Exploring Isekai

Mapping Worlds through Anime, Manga, and Light Novels

By: Shintaro Mizushima (Editor), William B. Ashbaugh (Editor)

Write A Review

Hardcover | 5 March 2026

At a Glance

Format
Hardcover

Dimensions(cm)
23.6 x 16.2 x 2.8

Hardcover

$272.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $68.19 with

Ships in 10 to 15 business days

Exploring Isekai offers the first comprehensive study of isekai in anime, manga and light novels in which characters from the âreal worldâ are transported, summoned, reincarnated or trapped in fantastical realms.

Challenging the misconception that isekai is mere escapism, the volume brings together an international group of contributors to consider how the genre reflects contemporary anxieties, desires and social structures through game-like world-building, moral frameworks and recurring underdog heroes. Examining classics like Spirited Away (2001) alongside globally popular series such as That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (2013â"25) and Overlord (2015â"), the volume traces the thematic and aesthetic evolution of isekai, revealing how these narratives reimagine identity, labour and belonging in an increasingly digital and transnational world.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $89.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.