S.Q. Eries's Blog, page 27

Research Ramblings: Massachusetts’ Archives and History Museums Part 3

My previous post described my visit to Historic New England’s archives. However, Historic New England does more than maintain documents. It also offers tours of historic buildings and holds a variety of events throughout New England. Our visit to Boston just happened to coincide with its walking tour of Beacon Hill so I naturally jumped at the chance.

Historic New England’s Otis House Museum and Beacon Hill Tour

[image error]Location: 141 Cambridge Street in Boston, Massachusetts.

Resource Type: Museum and guided tour

Website: http://www.historicnewengland.org

Personal Goals:

Taking pictures and learning more about:

furniture and architecture
Boston’s historic neighborhoods

Unexpected Find: Learning about the Charles River Museum of Industry.

What to expect:

The tour began at the Otis House, whose original owner Harrison Gray Otis was instrumental in developing Beacon Hill. The Beacon Hill neighborhood tour fee included a separate tour of the Otis House, so of course we took the opportunity to see the Otis House interior.

The Otis House like many other mansions of its time, began as a home for a wealthy family but,  as the neighborhood changed, was converted for other uses, including a medical clinic and boarding house. However, in 1916, the predecessor to Historic New England purchased the property. The basement currently houses the Historic New England library and archives, but the remainder of the home has been restored to its glory when the Otises occupied it.

By the way, restoration also means keeping the house’s character as close as possible to the original. That means no air conditioning. And in July, it was sweltering in there. Yet despite the heat, the guide for the house tour kept up a lively narrative about the house’s first occupants and readily answered our questions about the various objects and furnishings from the turn of the 19th century.

[image error]The Beacon Hill tour was also hot and, on top of that, a bit of a hike. Beacon Hill is an actual hill, albeit an artificially raised one, and we went up and all around it, going from the Otis House to the Massachusetts State House to the Athenaeum and Congregational House to Boston Commons. However, it was definitely worth it as our guide, who’d studied art and historical architecture, was a trove of information. In addition to showing us how building styles changed as the Beacon Hill neighborhood developed, he pointed out the houses where historical figures such as Louisa May Alcott and John F. Kennedy once lived. He also answered our questions about objects like boot scrapers and cobblestone roads and took us down a bunch of tiny alleys that most passersby don’t even notice.

Apparently, Beacon Hill has gone full circle from the ritzy neighborhood to the slums and back to pricey again with the added charm of being a historical neighborhood. I guess people will pay top dollar for old fashioned houses on brick streets with gas lamps (which burn 24/7) even if those houses only come with street parking. By the way, according to our guide, those iconic red brick houses with black shutters were originally red brick houses with green shutters. Apparently, when Queen Victoria died, people were moved to paint their shutters black as a form of collective mourning. And then it stuck. However, folks have determined to revert to the true original scheme so you’ll see some green shutters among the black at Beacon Hill.

As for this resource’s “unexpected find,” that popped up after the tour ended. As our guide led us back to the Otis House, he asked why we were visiting the area. I explained I was researching a certain historical figure for a novel, and he knew who I was talking about! As such, he recommended I go to the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation because it has exhibits that are very pertinent to this person’s life.

It all just goes to show how help can show up in unexpected ways.

Next up: The Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation

Research Ramblings: Massachusetts’ Archives and History Museums Part 2

As mentioned in my previous post, I spent my summer vacation gathering information about 19th century Massachusetts from various places, and this post highlights my visit to the archives at Historic New England.

Historic New England Library and Archives

Location: 141 Cambridge Street in Boston, Massachusetts.

Resource Type: Archives

Website: http://www.historicnewengland.org/explore/library-archives/

Personal Goals:

Finding and making photograph copies of the following:

maps and photographs (interior and exterior) of 1860s-1870s Boston
19th century Boston patent lawyer pamphlet
Boston almanac and guide for 1868, 1869, and 1870 (FYI, these “almanacs” are the 19th century version of the 20th century yellow page directories or the modern day Yelp.)

Unexpected Find: Gaining Ground: A History of Landmaking in Boston by Nancy Seasholes, which details the development of Boston’s various neighborhoods and includes numerous historical maps and drawings.

