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100 Years of Vicissitude

Andrez Bergen (Goodreads Author)

3.80 · Rating details · 139 ratings · 35 reviews

"First up, a disclaimer. I suspect I am a dead man. I have meagre proof, no framed- up certification, nothing to toss in a court of law as evidence of a rapid departure from the mortal coil. I recall a gun was involved, pressed up against my skull, and a loud explosion followed." Thus begins our narrator in a purgatorial tour through twentieth-century Japanese history, wit ...more

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Paperback, 255 pages

Published October 16th 2012 by Perfect Edge Books

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History through Novels: 1900s/2000s Japan

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· 139 ratings · 35 reviews

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Oct 15, 2012 Elizabeth A. rated it it was amazing

Though not a sequel in the traditional sense, One Hundred Years of Vicissitude is built around the character of Wolram E. Deaps, last seen in Bergen's Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat. When we last saw him, however, things weren’t going too well for Deaps, so much so in fact that Vicissitude begins with the following observation on his part: “First up, a disclaimer. I suspect I am a dead man.” He suspects correctly.

Not the nicest man in life, Deaps finds himself wandering aimlessly in a sort of lim Though not a sequel in the traditional sense, One Hundred Years of Vicissitude is built around the character of Wolram E. Deaps, last seen in Bergen's Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat. When we last saw him, however, things weren’t going too well for Deaps, so much so in fact that Vicissitude begins with the following observation on his part: “First up, a disclaimer. I suspect I am a dead man.” He suspects correctly.

Not the nicest man in life, Deaps finds himself wandering aimlessly in a sort of limbo world, endlessly walking but never actually getting anywhere. The landscape which greets him is remarkable only in its absence; no cities or towns, rain or sun, color or sound, only barren trees on the edge of a diminishing horizon. Deaps is on a road to nowhere, surrounded by nothing. Until one day, with no warning and no recollection of getting there, Deaps finds himself outside a cottage. Wondering if the cottage is meant to symbolize the end of his journey, Deaps approaches only to discover his journey is just beginning, as the cottage’s resident, a Geisha named Kohana, has many wondrous things, both beautiful and terrifying, to show him.

Though she initially appears to Deaps as a fifteen-year-old, Kohana informs him that she in fact lived for nearly a century, and is actually a fellow resident of the limbo world. They are Gaki, she explains, “hungry ghosts” whose lot is to suffer for eternity with an insatiable hunger for the things in life they once most coveted. Kohana proceeds to take Deaps on a spectral journey back through the one hundred years of vicissitude which made up not only her life, but that of the country of Japan as well. Jumping back and forth through time Deaps and Kohana revisit the tumultuous events, both large and small, which shaped a life and a nation.

Along the way author Andrez Bergan treats the reader to an enchanting melding of fact and fiction, one which magically weaves together a tapestry of history and pop culture with references to everything from Lewis Carroll and The Wizard of Oz, to the leveling of Asakusa during World War II and the legendary Graf Zeppelin’s only visit to Japan, to James Bond and noir cinema. In this regard, One Hundred Years of Vicissitude is absolutely epic in scope and lushly cinematic in its settings. And yet, when boiled down to its essence One Hundred Years of Vicissitude is first and foremost an intimate look at the relationship between Deaps and Kohana.

It’s a strange one, one which initially makes little sense to either the reader or Deaps. There is a method to Bergen’s madness however, and the patience of both Deaps and the reader is richly rewarded with a deeply satisfying journey of self-discovery, one arrived at by traveling through humor and horror, joy and sorrow, enrichment and loss. One Hundred Years of Vicissitude is an achingly poetic reminder that life is about the journey, not the destination, and that with that journey necessarily comes change. Sometimes the change is for the better, other times for the worse, but to be alive is to embrace both, for it is only through the vicissitudes of life that one truly lives.

Andrez Bergen is unquestionably one of the most creative, original authors I’ve ever had the pleasure to read, and his ability to take such wildly disparate pieces as those which appear in Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat and One Hundred Years of Vicissitude and assemble them into a cohesive puzzle is simply awe-inspiring. ...more

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Feb 04, 2014 Stacia rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014, asia

Good & bad, making me have a hard time coming up with a rating.

