...more
This book is slow to start. This is because it5's one of those book where it's in a series but if you start reading from this one (Spiral being the second book to The Ring) you can still understand the story fully. And it is book like these that irritate me the most because it makes all the other books that came before it useless. Writers usually do this when the protagonist of the first book gets killed or enters a state which is similar, A coma for example. Which is what happened here.
The Ring...more
The Ring...more
sekalinya buka buku ini susah buat berhenti baca, bikin penasaran, bikin penasaran, bikin pingin lanjut terus. Di sini ceritanya di-twist ke arah sci-fi. Antagonis ngga sekedar sesosok makhluk bernama Sadako Yamamura, tapi virus Sadako Yamamura. Di buku pertama cerita fokus ke video aneh ciptaan Sadako, kata 'ring' sendiri belum punya kaitan yang jelas sama cerita. Di spiral, baru dijelaskan maksud sebenarnya dari kata 'ring' yang kemudian bertransformasi jadi 'spiral'. Ngga usah terlalu khawati...more
I read Ring and Spiral in rapid succession and while I loved Ring, I'm conflicted about Spiral. It was definitely spookier and I enjoyed the way the story turned out, especially the ending which was something I never would have predicted. However, some of the attempts to explain how the virus formed verged into wankery and I hated the info-dumps and the inclusion of the DNA sequencing and whatnot. What, am I reading a Jodi Picoult novel?
That said, some of these problems may be due to translation...more
That said, some of these problems may be due to translation...more
Following on from 'Ring' (and also readable as a stand alone book), 'Spiral' starts with Ando performing an autopsy on Ryuji following his early demise in 'Ring', suddenly Ando is dragged into the world of the ring and Sadako Yamamura who is responsible for numerous deaths.
I enjoyed 'Ring' but I enjoyed 'Spiral' a lot more for numerous reasons, there was a more sinister feel to it for one thing, the story was excellent, I did not expect the ending, some parts of the book were obivious but still...more
I enjoyed 'Ring' but I enjoyed 'Spiral' a lot more for numerous reasons, there was a more sinister feel to it for one thing, the story was excellent, I did not expect the ending, some parts of the book were obivious but still...more
Suy nghĩ lại. Cho một sao vì cái kết không thỏa đáng. Tập 2 thiên nhiều về khoa học, ADN này nọ nhưng mạch truyện dài dòng, lê thê chứ không còn cái cảm giác gấp gáp như ở tập đầu tiên nữa. Mọi thứ cũng dễ đoán và không gây bất ngờ. Còn cái kết thì khiến tôi phì cười tới mấy lần, vì nó quá siêu nhiên và ... thực sự là mắc cười.
Đoạn giữa có nguyên một phần tóm tắt những gì đã xảy ra ở tập đầu nên ai chưa đọc Ring nếu bắt đầu từ tập này cũng chẳng sao.
Đoạn giữa có nguyên một phần tóm tắt những gì đã xảy ra ở tập đầu nên ai chưa đọc Ring nếu bắt đầu từ tập này cũng chẳng sao.
Aug 02, 2011
Katey
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
People who have read Ring
Recommended to Katey by:
Erinashley
Shelves:
asian
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Classic horror with a Japanese twist. This is the REAL sequel, not the lame Hollywood film sequel. Sadako is back, the tape is dead but she's found another way to spread her curse. Not quite as chilling as the original 'Ring' novel, Suzuki still manages to give a few frights along the way. This one is very science-oriented, with hero Ando trying to track DNA strands and virus replications & mutations in order to stop Sadako in her tracks. A shock appearance at the end of the novel brings a m...more
Picked it up on a whim because it was shelved next to Murakami at the university library. Didn't realize it was part of the ring series until I came here to add it (sort of wish I'd been unspoiled, but whatever, the deadly videotape already had me thinking 'this is a lot like the ring'). I'm really liking it so far.
After reading: Eh... started off a lot better than it finished. Way, way too much explanation of the pseudo-science stuff later in the book. Just pages and pages of exposition, which...more
After reading: Eh... started off a lot better than it finished. Way, way too much explanation of the pseudo-science stuff later in the book. Just pages and pages of exposition, which...more
In a review I previously read, it was said that 'Spiral' was way more sinister than 'Ring' itself. Well, it's true.