[image error]

What to expect:

This archives is housed in a historic building known as the Otis House located at the foot of Beacon Hill. However, unlike the home of the Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS), the Otis House is a museum that offers tours to the public (more about this in my next post).

Historic New England, like the MHS, is an organization dedicated to the preservation of the region’s history, but its focus differs slightly. While the MHS concentrates more on documents, Historic New England’s collection contains a broader range of objects, including furniture, clothing, and a number of properties. They don’t have as many photographs and documents in their archives as MHS, but the thing that sets their archives apart is their collection of ephemera, expendable paper items such as tickets, menus, advertisements, and programs.

The archives is located in the Otis House basement and is staffed by Archives Manager Cristina Prochilo and Senior Curator Lorna Condon. No fee is required to visit the archives, but you must make an appointment by calling 617-994-5909 or emailing Archives@HistoricNewEngland.org. You must also submit a request of the materials you wish to view in advance of your visit. Their collection can be searched online at www.historicnewengland.org/explore/collections-access.

Like the MHS database, Historic New England’s online catalog took some effort to learn to navigate. However, unlike MHS’s ABIGAIL, much of the collection can be viewed online (which can possibly save you the effort of a visit). Also, there is no limit to the number of items you request.

Compared to MHS, the atmosphere at Historic New England’s archives is much more relaxed. You simply sign in at the entrance, and then go to the archives room, which also serves as office space for the archives staff. There are no lockers; we just hung our coats at the same coat rack used by the staff. All of my requested materials was waiting for me in a big stack, and my husband and I were allowed to work together to photograph the material. By the way, laptops and cameras are allowed, but there are no handy camera stands like National Archives does so be prepared to hold your smart phone or tablet

The staff is quite helpful and friendly. We were told during check in that a special event was taking place that day so they unfortunately would not be able to spend much time with us. However, we still ended up interacting a good twenty minutes with them over the course of our half-day visit. When I explained the purpose of my visit, they brought out additional maps and reference books they thought might be of interest, including the unexpected find noted above. So if you visit their archives on a non-event day, I imagine you’d get the royal treatment from these folks.

Next up: Otis House Museum and Beacon Hill Tour

Research Ramblings: Massachusetts’ Archives and History Museums Part 1

2018 has been busy. Not only are we busy with our normal workload, we’ve joined the ranks of people managing the affairs of elderly parents. However, we did take a break from sorting my mother-in-law’s tangled financials so that we could enjoy a summer vacation. My husband expressed no preference for a destination so I used the opportunity to turn our vacation into a research tour for the setting of my current work in progress: 19th century Massachusetts!

I’m a West Coast native so I don’t know much about the East Coast. However, New Englanders are big into preserving history, which means plenty of resources for interested researchers. This short series of posts will describe my experiences at the places I visited, starting with the Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS).

Massachusetts Historical Society

[image error]Location: 1154 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02215

Resource Type: Archives

Website: masshist.org

Personal Goals:

Finding and making photograph copies of the following:

maps and photographs (interior and exterior) of  1860s-1870s Boston
information regarding 19th century industry, machines, mechanics, and patents
references related to middle- and working-class social customs in 19th century Boston

Unexpected Find: pamphlet of the Mechanic Apprentices’ Library Association from February 22, 1870

What to expect:

The MHS is housed in a historic building and has a number of impressive antiques on display, but it is definitely an archives, not a museum. Their check-in process is not as intense as the National Archives, but you do need to register, stow your belongings in a locker, and adhere to their rules.

The archives is accessible to the public and does not charge a fee, but researchers must open an account on MHS’s (free) online request system Portal1791 to access materials. Researchers must first search for materials through MHS’s online catalog ABIGAIL, and then place requests (for up to 25 items at a time) through Portal1791. It took me a while to figure out how to navigate and narrow my searches on the ABIGAIL database. If you only have a limited time to visit MHS, definitely do your catalog search and place requests well in advance of your visit.

Materials are viewed in MHS’s research room. Wifi is available, but the signal varies in strength throughout the building. Laptops and cameras are allowed, but MHS doesn’t have handy camera stands like National Archives does so be prepared to hold your smart phone or tablet over all the documents you want to  photograph. The research room is monitored by archives staff who check in and check out materials (researchers are only allowed to handle one thing at a time) and who make sure everyone is following the rules.