Not sure if this is considered surreal, post-modern, or just a choppy book. I suspect it’s the latter. The writing issues with this novel bugged me & pulled me out of the story numerous times; there were brief snatches of snappy wording, glimpses of some thought-provoking settings, appearances by some intriguing characters. But, they were all too brief & none of it is ever really developed -- argh. I can see so, so much more for this Good & bad, making me have a hard time coming up with a rating.

Not sure if this is considered surreal, post-modern, or just a choppy book. I suspect it’s the latter. The writing issues with this novel bugged me & pulled me out of the story numerous times; there were brief snatches of snappy wording, glimpses of some thought-provoking settings, appearances by some intriguing characters. But, they were all too brief & none of it is ever really developed -- argh. I can see so, so much more for this story, but the author just didn’t pull it there. Plus, the author is a bit lazy (imo) in that the main characters (who are already dead) can just seemingly pop up at any time, in any scene from their lives. There’s no real explanation of how or why this happens (which is ok), it’s just a convenient way to stop one vignette & start another one. And it happens constantly (which is not ok). One of the main characters complained about too much popping about like that & I agree. Stop already.

Why did I keep reading? I’m not completely sure. Part of it was that it’s my first Nook book & I’m still trying to see how much I like reading e-books. So, I persevered. There were some interesting tidbits (many related to Japanese history over the past century); humorous, snide comments; some beautiful & horrifying settings (some of which will definitely give you pause). The ending, while still not well-written, had a nice (if sentimental) touch.

At the end of the book, there is a page from the publisher, Perfect Edge Books. I find their statement fascinating:

“We live in uncertainty. New ways of committing crimes are discovered every day. Hackers and hit men are idolized. Writers have responded to this either by ignoring the harsher realities or by glorifying mindless violence for the sake of it. Atrocities (from the Holocaust to 9/11) are exploited in cheaply sentimental films and novels.

Perfect Edge Books proposes to find a balanced position. We publish fiction that doesn’t revel in nihilism, doesn’t go for gore at the cost of substance – yet we want to confront the world with its beauty as well as its ugliness. That means we want books about difficult topics, books with something to say.

We’re open to dark comedies, “transgressive” novels, potboilers and tales of revenge. All we ask is that you don’t try to shock for the sake of shocking – there is too much of that around. We are looking for intelligent young authors able to use the written word for changing how we read and write in dark times.”

So, did the book meet the publisher’s criteria? Yes, I think so. Was it well-written? No. Does it have potential? Yes & that was agonizingly frustrating because, had this book been well-done, it could have been so much more. The glimpses of a greater work were there, but the greater work never put in an appearance. Did it make me think? A couple of times. I don’t want to give it a rating as low as 2 stars, yet it’s almost too jumpy & poorly-written to deserve 3 stars. Ultimately, I’ll give it 3 (grudging) stars.
...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Fiona Johnson rated it it was amazing

One Hundred Years of Vicissitude by Andrez Bergen will be out later this year by Perfect Edge Press, put it in your diary, don't forget.

Vicissitude - it's all about change, how your life can change, how your fortune can change. Change is a sloppy beast to hold onto, it slips through your fingers sometimes before you've even realised, you wake up at 3am one morning and you suddenly wonder about your life, how you got to this point.

OK, so maybe this is something you do more as you get on in years, One Hundred Years of Vicissitude by Andrez Bergen will be out later this year by Perfect Edge Press, put it in your diary, don't forget.

Vicissitude - it's all about change, how your life can change, how your fortune can change. Change is a sloppy beast to hold onto, it slips through your fingers sometimes before you've even realised, you wake up at 3am one morning and you suddenly wonder about your life, how you got to this point.

OK, so maybe this is something you do more as you get on in years, before that, you're just too busy living to even notice change as it segues so invisibly from one scene to another.

