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12 December 2012 1 Comment

The Twelve Kingdoms, Volume 2: Sea of Wind

Author: Fuyumi Ono
Illustrator: Akihiro Yamada
Translator: Alexander O. Smith and Elye J. Alexander
U.S. Publisher: Tokyopop
ISBN: 9781427802583
Released: February 2009
Original release: 1993

Sea of Wind is the second novel in Tokyopop’s English-language release of Fuyumi Ono’s fantasy light novel series The Twelve Kingdoms illustrated by Akihiro Yamada. The novel was originally published in Japan as two separate volumes, both of which were released in 1993 under the title Sea of Wind, Shore of Labyrinth. Alexander O. Smith and Elye J. Alexander’s English translation of Sea of Wind was originally published in hardcover by Tokyopop’s Pop Fiction imprint in 2008 before being released in a paperback edition in 2009. I very much enjoyed Sea of Shadow, the first novel in The Twelve Kingdoms, and so was looking forward to reading the second volume a great deal. Technically, Sea of Wind is a prequel of sorts. Although they are not directly related, the events in Sea of Wind take place before those explored in Sea of Shadow.

Before his birth, the kirin of the kingdom of Tai was swept away by a great shoku, a terrifying storm that rips between worlds. Although the search for him began immediately, it is an unprecedented ten years before the kirin is able to be found. Having been lost in the world Over There, Taiki’s return to the world into which he should have been born is celebrated. Taiki never really fit in Over There but because he has been gone for so long he doesn’t quite fit in in the world that is welcoming him home, either. He has much to learn about the world he now inhabits and, more importantly, about himself. The kirin play a critical role and Taiki is desperately needed by Tai. But without the knowledge and powers that should have come naturally to him, Taiki must first conquer his own inadequacies before he can fulfill his role.

After the initial chaos surrounding Taiki’s disappearance, Sea of Wind begins fairly benignly. Taiki’s welcome home is a warm one and he is treated very kindly. But as the novel progresses danger and darkness are introduced to the story. The portrayal of Taiki’s growth as a character is particularly well done. His fear, confusion, and distress is almost palpable as he struggles with his newly discovered obligations and responsibilities. Taiki is plagued by doubt and guilt. He wants to please those around him and is terrified of making a mistake. He can hardly be blamed—the fate of an entire kingdom rests on his tiny, inexperienced shoulders. Most of the other characters aren’t nearly as well developed as Taiki, but Sea of Wind really is his story more than anything else.

Although Sea of Wind is the second book in The Twelve Kingdoms, it stands quite well on its own. However, there are some scenes that will be more meaningful to someone who has read Sea of Shadow as well. In particular is the appearance of Keiki, another kirin who was introduced in Sea of Shadow. He plays an important role in Sea of Wind, too, and his interactions with Taiki are wonderful. A few of the other characters from Sea of Shadow also make their return in Sea of Wind, which I was very happy to see. As for the story itself, Ono still has the tendency to infodump from time to time. However, I find the world of The Twelve Kingdoms to be so fascinating that I usually didn’t mind too much. I am still thoroughly enjoying the series and am looking forward to reading the next volume, The Vast Spread of the Seas.

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12 September 2012 3 Comments

Strawberry Panic: The Complete Novel Collection

Author: Sakurako Kimino
Illustrator: Namuchi Takumi
Translator: Michelle Kobayashi and Anastasia Moreno
U.S. publisher: Seven Seas
ISBN: 9781934876992
Released: June 2011
Original release: 2006

Strawberry Panic: The Complete Novel Collection, written by Sakurako Kimino with illustrations by Namuchi Takumi, is one of the many incarnations of the Strawberry Panic yuri universe. Strawberry Panic began as a series of illustrated short stories before being expanded into manga, light novels, anime, visual novels, and more. My introduction to the franchise was through the manga adaptation which, even though it began serialization in Japan before the light novels, was never completed. The light novel omnibus released by Seven Seas in 2011 is the first time that all three Strawberry Panic novels were made available in English. Previously Seven Seas had published the first two novels as individual volumes in 2008, but until the omnibus was released the third volume hadn’t been translated. Michelle Kobayashi served as the translator for the first Strawberry Panic light novel while Anastasia Moreno translated both the second and third volumes. In Japan, all three volumes of the Strawberry Panic light novel series were initially published in 2006.

