--- product_id: 147568546 title: "The Factory" price: "€ 31.28" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.at/products/147568546-the-factory store_origin: AT region: Austria --- # The Factory **Price:** € 31.28 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Factory - **How much does it cost?** € 31.28 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.at](https://www.desertcart.at/products/147568546-the-factory) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The English-language debut of Hiroko Oyamada―one of the most powerfully strange young voices in Japan The English-language debut of one of Japan's most exciting new writers, The Factory follows three workers at a sprawling industrial factory. Each worker focuses intently on the specific task they've been assigned: one shreds paper, one proofreads documents, and another studies the moss growing all over the expansive grounds. But their lives slowly become governed by their work―days take on a strange logic and momentum, and little by little, the margins of reality seem to be dissolving: Where does the factory end and the rest of the world begin? What's going on with the strange animals here? And after a while―it could be weeks or years―the three workers struggle to answer the most basic question: What am I doing here? With hints of Kafka and unexpected moments of creeping humor, The Factory casts a vivid―and sometimes surreal―portrait of the absurdity and meaninglessness of the modern workplace. Review: Lit class would challenge this piece - I enjoyed the cultural experience, and I was willing to take a walk with the author down a complicated technique. While some refer to it as similar to Kafka, it seems that it is an attempt that does not rise up to the name, especially with the ending. I went into it anticipating more questions about the reality the characters existed within, but that did not emerge until the last few pages, maybe even the last few paragraphs. I enjoyed some of the character development, but overall I wanted more from the author than she delivered in this book. Part of the blame I put squarely on the shoulders of her publisher, who should have given her more guidance and support for a novel such as this. Unless, of course, she is self published. Then in that case she had the editor she deserved. Review: Fascinating! - I didn't want to stop reading this book, though it scared me. To put it simply, it is about how work can consume you and companies can own you, but it is told in a beautiful way that shows the contrast between the natural and unnatural parts of life. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #120,970 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #52 in Absurdist Fiction (Books) #4,015 in Contemporary Women Fiction #7,334 in Literary Fiction (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 3.7 out of 5 stars 580 Reviews | ## Images ![The Factory - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61dkhFqbyzL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐ Lit class would challenge this piece *by K***8 on January 13, 2020* I enjoyed the cultural experience, and I was willing to take a walk with the author down a complicated technique. While some refer to it as similar to Kafka, it seems that it is an attempt that does not rise up to the name, especially with the ending. I went into it anticipating more questions about the reality the characters existed within, but that did not emerge until the last few pages, maybe even the last few paragraphs. I enjoyed some of the character development, but overall I wanted more from the author than she delivered in this book. Part of the blame I put squarely on the shoulders of her publisher, who should have given her more guidance and support for a novel such as this. Unless, of course, she is self published. Then in that case she had the editor she deserved. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fascinating! *by A***H on June 27, 2023* I didn't want to stop reading this book, though it scared me. To put it simply, it is about how work can consume you and companies can own you, but it is told in a beautiful way that shows the contrast between the natural and unnatural parts of life. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ An interesting quick read but not for everyone *by B***E on July 17, 2020* The Factory depicts the monotony of corporate work where it feels that your individual position does not serve a purpose. It’s a good commentary on corporate work and how nothing ever happens. For that reason, nothing happens in the book. I enjoyed it for the writing and creating a rich sense of the factory. However, it’s not a book that grips you. It’s what we already know - we are cogs in a wheel. I give it 4 stars for the writing and layering of stories from three perspectives. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Factory - Tinkers: 10th Anniversary Edition - Dept. of Speculation (Vintage Contemporaries) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.at/products/147568546-the-factory](https://www.desertcart.at/products/147568546-the-factory) --- *Product available on Desertcart Austria* *Store origin: AT* *Last updated: 2026-06-05*