I finished One Hundred Years of Vicissitude after midnight, didn't sleep much after that, my past flicking behind my eyelids like some old cine film, my mind trying to make sense of the choices I've made over the years, the changes that have occurred.

Would you, if you got the chance, like to revisit your life? Would you want to stand beside your younger self, invisible, and watch your key moments, your mistakes, your lost loves, your bereavements?

In One Hundred Years of Vicissitude, the life of Kohana, a Geisha, now dead, leads Wolram E. Deaps (killed at the end of Tobacco Stained Mountain Goat), through her long life. The pair make an odd couple with no obvious connection (that is discovered later), other than they are both dead whilst Deaps' confusion and irritation with the enigmatic Kohana, trailing after her as they flash from location to location, decade to decade, mirrored my increasing impatience to discover where Kohana was leading him to and for what reason.

The exquisite writing and structure produced by Bergen is alone an excellent reason to read this book but the developing relationship between the two main characters is incredibly touching and devastating in its beauty by the end. And it is only then that Wolram discovers the truth as he reaches the very end of the path with Kohana. Everything makes sense, the beginning comes into focus and the pieces fit together.

So I lay in bed as the images from my life passed before me, somewhere in there, there must be sense too. Hopefully the pieces will eventually fit together.

I now need and want to read 100 Years again, my tears are still wet but my heart is singing.
...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Mieneke rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012, mainstream-fiction

It is hard to quantify Andrez Bergen's book One Hundred Years of Vicissitude. It is a strange mixture of science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction and as such may have a hard time finding its audience. To be honest, it took me quite a bit to get into this story, having to reread the first couple of pages a few times before being able to process them. In fact, I was having such a hard time getting into the story, I actually doubted whether I'd get through the story, as I just couldn't find m It is hard to quantify Andrez Bergen's book One Hundred Years of Vicissitude. It is a strange mixture of science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction and as such may have a hard time finding its audience. To be honest, it took me quite a bit to get into this story, having to reread the first couple of pages a few times before being able to process them. In fact, I was having such a hard time getting into the story, I actually doubted whether I'd get through the story, as I just couldn't find my footing; only the fact that I'd promised to read and review it and that I blamed my having a hard time getting with the program on having a massive head-cold, kept me from actually doing so and moving on to a new book. In the end, I'm glad I stuck it out, because while it was hard to get with the narrative voice, once the story got going and I got beyond the first twenty pages or so, when we meet Kohana, I was on board and got sucked into the novel.

One Hundred Years of Vicissitude is a rather fragmented narrative, as the story consists of Kohana and our narrator, Wolram E. Deaps, flitting from memory to memory. Although this manner of narration is quite interesting, it does tend to form a bit of a barrier to the text; due to the fragmented memories it is hard to see where we are at any given moment and it took a while and some thought to understand the point, as it were, to this story. Not that every story has to be easily understood, but this one really took some work, since it's not a linear story. While moving through her memories, Kohana goes off on tangents, sometimes because of questions Deaps asks, other times seemingly by free association. Of course, this is how memory works; memories are evoked by the senses, by associations and by their connections to each other. However, this seemingly random recollection can be confusing, until the reader can discover a pattern.

Unfortunately, there are some loose ends: Kohana's father, who is referenced throughout the text, but never shows his face, feels like somewhat of an unidentified cipher who, it seems, should have been confronted at some point of the story for Kohana to be able to finally move on. Similarly, there is the narrator's daughter and his battle against established medicine. His story is tantalisingly unfinished which is both frustrating and maybe the point—this is not his story and his time to tell it has yet to come. I can just imagine him sitting in Kohana's hovel waiting for the next soul to show up and have them accompany him through his memories and give him his own absolution and redemption.

We do not learn a lot about our narrator's history, this is mostly Kohana's story. And hers is a story about love and forgiveness, forgiveness of her own trespasses and forgiveness of trespasses against her. It's only after Kohana has forgiven herself for moving on after losing her first love and losing her twin sister that she is able to move on from purgatory. Surprisingly, there is no forgiveness for her father, only a dismissal, and of her rather awful relationship with her daughter, nothing is said beyond the daughter's conception and the fact that their relationship was very bad, perhaps due to Kohana's regard of her. I'd have expected both these things to play a bigger role. In a similar vein our narrator needs to forgive himself for how he lived his life and the loss of his daughter.

