One Liner: It tells the story of a computer that continues its mission, long after humanity has gone extinct. If you ever have to read a single one-shot and that's it, Hotel wins my vote. No questions asked.
-- [ Story - 8.5 ] --
The story is one of the most creative and realistic I've come by. There are too many shounen lately, and something that is realistic feels nice.
Hotel narrates the fate of mankind: Extinction. Apparently, we have gone too far with the planet. After abusing fossil fuels, humanity has caused a massive greenhouse effect that effectively eradicates all life on Earth. Before this happens, humans go for a last resort effort to preserve DNA. They build a computer whose job it will be to preserve those strands of life. Hotel tells us about the story of this computer.
As you can see, it's really simple. It should be simple. Right? WRONG! I've rarely read a story so poignant. Something that I will remember for quite some time. But it's so simple at the same time. The story is well-detailed. It's almost a recollection, memoirs instead of a real story.
Since Hotel is a one-shot, I can't really describe how great the story without spoiling. But the way the story unfolds, you get to really feel what it means to be lonely, alone, abandoned or even deserted. The emotion in there is amazing. Hotel really gives food for thought. It packs a lot of meaning and lesson, this one-shot.
Is that really what will happen if we abuse the planet any more? Is it already happening? Seas are already rising. Cataclysms are more frequent. Heat waves are almost common now. It's scary. Hotel tells us just how scary it will be. And how powerless we are.
I give it 8.5 because of a loophole at the end that I didn't really understand. Otherwise, it's 9. Not 10 because I'd so want to know more. Also, as noted in another review, there is some symbolism at the end. While not offensive, some might not like it. Also, too bad it's a one-shot. :(
-- [ Art - 8 ] --
Again, simplicity prevails. This is to be expected in post-apocalyptic manga. However, the art does a great job at picturing the desolate landscape of Earth, long after we humans messed it up bad.
Everything is well detailed, but not too much. It's futuristic, but old at the same time. The art portrays the effects of time in a very effective way.
As illustration, can you imagine a machine with just a circle as eye having emotion? The art allows this. It's that good.
-- [ Character - 9 ] --
That one is tough. Why? Because there are mainly 3 characters in the story. Two will leave soon. Only one will remain till the very end. And that one is difficult to describe.
Hotel is a one-shot, so no elaborate background story to expect. Again WRONG! Almost half of Hotel elaborates on that one character. So you will get to know the how, why and what of that character and its entourage. The greatest thing about Hotel is how the emotions are shown. How the character deals with life alone, trying to do its job to the best of its efforts. How it manages to survive. And how being alone is awful.
The descriptions have a smooth flow, from start to end. No details skipped. No wrong or strange decisions. It's just well made. And at the end, you almost feel sad for the character.
Bear in mind, we are talking about a computer here. For once, a manga deals with something other than humans, monsters or whatever. And for once, in a sc-fi story, humans are not unreasonably advanced. In fact, we seem to have 2010-level technology. No teleportation or whatnot.
-- [ Enjoyment - 9 ] --
There's not much to enjoy in a manga that portrays the extinction of our race. But I enjoyed how everything is portrayed and how realistic the story seems to be. It's quite rare to see an environment-sc-fi story.
It definitely deserves a re-read. Just to see again, just what will happen to us if we mess with the planet too much.
-- [ Overall - 9.5 ] --
Hotel is one of the most awesome one-shots I've ever read. Generally, the quality of one-shots is already high, but Hotel establishes new heights. It really, I mean, REALLY deserves a read.
