The Gun

The Gun by Fuminori Nakamura, published by Soho Press in 2015, is a literary exploration of obsession and identity. This edition, written in English and spanning 198 pages, follows a Tokyo college student named Nishikawa, who discovers a stolen handgun during a nighttime walk along a riverbank. This discovery ignites a dark transformation within him, as the possession of the gun brings a newfound sense of purpose to his otherwise mundane university life.

As Nishikawa navigates his complicated personal life, including romantic entanglements with two women and the impending death of his estranged father, his fixation on the gun intensifies. The narrative delves into themes of crime and suspense, illustrating how the allure of the weapon blurs the lines of reality for Nishikawa. Readers will find a gripping tale that intertwines city life with psychological tension, as the protagonist grapples with the implications of his obsession and the desire to fire the gun.