There are a lot of allusions to different works of art, both books and films, but also other expressions of art. The author acknowledges this at the end of the book and I had a lot of fun finding them throughout the story. One Hundred Years of Vicissitude is an interesting story and according to the afterword would probably have gained more depth and clarity if I'd read his previous novel Tobacco Stained Mountain Goat. Despite this, I was quietly engaged by this story of love, forgiveness and redemption. Its author's love of Japanese culture rose from every page of the book. If this is only Bergen's second novel I look forward to seeing where he goes in the future. If you're not in the mood to take a gamble and put in some work, then it would be wise to give this book a pass. However, if you like interesting, non-conventional literature, whether it is literary, science-fiction, fantasy, or any other genre, One Hundred Years of Vicissitude might be just the book for you. It is an interesting look at what purgatory might look like and how it functions and it's thought-provoking to say the least.

This book was sent to me for review by the author. ...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Travis rated it it was amazing

Shelves: highly-recommend, must-reads

When I first read Andrez Bergen's debut novel earlier this year I was quite excited as I found it to be a great read and I was even more stoked when I discovered that a second novel, One Hundred Years of Vicissitude would be coming out in October and I have been eagerly awaiting it's release since.
I certainly have not been disappointed, One Hundred Years is one of the more profound and moving books I have read in a very long time and combined with Mr Bergen's unique writing style this novel is r When I first read Andrez Bergen's debut novel earlier this year I was quite excited as I found it to be a great read and I was even more stoked when I discovered that a second novel, One Hundred Years of Vicissitude would be coming out in October and I have been eagerly awaiting it's release since.
I certainly have not been disappointed, One Hundred Years is one of the more profound and moving books I have read in a very long time and combined with Mr Bergen's unique writing style this novel is really something special.
This novel could be viewed as a historical narrative, a love story or a journey through time and different cultures and is a stand alone novel despite the presence of characters from previous works (although reading his debut novel, Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat may help add some clarity or perspective to the storyline).
The two main characters that feature in this novel are well developed and the author uses his unique sense of humour and wit to draw the readers in but it is not in-your-face styled humour, rather a subtle insertion that perfectly adds to the power of the tale being told.
The same can be said of Andrez Bergen's influences, he introduces us to numerous movies, books, comics, music and actual historic events
and rather than this be overbearing it adds another layer to a novel that is so much better for being multi-layered and faceted.
I haven't written many reviews of books I have read before and found it somewhat difficult to write this one, I actually noticed that some of the other people who also have reviewed this novel found themselves in a similar position. This could perhaps be attributed to the fact
that One Hundred Years of Vicissitude is the kind of novel that isn't pinned down to any particular genre and the author has taken the reader on a genuine journey with pain, laugh out loud moments, a sense of melancholy, happiness and even moments where I myself found myself getting a bit teary eyed (I cannot recall the last time that happened when I read a book!)
Overall I am so pleased that I have discovered this author and read this book, it was a genuine pleasure to read and I am sure to revisit it many times in the future. Would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a fantastic book and isn't compelled to read something that is pigeon-holed into a particular genre and is simply happy to be taken on a wonderful ride. ...more

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Sep 28, 2019 Dollie rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction

At the beginning of this book three people are killed. Two of them, Wolram Deaps a geisha, Kohana. He’s 79 and she’s 100, although she looks like a young woman. They are ghosts. The go through scenes of her life and then go through a few scenes of his life. They get to know each other well as they recall memories of murder and misfortunes. I found Wolram and Kohana to be interesting characters and I enjoyed their banter. And I found it entertaining enough to now try to find Tobacco-Stained Mount ...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Lori Holuta rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Mr. Wolram E. Deaps mentions early in 100 Years of Vicissitude that “there is no neat beginning with which to start things.”Since Wolram is the central character and narrator of the story, I wondered what was to come. As this mysterious, thoughtful, and occasionally horrific story unfolded, I realized that while a neat beginning was never promised, the sum of a life can be tidily bundled into packets of time, which provide a workable method to scrutinize one’s existence.

