The Man with the Compound Eyes
Language: English
Published by Random House USA Inc, 2014
- Hardcover
- Used

Seller: World of Books Inc, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.World of Books Inc
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Condition: Used - Good
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Add to basketItem description from seller
When a tsunami sends a massive island made of trash crashing into the coast of Taiwan, two very different people--an outcast from a mythical country and a woman on the verge of suicide--are united in ways they never could have imagined. Intertwined with the story of their burgeoning friendship are the lives of others affected by the tsunami, from environmentalists to Taiwan's indigenous peoples--and, of course, the mysterious man with the compound eyes. A work of lyrical beauty that combines fantasy, reality, and dystopian environmental saga, here is the English-language debut of a new and exciting award-winning voice from Taiwan.
Seller Inventory # CIN0307907961G
- Title
- The Man with the Compound Eyes
- Author
- Wu Ming-Yi
- Publisher
- Random House USA Inc
- Publication year
- 2014
- Condition
- Good
- Binding
- Hardback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0307907961
- ISBN 13
- 9780307907967
When a tsunami sends a massive island made entirely of trash crashing into the Taiwanese coast, two very different peoplean outcast from a mythical island and a woman on the verge of suicideare united in ways they never could have imagined. Here is the English-language debut of a new and exciting award-winning voice from Taiwan, who has written an astonishing novel (The Independent) that is at once fantasy, reality, and dystopian environmental saga.
Fifteen-year-old Atileia native of Wayo Wayo, an island somewhere in the Pacifichas come of age. Following the custom of his people, he is set adrift as a sacrifice to the Sea God but, unlike those who have gone before him, Atilei is determined to defy precedent and survive. His chances seem slim, but just as it appears that hope is lost, Atilei comes across a sprawling trash vortex floating in the ocean and climbs onto it.
Meanwhile, on the east coast of Taiwan, Alice, a college professor, is overcome with grief. Her husband and son are missing, having disappeared while hiking in the mountains near their home. Alice is so distraught that she decides to end her own life. But her plans are interrupted by a violent storm that causes the trash vortex to collide with the Taiwanese coast, bringing Atilei along with it. Alice and Atilei subsequently form an unlikely friendship that helps each of them come to terms with what they have lost. Together they set out to uncover the mystery of Alices lost family, following their footsteps into the mountains. Intertwined with Alice and Atileis story are the lives of others affected by the tsunami, from environmentalists to Taiwans indigenous peoplesand, of course, the mysterious man with the compound eyes.
A work of lyrical beauty that combines magical realism and environmental fable, The Man with the Compound Eyes is an incredible story about the bonds of family, the meaning of love, and the lasting effects of human destruction.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Wu Ming-Yi was born in 1971 in Taiwan, where he still lives. A writer, artist, professor, and environmental activist, he has been teaching literature and creative writing at National Dong Hwa University since 2000 and is now a professor in the Department of Chinese. Wu is the author of two books of nature writing, the second of which, The Way of Butterflies, was awarded the China TimesOpen Book Award in 2003. His debut novel, Routes in the Dream, was named one of the ten best Chinese-language novels of the year by Asian Weekly magazine.The Man with the Compound Eyes is his first book to be translated into English.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
World of Books Inc
Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since March 23, 2026
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