Aoi Nagisa recently transferred into the fourth year class of St. Miator Girls’ Academy, a prestigious all-girls school known for its high academic standards and refined students from distinguished families. Soon after Nagisa arrives at St. Miator, she is swept off her feet by the idol of the campus, Hanazono Shizuma, and into the Étoile competition, the premiere event held between the sister schools on Astraea Hill: St. Miator, St. Spica, and St. Lulim. The couple who wins the Étoile competition becomes a symbol for the three schools—the living embodiment of sisterly love and a model to be followed by the other students. But Shizuma has already competed in and won the Étoile. Competing two years in a row, especially with a different partner, is unheard of. The event is thrown into even more turmoil when St. Spica’s “Prince” Otori Amane, who was expected to win, disregards the other Spica students’ wishes and declares that Konohana Hikari, another transfer student, will enter the Étoile with her instead of the candidate who had already been selected for her.

Make no mistake about it, Strawberry Panic is complete and utter fantasy. In fact, a large part of the series’ charm is that it is so incredibly unbelievable. If you are looking for realism, you are looking in the wrong place with Strawberry Panic. Nobody really talks the way the young women on Astraea Hill speak, expressing themselves and their feelings through overwrought dialogue and intense earnestness. Even the narrative is filled with images of bright, angelic light and showers of flower blossoms. Strawberry Panic is marvelously melodramatic and over the top. There is a huge emphasis placed on the purity of the girls in Strawberry Panic while at the same time large portions of the plot rely on them becoming intimate and falling in love with one another. Despite appearances, only one character in the entire series is ever declared to be a “genuine lesbian.” (And yes, the quotation marks are also included in the novel.) There is no question at all that Strawberry Panic panders to its audience. A few of the sexualized encounters even come across as a little creepy.

Although two translators were involved with the English edition of the Strawberry Panic light novels, their styles are similar enough that the change isn’t too jarring. One thing that I wish the omnibus had included but didn’t is a full table of contents. Instead of listing the individual chapters, the contents page only notes the start page of each of the three books. If the prose in Strawberry Panic is stunningly absurd (and it most definitely is) the chapter titles are even more so. They may not always make a whole lot of sense, but they’re fantastically ludicrous; I would have liked to have seen them all together in one place. As unrealistic as Strawberry Panic is, parts of the story are supposedly based on the author’s own experiences attending an all-girls school. (Exactly which parts are never revealed, though.) Strawberry Panic is utterly ridiculous and yet highly entertaining. I’ll have to admit, I enjoyed reading through the series a great deal.

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17 August 2012 Leave a Comment

Spice & Wolf, Volume 6

Author: Isuna Hasekura
Illustrator: Jyuu Ayakura
Translator: Paul Starr
U.S. publisher: Yen Press
ISBN: 9780759531116
Released: June 2012
Original release: 2007

Isuna Hasekura’s light novel Spice & Wolf, Volume 6 was first published in Japan in 2007. Yen Press’ English edition of the novel, translated by Paul Starr, was released in 2012. It retains the color pages and illustrations by Jyuu Ayakura found in the original. The first volume of Spice & Wolf won the Dengeki Novel Prize, allowing it to be subsequently published. The novel proved to be popular enough in Japan to spawn a seventeen volume light novel series, both a manga and an anime adaptation, an Internet radio show, visual novel, and plenty of merchandising opportunities. In English, the light novels have been successful enough for Yen Press to license at least the first nine novels. (Initially, the license only covered the first six volumes of Spice & Wolf, but Yen Press was able to extend it.) I have been pleasantly surprised by the series—a light fantasy with both economic and supernatural elements to it—so I am glad to have the opportunity to follow Lawrence and Holo on their journey for at least a little while longer.

Lawrence’s dealings with Eve in Lenos have gone sour. Although he has made it out of the situation alive he is considerably poorer, not to mention physically battered. Eve has taken all of his money and Lawrence has let the opportunity to realize his dream slip through his fingers. Instead of ending his life as a traveling merchant and settling down permanently in Lenos, opening his own business, Lawrence has chosen Holo and her safety over his own goals. Although he has admitted his feelings to her, she is not entirely pleased with his decision. A mortal falling in love with someone who many consider to be a goddess is a complicated matter. Lawrence has promised to accompany Holo on her way back to her homeland of Yoitsu; it seems as though that journey will soon be coming to a close. But first there is the matter of Eve. She has already left Lenos on her way to the port town of Kerube. If Lawrence wants to see any of his profit, he has no choice but to follow. And to have any chance of catching up with her, that means traveling by boat on the Roam River which presents its own set of unique challenges.