We meet Wolram after his Mr. Wolram E. Deaps mentions early in 100 Years of Vicissitude that “there is no neat beginning with which to start things.”Since Wolram is the central character and narrator of the story, I wondered what was to come. As this mysterious, thoughtful, and occasionally horrific story unfolded, I realized that while a neat beginning was never promised, the sum of a life can be tidily bundled into packets of time, which provide a workable method to scrutinize one’s existence.

We meet Wolram after his death. He’s understandably confused and having trouble putting everything into context. What he doesn’t yet know is that he’s about to start a journey through time and memory, pausing long enough at each scene to ponder what transpired and the effects that point in time had on the future.

Wolram is joined by a companion in what he assumes is his afterlife, named Kohana. She’s an intelligent, willful, beautiful, sassy, stubborn enigma of a woman who, we will learn, has lived an incredible life as she survived pivotal points in the history of Japan.

It is her life that Wolram explores, soundtracked by a breathtakingly detailed narrative provided by Kohana. Throughout the journey, changes of memory-locale arrive crisply and frequently, drawing protest, fear, anger, and a growing sense of curiosity from Wolram towards his companion. It’s not quite Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley, but one can’t help but recall that classic tale. Although, with old Scrooge and Marley, it was always clear who was calling the shots–not so with our deceased duo. While one definitely knows what is going on, we are left with just enough vagueness to question the ultimate goal of the Grand Tour. Was this a mutual benefit for two souls leaving this world? Was this an endurance test or an exercise in acceptance?

While the book delivers a satisfying ending, it leaves the reader wide open to questioning much about their own existence and place in history. I defy you to read this book and not think about your own past–as well as your present actions, which stack up like cordwood, defining your future. Will this book alter your future? I believe it may have already altered my own –why should I wait till the end of my lifespan to ponder the worth of my actions and choices? Why not truly live in my moments? And perhaps, one day, when I revisit my life on my final journey, I can take satisfaction from and comfort in the choices I’ve made.

( Review originally written for Steampunk Magazine http://www.steampunkmagazine.com ) ...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Edward Rathke rated it liked it

Shelves: sf

This novel is, in certain ways, more a history lesson than it is a narrative. It's quite an interesting novel, though, both linguistically and structurally. It's a journey through the afterlife and through memories, both personal and cultural.

A dead woman leads a dead man through her memories of the tragedies forced upon the japanese people during the 20th century. It illustrates the decimation of japan at the hands of western powers and the way that effected culture and people and lives. At man ...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Josh rated it really liked it

Shelves: review_books, kindle, read_2014, own

Our chief protagonist Wolram E Deaps, first seen in the scifi noir TOBACCO STAINED MOUNTAIN GOAT, has past away and now resides in the hereafter; a strange halfway home between life and death - a place where memories are relived in all their gore and glory.

Accompanying him is a geisha, Kohana, having also past away following an innings of 100 (or there abouts). Despite the triple figure, Kohana resembles a teenager - one of many mysteries that enthralls Deaps. Initially there seems to be little ...more

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Oct 08, 2012 Gordon rated it really liked it

Exquisite writing, this Ghost-of-Christmas-Past tour of the events of 20th-century Japan through the eyes of a geisha dragging along a crusty old tyrant in a purgatorial afterlife. Took me a long time to get into, with all its Japanese terminology and fragmented scenes, but it picked up about halfway through as the threads began tying themselves together. The two have an interesting rapport, her ageless beauty and endless romantic encounters contrasted with his elderly impotence in being forced ...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Guy Salvidge rated it it was amazing