And they DO watch. At one point, I took off my jacket because the room got too warm, and the research room staff told me to put in my locker (hanging an extra garment on the back of your chair is a no-no.)

Because of its vast collection, the MHS is a bastion for academic research. As such, it exudes a professional atmosphere. So if you go here, don’t expect a lot of personalized service or casual chitchat with the research room overseers.

Next up: the archives at Historic New England.

Light Novel Review: Spice and Wolf Vol. #19

Spice and Wolf is a wildly popular light novel series that has spawned off an anime, an Internet radio show, and a manga series. While its European medieval setting is typical of high fantasy, this series has a unique bent. Rather than swordfights and magic, the plot focuses on economics, trade, and peddling in a way that skillfully blends adventure and romance.

Yen Press has released the 19th volume of this novel series, and you can read on for the review. (You can also click here for my reviews of previous Spice and Wolf releases).

Back Cover Blurb

Blissful days continue for the ex-merchant and the wolf as they pass the days together in their mountain home. Ever since Col and Myuri set off on a journey of their own, the bathhouse has been a little shorthanded so a new hire was brought on. But this newcomer is a wolf, just like Holo, and the problems with her joining the staff seem endless…

The Review

Spring Log II delivers four additional stories that take place after Lawrence and Holo have settled down together. However, even though A Petal’s Fragrance and Wolf is framed in the context of Lawrence and Holo as empty-nesters, the tale actually centers on an incident that took place while they were still traveling about in Lawrence’s wagon. It’s very much a classic Spice and Wolf setup. The pair arrive in a community with a money-related dilemma (in this case, contention over funding for a water mill’s repairs), and through some combination of Lawrence’s and Holo’s abilities, a clever answer to the problem arises. Considering that Holo’s rose-scented oil is the inspiration for Lawrence’s money-making/fire-prevention scheme, it seems as if the solution should have been obvious much sooner. But because they’re stuck pondering the problem for so long,  readers get to see Lawrence and Holo handle the situation as recently committed lovers rather than simply merchant and wisewolf.

The POV next shifts from Lawrence to Col in Sweet Fangs and Wolf. Lawrence and Holo take on the role of supporting cast, and the spotlight turns to Spice and Wolf’s aspiring priest and the tomboy Miyuri. While we get a glimpse of Lawrence and Holo as parents, the story is more about Col’s and Miyuri’s drastically different personalities and how they manage to maintain a warm relationship despite their differences.

Then it’s back to Lawrence’s POV and another travel story in Grooming Sheep and Wolf. But this trip takes place after the events of Muddy Messenger Wolf and Wolf of Volume 18, and poor Lawrence is dealing with the aches and pains that come with getting older. However, certain things do get better with age. In the main Spice and Wolf arc, Lawrence was constantly misreading situations and looking the fool before Holo. In this story, the roles get switched; Holo’s the one caught in embarrassment, and Lawrence is able to see the true feelings behind the Holo’s crumbling facade. After so many volumes of Holo mocking Lawrence, this story is a refreshing change of pace.

For the final story in the volume, Hasekura-sensei uses a POV we don’t see often: Holo’s. Set after Grooming Sheep and Wolf and the first volume of Wolf and Parchment, Memories of Spice and Wolf shows the Spice and Wolf household shaken up not only by the new wolf Selim but the repercussions from the actions of the kids who’ve recently left. As such, it winds up feeling like two separate stories, one about Selim’s adjustment from her family pack and another about the avalanche of parchment that’s landed on Lawrence’s desk.

The thing that holds the otherwise disparate arcs together is Holo’s anxious struggle to embed events in her memory. References to time feel less concrete than in other characters’ POVs, which heightens the impression that Holo experiences the flow of events much differently than the rest of the cast. For most of the series, Holo has been the image of confidence and power. However, just as in Grooming Sheep and Wolf, Holo’s insecure side comes to the surface, and it’s Lawrence who recognizes that weakness and lovingly shows her a way past her fears. Interestingly, Holo never refers to Lawrence by name. While in her perspective, Lawrence is “her companion” or “Fool” (although she does call Lawrence “dear” twice during a tender moment). Regardless, he is precious to her, and her emotions flow beautifully off the page as Lawrence tries to prepare her for the day he can no longer be with her.

