Pathway to Japanese Literature

Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.

Those Who Target EarthAuthor: Unno Juza

Original Title	地球を狙う者
Author	海野十三
Genre	Fantasy & Sci-Fi
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In the remote Pacific, young seismologist Ōsumi Keizō boards a delayed steamship to Karyo Island, tasked with continuing submarine earthquake research after his predecessor’s sudden death. Among the passengers is eccentric Mars researcher Dr. Todoroki, accompanied by his enigmatic assistant, Shimizu Sachiko—a brilliant scientist whose beauty captivates Ōsumi. Whispers of Martian canals as alien power grids and cryptic warnings about Earth’s impending doom punctuate the voyage, but darker mysteries await on the desolate island. \nStrange tremors plague Karyo’s shores, coinciding with Dr. Todoroki’s erratic behavior and a pistol hidden in his briefcase. When dismembered corpses surface and Sachiko narrowly escapes a violent attack, Ōsumi uncovers chilling journal entries: Martian plant-based entities, masquerading as humans, may already infiltrate Earth. A confrontation reveals the doctor’s metallic exoskeleton and oozing green slime—proof of an extraterrestrial imposter. \nAs Mars looms closer, Ōsumi and Sachiko vow to resist the invaders, but the true scale of their enemy’s plans remains shrouded in cosmic dread. With submarine quakes intensifying and humanity’s ignorance as its greatest vulnerability, their fight against an unimaginable terror has only just begun.