When you finish the second book, you then see that the first, shocking as it is, was just a tiny pieace of puzzle, needed for the sequel to be born. Reproduction, but a mutated one, just like it is described. 'Spiral' is more thrilling, simply because it leads you to the roots-you can see the bigger picture now, and, as you read through it, you realize you're facing another view of...more
When you finish the second book, you then see that the first, shocking as it is, was just a tiny pieace of puzzle, needed for the sequel to be born. Reproduction, but a mutated one, just like it is described. 'Spiral' is more thrilling, simply because it leads you to the roots-you can see the bigger picture now, and, as you read through it, you realize you're facing another view of...more
It started out very promisingly; the first half is a suspenseful thriller with very effective storytelling that gives you the subtle creeps - Glynne Walley has done a great job in translating the essence of Suzuki's tale. Halfway through the book however, things began to go downhill. Some parts seemed ridiculous and rather forced - perhaps a literary device gone wrong - almost as if Suzuki got caught in his own web of storytelling and struggled to make sense of everything by throwing in whatever...more
I have to say that I do like Ring better. Spiral is a good book also, but it was a bit hard to follow in some parts. So much goes on at one time and it can be hard to keep it all straight. That being said, I still liked the plot and really enjoy the author's writing style. I didn't like that everything in Ring was dismissed in this book; I thought it would be a continuation, but it seems the whole story changed. It was interesting, and suspensful, and I have never read a book like this one. Very...more
Druhý diel trilógie kruh od japonského autora Kodži Suzuki pomaly mení žáner a stáva sa skôr sci-fi ako hororom.
Nájdu sa tú síce chvílky, pri ktorých sa budete báť, ale viac budete zahrnutí obrovským množstvom informácii o vírusoch a DNA.
Prvý a druhý diel som v písanej podobe nezohnala, a tak som si musela vystačiť s audioknihou. Kým pri prvej knihe mi to vyhovovalo, dokonca som si to užívala, lebo rozprávač mal nádherný hlas, a ja som mohla zavrieť oči a snívať o kadečom, pri druhom to bol...more
Nájdu sa tú síce chvílky, pri ktorých sa budete báť, ale viac budete zahrnutí obrovským množstvom informácii o vírusoch a DNA.
Prvý a druhý diel som v písanej podobe nezohnala, a tak som si musela vystačiť s audioknihou. Kým pri prvej knihe mi to vyhovovalo, dokonca som si to užívala, lebo rozprávač mal nádherný hlas, a ja som mohla zavrieť oči a snívať o kadečom, pri druhom to bol...more
i just finished reading this book a second time. and while i still enjoyed it immensely, i must admit i have some issues with the characters' tendency to jump to the correct conclusion ALL THE TIME. i understand it was for the sake of moving the plot along, but as men of science, ando and miyashita, at least one of them would rein in the paranormal thoughts for one moment and play the skeptic. i found myself constantly coming up with different reasonings and ideas based on the scrap evidence pre...more
Amazing book for sure! Even though there were things that in my humble opinion are impossible even for a supernatural world, I enjoyed this experience to the fullest. I don't plan on writing much. It's just that...
HOW COME a virus can transmit through videotapes and books?! No matter if there is the slightest possibility a virus's DNA combines with that of a human being, this self-made virus is beyond reason. So, you watch the tape (or read the book) and something in your mind changes, the DNA i...more
HOW COME a virus can transmit through videotapes and books?! No matter if there is the slightest possibility a virus's DNA combines with that of a human being, this self-made virus is beyond reason. So, you watch the tape (or read the book) and something in your mind changes, the DNA i...more
Spiral is a worthy sequel to Ring, although I do feel that it was unnecessary to make Spiral both a sequel and a stand-alone novel. About halfway through Spiral, we're told through the report Asakawa was writing throughout Ring the entire plot of the first book. I understand that Suzuki probably wanted readers who may not be attracted to a series (it even says on the back of my book that it can be read as a sequel or on its own, so clearly it was advertised that way when it was released), but as...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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In addition to being considered "the Japanese Stephen King", Suzuki is also a respected writer on the subject of fatherhood in his native Japan. Several of his works have been adapted into movies, including "Ring" and the short story "Dark Water" from the collection of the same name, as well as a Manga series based on "Ring".
More about Koji Suzuki...
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“Right. Mutation is the trigger that moves evolution forward. So, how do mutations happen?”
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“DNA was the chemical material on which hereditary information was recorded, while a gene was one unit of that nearly infinite amount of hereditary information.”
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