I read it through in one evening, which is a testament to the novel's readability. After the first few pages, One Hundred Years of Vicissitude settles down into a pleasant meandering through the memories of Kohana, a Japanese Geisha. The narrative is told from the point of view of Wolram E. Deaps, last seen as the antagonist of Bergen's earlier Tobacco Stained Mountain Goat. Kohana and Wolram are dead, apparently, and they re-live scenes from both of their lives (but mostly Kohana's), taking in ...more

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Feb 08, 2014 Bethany rated it it was amazing

Shelves: speculative-fiction

The transition from Bergen's first book, Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat, to this second book, is pretty ingenious: (view spoiler). The Australian Wolram meets a Japanese geisha in an alternate reality, and an adventure across time and memory ensues. One Hundred Years of Vicissitude starts as a slow boil, then fragments into a shocking story of betrayal, revenge, destruction, love. It's very striking technically because the book ...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Donna R rated it really liked it

Shelves: asia

Were it not that someone asked to hear what I thought of 100 Years I would not have persevered. I'd read the first few chapters and was struggling to make sense of things - frankly, it was a bit too Philip Marlowe for me (and I LOVE Philip Marlowe). I started again and am glad I did!
A passage which sits with me refers to Wolram E as he acknowledges how little he knew of Japanese history (WW2 in particular) - the winner writes the history, his lack is my lack. Only way to address that will be fo ...more

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May 31, 2013 Elizabeth Cárdenas rated it really liked it

The kind of quirky book that I enjoy. Will be reading more from this author.

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Apr 22, 2014 David Ploss rated it it was amazing

Weird as shit. But oddly intriguing and strangely hard to put down. If you're looking for something out of left field, this book comes recommended from Thefoundingfields.com ...more

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Jun 04, 2012 D-ring File rated it it was amazing

Finished promotional manuscript this morning. Wonderful.

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Jul 17, 2013 Mihai Adascalitei rated it really liked it

“First up, a disclaimer. I suspect I am a dead man. I have meagre proof, no framed‐ up certification, nothing to toss in a court of law as evidence of a rapid departure from the mortal coil. I recall a gun was involved, pressed up against my skull, and a loud explosion followed.”
Thus begins our narrator in a purgatorial tour through twentieth-century Japanese history, with a ghostly geisha who has seen it all as a guide and a corrupt millionaire as her reluctant companion.
Thrown into the milieu “First up, a disclaimer. I suspect I am a dead man. I have meagre proof, no framed‐ up certification, nothing to toss in a court of law as evidence of a rapid departure from the mortal coil. I recall a gun was involved, pressed up against my skull, and a loud explosion followed.”
Thus begins our narrator in a purgatorial tour through twentieth-century Japanese history, with a ghostly geisha who has seen it all as a guide and a corrupt millionaire as her reluctant companion.
Thrown into the milieu are saké, B-29s, Lewis Carroll, Sir Thomas Malory, Melbourne, The Wizard of Oz, and a dirigible - along with the allusion that Red Riding Hood might just be involved.

Some of the most rewarding books I read over the years proved to be the ones that didn’t come with too many recommendations or from the authors I picked in the whim of my reading caprices. One such novel was “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat”, a wonderful novel for which I didn’t have any recommendation and implicitly with any expectations from my part. Of course, after the initial encounter with an author it proves to be very difficult to read the writer’s next work without any expectation and only with the anticipation of opening a door to a new world. There is no wonder then that it was impossible for me not to set the bar of expectations high for Andrez Bergen after his debut novel, but if that changed the way I perceive his future works it also made me await them with eagerness. The first in line, Andrez Bergen’s new novel, “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”.

“First up, a disclaimer. I suspect I am a dead man.” What the main character only suspects in the beginning becomes obvious immediately after that. Wolram E. Deaps is dead and he finds himself in a limbo. A transitional situation for which he has no explanation or from which he has no escape yet. But the state Wolram E. Deaps is in it’s not completely cut off from the state of living Wolram is familiar with. Along the story of “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” Wolram learns on his own that the state of transition in which he is found comes with childhood dreams reflected on this limbo, with significant physical needs, for instance cold and hunger. But nb also is a place with new possibilities, such as meeting new people. And Wolram E. Deaps meets Kohana. Together they begin a journey through the memories of the former geisha, a pilgrimage to the significant moments of her life, the events that shape Kohana’s character and her former existence. Is the recounting of a life, with the good, the bad and in between, a flash of an existence before death exerts its final toll.