This light novel includes the first eight pages of illustrations printed in color, world map, seven black-and-white illustrations, and afterword.

In Summary

Holo never refers to Lawrence as her husband, but Spring Log II covers the span of what is essentially their marriage, from the early days when they were still traveling by wagon to parenting moments with Myuri and Col to the empty-nester phase. Economics figures into some of the stories, but the main focus is Holo and Lawrence’s relationship and the issues that arise because Lawrence’s lifespan is so much shorter than Holo’s. While Holo retains her sharp tongue, she shows much more affection than in the main Spice and Wolf arc, and there are plenty of warm and fuzzy moments for Holo/Lawrence fans to enjoy.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: The Royal Tutor Vol. 7

Rich, handsome young men, each with his own distinct personality…this type of bishounen cast is a staple in shojo manga. And if you like yours with a generous helping of chibi humor, you should definitely check out Higasa Akai’s The Royal Tutor. Read on for my review of Volume 7. (For my reviews of other volumes click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

Princes Kai, Bruno, Leonhard, and Licht have been making great strides thanks to an excellent education from Heine, the royal tutor. Even so, with the return of Prince Eins, the eldest of the brothers and heir apparent to the crown, the wall they must climb in the struggle to become the most qualified candidate for the throne looks more colossal than ever. Can the four younger princes stand up to their biggest rival?

The Review

Volume 7 is comprised entirely of material not included in the anime. Chief among them is the introduction of Prince Eins, who, although he was mentioned in the TV series, never actually made an appearance in the show. After teasing readers for several chapters, Akai-sensei finally brings him into the manga in Chapter 36, “Return of the Black Prince.”

And Eins definitely fits the description “Black Prince.” Not only is he dark-haired in contrast to his mostly fair family, he has an intimidating, scowly (though handsome) face and a demeanor to match. In other words, he looks like a villain. Initially, he acts the part, too, with his brusque attitude toward his family. However, when Heine directly confronts Eins with his suspicions about interference with the younger princes, the Black Prince doesn’t draw the story into anything more diabolical. Rather, he scoffs at the idea that his brothers are true competition for the throne and makes his case by pointing out their flaws, which readers are intimately acquainted with.

As such, our introduction to Eins starts with a bang but ultimately doesn’t make much impact. He leaves town after strutting his superiority, and the brothers resolve to make themselves into real competition for kingship, which is something they’ve been working on anyway.

With that, the narrative returns to the brothers’ individual efforts, starting with Leonhard. Unfortunately, his chapter is the same old theme of how stupid he is. Next, the focus shifts to Kai, and Akai-sensei makes an interesting choice in how to present his progress. Rather than show it from the second prince’s point of view, fiancée Beatrix returns to the story, and given how mellow Kai is, Beatrix’s perspective on the situation does make for a livelier story.

The last two chapters go to Licht. Having determined that his one unique advantage is his frequent interactions with commoners, he’s decided to learn as much as he can about regular folk. However, he gets more than he bargains for when a storm forces him and Heine to spend the night with the cafe owner. Licht may mingle with commoners, but he’s definitely got a noble’s sensibilities, and it’s fun to see Heine knocking Licht off his high horse.

Extras include bonus manga printed on the inside of the cover; five-page bonus story; and first page printed in color.

In Summary

The eldest prince Eins finally appears! But despite his “Black Prince” demeanor and looks, he come off more as a snotty older sibling than a villain sabotaging his brothers’ chances. As such, there’s not a whole lot of added drama despite the anticipation Akai-sensei built up. However, those who prefer to laugh at our princelings will be gratified by the fluffy, filler chapters in the book’s second half.

First published at The Fandom Post.

 

Manga Review: Silver Spoon Vol. 3

Before she became the mangaka of the hit fantasy series Fullmetal Alchemist, Hiromu Arakawa was a dairy farm girl. Now she brings those country experiences into her series Silver Spoon. Read on for the review of Volume 3!

Back cover blurb

A few weeks into his summer job at Mikage Ranch, Hachiken has proven himself a hard worker, even under the skeptical gaze of Aki’s father. His first term at Ezo AG has given him a great deal to think about-the future, the fate of Pork Bowl-but open pastures and fresh air provide a very different backdrop to his worries than his previous life in the city. Still, when he chose not to go home for summer break, Hachiken hardly expected home to come to him!