One of my favorite parts about the Spice & Wolf series has always been Holo and Lawrence’s relationship and their frequent bantering and teasing of each other. Unfortunately, much of the sixth volume of Spice & Wolf is spent with Holo angry at Lawrence and not even speaking to him. So, instead of Lawrence and Holo spending their time together, it’s Lawrence and Col, a young student—a boy, really—who the two meet on their river journey. Although I did miss Holo and Lawrence’s interactions with each other, the reason for the shift in the story’s focus is abundantly clear by the end of Spice & Wolf, Volume 6. Luckily, I also happened to like Col. He may be young and still fairly naive, but he’s not an idiot. In fact, he proves to be a quick and earnest learner. Col’s past is interesting, and his future should be quite interesting as well. His introduction also allows Hasekura to explore another aspect of the world that he has created—the lives of and trials faced by students and scholars.

The sixth volume of Spice & Wolf relies very heavily on the books that precede it in the series, particularly the fifth volume. There’s not much of a recap in the sixth volume and the references to past events aren’t thoroughly explained. It’s probably best to read the sixth novel soon after finishing the fifth since their plots are closely connected. Unlike many of the previous volumes, the economic elements of Spice & Wolf, Volume 6 play a less prominent role in the story. However, Hasekura acknowledges this in the book’s afterword and promises to make up for it in later volumes of the series. While economics isn’t as critical in Spice & Wolf, Volume 6, it is still included. In particular, readers end up learning a bit about boat and river trade and shipping. The writing style in Spice & Wolf is rather sparse, with short sentences and short paragraphs. Due to this lack of detail, what is obvious to the characters is not always obvious to the readers. Even so, I’m still enjoying Spice & Wolf. The sixth volume may not be my favorite in the series, but there is still plenty of the journey left to go.

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20 July 2012 1 Comment

Enma the Immortal

Author: Fumi Nakamura
Translator: Neil Nadelman
U.S. publisher: Vertical
ISBN: 9781932234909
Released: April 2012
Original release: 2011
Awards: Golden Elephant Award

Enma the Immortal is Fumi Nakamura’s debut work as a novelist. A housewife who wrote in her spare time, she submitted Enma the Immortal to the inaugural Golden Elephant Award in 2010. It, along with Akira Arai’s novel A Caring Man (also available in translation from Vertical), shared the grand prize. Enma the Immortal was subsequently published in English with a translation by Neil Nadelman, first as an ebook in 2011 and then in print in 2012 by Vertical. The novel has already inspired an adaptation in Western comics—The Immortal: Demon in the Blood, available from Dark Horse. (I haven’t read the comics yet, but I do plan on it.) Nakamura has also written a sequel to Enma the Immortal but unfortunately it hasn’t been licensed in English yet. Enma the Immortal initially appealed to me for several reasons: the light novel is a historical fantasy primarily set in Japan’s Meiji era, I’m intrigued by humans’ fascination with immortality and its consequences, and I enjoy tattoos being incorporated into stories.

As the Tokugawa shogunate nears its final days, so does Amane Ichinose. A failure of an assassin and a spy, he finds himself being chased and hunted only to end up injured and dying on the doorstep of Baikou Houshou, a well-known tattooist. The chance encounter changes Amane forever. Baikou saves the younger man’s life, but in the process Amane is cursed with immortality; a demon has been bound to him through a tattoo known as an oni-gome. It will do everything it can to keep Amane from dying, whether he wants it to or not. Only one other man knows and completely understands the secrets behind the oni-gome, its curse, and how to destroy it—Yasha, Baikou’s disowned and estranged apprentice. Faced with living an eternity alone, Amane is determined to find the missing Yasha. Little does he know that Yasha will develop an intense interest in him as well. The two men possessed by demons, both struggling with and against their own desires for death, are destined to confront each other again and again as the century passes them by.

Each chapter of Enma the Immortal is almost its own self-contained story focusing on a pivotal time in Amane’s life, but they also build upon one another. What holds the whole novel together, though, is its characters: Amane himself, the men he betrayed before becoming immortal, the likeable yet cranky old bastard Baikou, Nobumasa Muta who, much to Amane’s frustration, repeatedly comes to the immortal’s aid, and most importantly Natsu, the daughter of a friend and one of the few people who knows about Amane’s peculiar condition. And then there’s Yasha, whose own immortality is slowly driving him insane as he tries and fails to maintain his humanity. He is a marvelous antagonist, not inherently evil, but deluded in his attempts to justify his actions. His relationship with Amane is a complex and volatile one, providing a major driving force behind the developments in Enma the Immortal, even before the two of them meet.