With the only two main characters on the scene “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” is similar in many aspects with a play. Much of the story’s magic consists in the relationship between these two characters, but without neglecting the story in the least. Each act of the story takes place in a different setting, the props are changed from one moment in Kohana’s life to another, with the necessary revisiting of the most important ones. The entire odyssey is made in the accompaniment of witty dialogues, delightful characters and captivating story. Or little stories, since the entire picture of “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” is made by smaller parts that could easily make a tale on their own. But the characters do not make solely a voyage through Kohana’s life memories, it is also an expedition through a certain era of Japan’s history. It is a hymn brought to this wonderful country and to some of the elements that define its individuality. Customs, history, legends, literature, music and pop culture receive homage in Andrez Bergen’s novel. The ritual of drinking saké, geishas, kabuki, monster movies, yakuza or sumo are some of the things that find their way into the novel one way or another.

There are only two characters in “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”, but one of them makes a connection between Andrez Bergen’s two published novels. Wolram E. Deaps is a character from the authors’ debut novel, “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat”. As a matter of fact, he is the antagonist of that book, ambitious and greedy. However, not in a single moment I could see Wolram E. Deaps as the character with an unsated appetite for power and money. He even becomes an agreeable character in “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”. I would not register this aspect as complaint however, because until I experience a state of limbo or any other post-mortem situation first-hand I cannot rightfully affirm how such an instance affects the character of a human being. Wolram E. Deaps not only makes a connection with “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat”, but he also gives both Andrez Bergen’s novels metafictional qualities. It is early on in “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” when Wolram spots a book among others with certain characteristics: “On a small round table next to the sofa was a pile of books, at the top of which sat a hardback titled Dead Yellow Women. Peeking out beneath that was a cartoonish goat with a cigarette, on a dirty brown cover.”

I said that after reading an author for the first time it is almost impossible for me to start the writer’s other works without some expectations. Such was the case with Andrez Bergen too, but nothing I expected based on “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat” could have prepared me for what I found in “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”. Yes, both novels have witty, intelligent and delightful dialogues, both show a mastering of language and an assured writing technique from Andrez Bergen, both with various odes brought to the things I can only guess that the author loves at personal level. But “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” reveals new qualities of Andrez Bergen, in particular a warm and wonderful sensibility. The description of Asakusa 1945 firebombing and the reminder of the cruelties of Nanking massacre are touching and emotional. These would have been enough to show Andrez Bergen ability to create emotion, but there many more sensible moments. Distinctly, two scenes from the end of “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude” bring the reader close to tears.

Globalization is very far from the milk and honey heaven we are led to believe it brings, but I am thankful for the possibility it gives me to discover writers such as Andrez Bergen, an Australian, living in Japan and enchanting the readers across the globe, such as myself, with the stylish noir post-apocalyptic “Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat” or this little gem that is “One Hundred Years of Vicissitude”. ...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Dan Wright rated it it was amazing

One of my favourite Indie books that I read last year was Tobacco Stained Mountain Goat, by Andrez Bergen – a clever mix of Blade Runner and Mad Max style Sci-Fi with a touch of old school Humphrey Bogart Film Noir, all neatly blended with an Austrialian sense of humour. It was one of the most original reads I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing and one that I’ve been highly recommending to a lot of friends.

So when the author approached me, stating that he had another book out, I said yes without n ...more

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Aug 20, 2013 Caleb Hill rated it really liked it

“The death of a broken-down old man is, unquestionably, the least poetical topic in the world.”

First up, a disclaimer. I suspect this is the strangest book I have ever read. I have no morsel of proof, nothing to waive around in a court for all to gawk at. All I remember is the words on the paper, and a surreal feel from the reading.

Right from the get-go, Bergen launches us into his weirdest book yet.