The Review

Hachiken’s summer at the Mikage Ranch continues. Our city boy’s sojourn in the countryside continues to deliver a nice combination of laughs and education (Hey, I’m a city slicker, too!), but when he and Mikage talk about dreams and family expectations, the narrative also touches upon the family dynamic that made Hachiken choose not to go home.

Then the story plunges deep into the Hachiken family dynamic when Hachiken’s older brother Shingo bursts unannounced onto the Mikage Ranch. Personality-wise, carefree Shingo is the exact opposite of Hachiken, and his particular talent for ruining food introduces a new running joke into the story. But even though Hachiken bears an intense dislike for his brother, the feeling is not mutual. Rather, Shingo admires what his younger brother is doing and encourages him to do what he wants. Their parents never make an actual appearance in this volume, but the bits of communication that they direct to their sons paint a pretty clear picture why Hachiken wants to get away from them.

Then school resumes, and the story shifts away from the family situation Hachiken’s trying to escape and back to the dilemma he can’t seem to get over: the fate of Pork Bowl. Rather than come to terms with the fact that Pork Bowl was born to be meat, Hachiken gets more tied up in knots now that Pork Bowl is full-grown. Unfortunately, there’s no stopping Pork Bowl’s slaughter date, and when it’s finally staring Hachiken in the face, he makes a surprising proposal. I love this part of the story, how Hachiken has become so acutely aware of the animal lives that make meat possible and how that pushes him to acknowledge those lives the best way he can. Vegetarians probably won’t be too happy with his decision, but as another person who can’t become a vegetarian, I really enjoyed it.

For those who have seen the anime, the manga and TV series share the same major scenes and general timeline. However, there are a number of small scenes in the manga that were not included in the anime, and the last-minute fattening of Pork Bowl in the anime was not part of the manga.

Extras include story thus far, character profiles, bonus manga, and translation notes.

In Summary

Summer vacation arcs often mean fun outings with friends, trips to the beach, swimsuits, and festivals. But that’s not the case for Hachiken. While he does manage to attend a festival, his summer is marked by more unpleasant incidents in the countryside and unwanted visits from his free-spirited older brother. As usual, Arakawa-sensei does an excellent job balancing the comedy of Hachiken’s city boy bungling and his angst over the fate of Pork Bowl and other farm animals.

First published at The Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Caterpillar Girl and Bad Texter Boy

Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, a novella about a guy who turns into a big bug, is standard reading in a lot of schools. For those who’ve craved more stories in that vein, mangaka Sanzo presents the single volume tale of Caterpillar Girl and Bad Texter Boy!

Back Cover Blurb

When a beautiful girl asks her childhood friend out, his response is a shocker: ‘You’re too perfect.’ What’s a girl to do, except transform into a giant caterpillar and try, try again?

The Review

Caterpillar Girl and Bad Texter Boy sounds like the name of a superhero team or a comic duo. However, the characters of this seven-chapter, single volume manga are not heroic, and while there is some humor, the story is more melodrama than laughs.

”Bad Texter Boy” refers to Akane Kuchinashi, and it’s a misnomer because you only see him using his smartphone on the first page. He’s more accurately described as a borderline NEET (a shut-in). Although he attends school, he doesn’t have any confidence, is bad at interacting with others, and therefore keeps to himself.

However, Akane does have one friend: Suzume Kikuo, the girl next door. She’s beautiful, smart, and popular—the exact opposite of him. So Akane’s shocked when Suzume asks to be his girlfriend. Instead of being happy about it, he turns her down, saying that she’s too perfect and he’s too messed up for it to work. Unwilling to give up, Suzume decides to rectify the situation, not by changing Akane, but by turning herself into a giant caterpillar.

And there you have the humor in the story, with Akane freaking out at his transformed friend and Suzume struggling to do things in her new body. However, the story doesn’t devolve into a weird ”my girlfriend is a bug” comedy. Akane feels incredible guilt about the situation so he seeks out Yutaka Ouga, the schoolmate who told Suzume how she might change herself. However, when he finds Yutaka, she is strangely hostile toward him.