In addition to great characters, Nakamura also makes excellent use of historical events and people in Enma the Immortal, everything from the Shinsengumi to Jack the Ripper to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They are all incorporated expertly into Amane’s story. Even Amane’s encounters with Yasha, which could have easily come across as coincidences, seem more like fate than convenient plot devices. In general, I found the novel to be well-plotted with great pacing. The writing style and dialogue in Enma the Immortal do occasionally come across as anachronistic for the time periods in which the narrative is set, but it is highly engaging nonetheless. I absolutely loved Enma the Immortal and am particularly impressed that it is Nakamura’s debut work. Even though I know there is a sequel, and I would certainly like to read it, I was completely satisfied with Enma the Immortal. It’s both an entertaining and engaging novel that stands perfectly well on its own while still allowing plenty of opportunities for further development. Enma the Immortal is a fantastic read.

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9 May 2012 4 Comments

The Guin Saga, Book Five: The Marches King

Author: Kaoru Kurimoto
Illustrator: Naoyuki Kato
Translator: Alexander O. Smith and Elye J. Alexander
U.S. publisher: Vertical
ISBN: 9781934287200
Released: July 2008
Original release: 1980
Awards: Seiun Award

The Marches King is the fifth and final volume in “The Marches Episode,” the first major story arc in Kaoru Kurimoto’s fantasy epic The Guin Saga. While “The Marches Episode” is the only part of the light novel series available in English, The Guin Saga lasted for one hundred thirty volumes in its native Japan, winning the 2010 Seiun Award for long fiction. The Marches King was originally published in Japan in 1980. Vertical released the English translation of the novel by Alexander O. Smith and Elye J. Alexander in 2008, retaining the illustrations by Naoyuki Kato. Even though The Guin Saga hasn’t been nearly as successful in English as it has been in Japanese, the series is still very important to the development of the light novel form and Japanese fantasy literature. The Guin Saga was an influence on and source of inspiration for many Japanese creators.

It is only a matter of time before the Sem and the secrets of Nospherus will fall to the Mongauli army. Although they have managed to deal significant blows to the indavers’ morale and nearly wiped out the Blue Knights completely, the Sem are still vastly outnumbered and have sustained heavy casualties. When it comes to military prowess and strategy there is no question that the Monguali are superior. The Sem’s only chance is the leopard-headed warrior known as Guin, but he has left the Sem to face the invading army alone as he desperately tries to find and convince the mysterious Lagon to join the their cause. If the giants agree to come to the diminutive Sem’s aid they may be able to repel the Mongauli forces. But until Guin returns with reinforcements, the Sem are on their own. And if Guin fails the Sem will be annihilated; the Mongauli are preparing for a final frontal assault that they cannot lose.

From the very beginning of “The Marches Episode,” Kurimoto has known how to write a fantastic battle scene, whether it’s the one-on-one fights that Guin frequently finds himself in, the ambushes and skirmishes of the Sem, or the more coordinated military maneuvers of the Mongauli army. In fact, the fight sequences feature some of the best writing in the series. The scenes are engaging and exciting. Despite the occasional similar setup, the fights never come across as repetitive. I found Kurimoto’s creativity and clarity to be quite impressive when it comes to writing a fight scene. The Marches King is no different as the battle for Nospherus reaches its climax and is finally resolved. Kurimoto doesn’t hold back, either. The fighting is brutal and the ramifications are gruesome. There will be casualties in war and it is not often pretty.

Although The Guin Saga was off to a bit of a weak start with the first book, each volume improved and built upon the volumes that preceded it. By the time I reached The Marches King, I was already sold on the series and want to read more. “The Marches Episode” is a complete story in itself but it is obvious, especially after reading the afterword which puts the arc into mythological and historical context within the world that Kurimoto has created, that there is still plenty of story to be told. Kurimoto’s worldbuilding, while not always particularly original as she makes very good use of fairly standard fantasy archetypes and tropes, is excellent. Throughout “The Marches Episode” she has given hints about what is to come and has established a solid groundwork for future stories. Unfortunately, it is very unlikely that any of the later novels in The Guin Saga will be translated into English. However, I am very glad to at least have the beginning of such an influential series available.

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