(no subject)

[skygiants]

So I read Moribito: Guardian of the Darkness. And now it seems fairly unlikely that there will ever be any further Moribito books in English, and I am therefore out of Balsa adventures and full of sorrow.*


*Yes, I know, there is the anime. Which I will absolutely be watching! But I'm currently watching through the Twelve Kingdoms anime in a futile attempt to stave off my desperate longing for the next book to come out, and I sort of feel that watching two deliberately-paced, world-building-focused anthropological/political fantasy anime at the same time might detract from my ability to fully appreciate either.


Guardian of the Spirit follows stoic swordswoman Balsa as she decides to deal with her past by going home and apologizing to the relatives of the father-figure who died in exile because he fled the country to train and protect her. Once she's there, it turns out that the conspiracy that forced them to the country in the first place is very far from over, and the repurcussions could destroy the kingdom - and not just in the 'that king totally sucks' sort of way. More in the "when the entire economy of your natural-resource-starved nation is based around an exchange with the supernatural, DO NOT ANNOY THE SUPERNATURAL" sort of way. On the bright side, Balsa discovers an awesome long-lost aunt?

As in the first book, the worldbuilding is fantastic, and Balsa's country and culture feels very believably different from the culture of the Yogo and Yakoo. I also love Balsa herself twice as much after the climax of this book, and how long-suffering she is about constantly getting pulled into nation-saving encounters with the supernatural. "No, seriously, again?"

Comments

[aisforamy]

I loved the anime! I have the first few episodes on DVD, and it's really well done. I haven't read the books yet, but I am kicking myself for not picking up Guardian of Darkness when I saw it at the used book store. What was I thinking? Was Tanda in Darkness at all?

[skygiants]

I keep hearing that it is excellent! I am excited for it - I've seen the first episode and it was gorgeous (though it was weird seeing a Balsa who looked so very different from the book cover . . .)

Tanda was sadly not in Darkness at all, though Balsa thinks about him a bit. From what I understand he does appear in the third book . . . which may not ever get published. SORROW.

[aisforamy]

Woe!

[elle-white.livejournal.com]

I've seen the anime in it's entirety and I'd love to read the books! Guardian of Darkness sounds so good. I'd love to find out what happens when Balsa returns to Kanbal.
The anime is fairly brief and self contained. I would love to read the about the continuing adventures of Balsa, the stoical swordswoman. That really sounds epic, doesn't it?

[skygiants]

It so does, and it so is. You can tell just from the way that all the villains in the second book start freaking out as soon as she appears - "oh nooooo she will RUIN EVERYTHING!"

I've also been reading the summaries of the other books on Wikipedia, and even the two-sentence versions make me wish to read them desperately. Chagum the ambassador! Balsa and Tanda rescuing orphan children with mysterious powers!

Also, hilariously, there is apparently a Moribito cookbook.

[lacewood]

Oh nooo, they're not translating the rest? DAMMIT, WHY. ;_; (I've read the first and was waiting for the second to hit paperback before getting it)

[skygiants]

I have only heard rumors! And that was just that they're putting the translations on pause, at least, because sales are not as high as they had hoped. :( So it is not a definite cancellation, but things do not look good.

[lacewood]

Yeah, I figured it was probably the sales numbers. D:

Maybe I'll spring for the hardcover after all, if it's still around the next time I'm back in Singapore, even if one sale isn't going to make a major difference. ;_;

[skygiants]

I got my copy out of the library, but I'm definitely considering springing for one in the hope that it will do something useful. Please don't leave us Balsa-bereft, Scholastic!

[hafl.livejournal.com]

Damn, no more English translations is a bad thing. Imports from Japan are expensive and reading Japanese is tiring.

About the Twelve Kingdoms, there is actually an unofficial translation on the Internet of the next Yoko book (the sixth in the series) and a short story collection. If you want, I can post the links. The same person also translated the first two Yoko books and made some blog posts about how the official translation differs from his. Nothing major, but interesting if you're interested in translating like me.

[skygiants]

Ooh, thanks for the heads-up! Right now I'm trying to make myself actually buy each one as it comes out, so with GREAT WILLPOWER I am avoiding online translations, but after that one's published (or if Tokyopop drops the series) I would definitely find those links useful! And I really would be curious to see those posts about the differences in the translations, too.

[hafl.livejournal.com]

<url=http://eugenewoodbury.blogspot.com/search/label/shadow%20revisions>These are blog posts relating to differences in Sea of Shadow.

Apparently, there is also a section missing in the official translation of Skies of Dawn, so you might also check that. I can't really tell, since I have not yet got around to read it, even though I bought it.

[hafl.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I botched the url, but the link's still there.

[skygiants]

I will get a TON of dorky joy out of this. Thank you!