"First up, a disclaimer. I suspect I am a dead man. I have meagre proof, no framed‐ up certificat ...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Rachel rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2013-challenge, fantasy

I can honestly say I've never read a book like this before. I picked it up when it was the Kindle Daily Deal back in January because I have an interest in history and Japanese culture, but also because I wanted to try something new. "100 Years" was definitely something new.

The book is witty with a cinematic scope. I could almost envision scenes of this book playing out in my head like scenes from a movie. Bergen does a great job of capturing the essence of a location without unneeded exposition. ...more

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Dec 18, 2014 Dave rated it it was amazing

Another finish in one day job!

Great book, a nice insight into the mindset of Tobaccos arch nemesis and as usual a beautiful examination of topics which clearly Mr Bergen feels passionate about.

I could, as usual, talk about the beautiful characters or the vivid pictures that are once again painted but that goes without saying. The tension in this book at times is knife edge and the emotional highs (and lows) are gut wrenching.

Two points which stood out most for myself. Firstly, the examination of ...more

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Jul 01, 2014 Benoit Lelièvre rated it really liked it

Truly a one-of-a-kind novel like Andez Bergen himself only know how to write them. It's such a peculiar experience, I had to stop about 10% into it and go read reviews to double check if I was understanding properly. Bergen's stacatto delivery is surprising and be difficult to adapt to. Although it features character of TOBACCO-STAINED MOUNTAIN GOAT Wolram Deaps, it's not a sequel, per se. It has very little narrative ties, explores its own themes and has its own identity altogether.

Speaking of ...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Jessica Nelson rated it liked it

One Hundred Years of Vicissitude is the second novel of author Andrez Bergen. It both is and isn’t a follow-up book to his first novel, Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat. I say it both is and isn’t, because the novel takes a path less traveled as far as sequels go; it follows along what happens to TSMG’s protagonist, Wolram E. Deaps, after the end of that tale, rather than continuing on to tell more of the story of Floyd and Nina. It is difficult to review this book – or indeed, discuss it at all – ...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Jessie Rember rated it it was ok

This book was a weird read for me. There is too much context left out of the book for the choice of narrators to make much sense. Why these two characters? The book is a bit hard to follow and the choice of scenes that are portrayed is never explained. You are hopped from time period to time period without much connection in between and no explanation as to why the scene is important. There is a hint of how we might regret some of the choices we make in life but there is no real story in that. T ...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Amanda rated it really liked it

It took me a while to get into the book and didn't really like it at first. It's an adventure - if you will - of an older man who dies and meets up with a Japanese woman in the afterlife. They visit memories from her past and then start visiting ones from his. Most of them were sad memories as if they needed to reflect on what had happened. ...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Sabrina rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, 2013

I struggled with this at first. There was something about the first chapter that almost made me toss it aside and move on. To anyone who may also be thinking this, just hold on! After chapter 1 it picked up quickly for me. I found Kohana and the story of her past very interesting and well worth reading.

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Apr 14, 2012 Nina Phunsta rated it it was amazing

Shelves: brilliant

Privy to the manuscript version and loved the story. Differs greatly from Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat but still very much Bergen's style. ...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Christopher tm rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Simply outstanding.

I'm already hungry for Bergen's next book. ...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Kara-karina added it

Shelves: did-not-finish

Honestly? That book lost me after the first 10 pages. I gave it another 10 to be sure. Nope. It's not going to happen. DNF for me. ...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Jessica marked it as quitters

Shelves: books-i-own, fiction, digital-book

I had to set this one aside. I just have too many other books to read and this one wasn't holding my interest. ...more

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About Andrez Bergen

Andrez Bergen

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Andrez Bergen is an expat Australian writer, journalist, DJ, artist and ad hoc saké connoisseur who's been entrenched in Tokyo, Japan, for the past 15 years.

Bergen has written for publications such as Mixmag, The Age, Australian Style, VICE, and the Yomiuri Shinbun. He has published six novels, wrote and illustrated three graphic novels, and published five comic book series.

Bergen's fiction previo ...more