My first Junji Itou Book. I got the hardcover "smashed" version that contains this one + 5 more extra short tales. I had heard nothing but good things about Itou but I just wasn't ready for this level of art and storytelling. Some were just plain weird, others strange, all amazing and entertaining. Since it's a short story collection I think it's a decent entry book into Junji Itou's body of work. Earthbound in particular is very memorable and there are a few Soichi tales in here for anyone familiar with the anime. My personal favorite tale is (Blood sucking darkness) which, again, is in the smashedversion of this. I just loved the how the eating disorder was portrayed here. It's far more realistic than anything in mainstream media down to things progressing to the level of physically not desiring food anymore, you know you should eat but can't. The horror element was actually secondary to the that which is saying something.