With the introduction of Yutaka, the focus shifts to the origins of Akane’s pathetic personality. In addition to self-reflection on Akane’s part, Yutaka inadvertently stumbles upon a major element of dysfunction in the Kuchinashi family.  At the same time, Suzume’s personality starts to degrade. The narrative that results is less about a bizarre magical transformation and more about the lingering effects of the damage people inflict upon one another.

Although Yutaka claims to be happy with her ending, the book’s conclusion is better described as bittersweet. Despite its magical elements, Caterpillar Girl and Bad Texter Boy is not a fairy tale, and Suzume’s ultimate state and the burden Akane embraces at the end is a metaphor for the scars in their relationship.

Extras include embedded author’s afterword, 4-page bonus manga, and title page in color.

In Summary

The title makes it sound like a comedy, but it’s not. Despite the supernatural transformation of a character into a giant bug, this single-volume story is really a commentary on human relationships and the immense impact that invisible emotional hurts have on our lives.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Manga Review: Hatsu*Haru Vol. 1

Ah…high school romance. It is a staple of shojo manga, and Shizuki Fujisawa adds another title to this list with Hatsu*Haru. Read on for the review of Volume 1!

Back Cover Blurb

Playboy Kai knows his way around girls’ hearts, but when he has a run-in with tomboy Riko, he may be in for more than he bargained for! Riko clearly doesn’t fit Kai’s usual type of girl: she’s short-tempered, scary, and can (has) easily beat him up. There’s no way a rough and tumble girl like Riko is capable of a delicate feeling as love! So imagine his surprise when he finds out about her secret, one-sided crush… But it’s none of his concern, right?

The Review

It only takes a glance at Hatsu*Haru’s dewy-eyed character designs and sparkly backdrops to know that this is a shojo romance. And inside the cover are a host of stereotypical elements for that genre: the high-school setting, the handsome playboy, the awkward heroine, the crush on a teacher. However, one aspect of Hatsu*Haru that veers from standard protocol is that our main character is a guy.

First-year student Kai Ichinose is a handsome playboy, and his relationships with girls don’t go much deeper than a good time to indulge his male hormones. As for the beauties he flirts with, they definitely do NOT include tomboy Riko Takahashi. Especially after she thrashes him for breaking her friend’s heart. But despite his efforts to avoid her, he winds up as co-class representatives with Riko. And when he discovers she has a one-sided crush on their homeroom teacher, Kai find himself falling in love with her.

That last bit is the biggest leap of the story. Riko and Kai have known each other since third grade (or as they put it, “an unnecessarily long time”), and during that time, Riko has fought and humiliated Kai more than once. She is decidedly an enemy in Kai’s eyes. But then he catches her looking longingly at the object of her affections, and suddenly Kai is head over heels for her.

If you can make the leap that a maiden’s tender look (on another guy!) can captivate a shallow philanderer, the rest of the story is quite entertaining, with a good balance of comedy and heart-fluttering moments. Much of the humor gets supplied by Kai’s three friends: Miki, Tarou, and Takaya. Although they make a foursome, they’re not an F4-type clique. Rather, they serve as a means for Kai to vocalize his internal turmoil. As he struggles with inexplicable new emotions, his friends alternate between teasing him and making commentary that indicates just how much Riko’s affected him.

As for the romantic bits, Fujisawa-sensei relies on cliche situations  (i.e., object of affection gets a fever, school camp confessions). However, she depicts the characters’ emotions so exquisitely and paces her drawings so beautifully that the illustrations completely draw you in. So even though Kai’s abrupt attraction to Riko might not seem plausible when considered objectively, Fujisawa-sensei’s drawings make you believe it’s 100% real.

Extras include embedded author’s notes, afterword, and translation notes.

In Summary

Hatsu*Haru might have a male protagonist, but it is a shojo romance through and through. The way our hero falls for the heroine might test the limits of credibility, but if you can get past that, you’ve got a wonderfully illustrated dynamic of a guy who wants a girl who’s pining after a man she can’t have.

First published at the Fandom Post.

Light Novel Review: Saga of Tanya the Evil Vol. #02

The Saga of Tanya the Evil anime was a surprise favorite for me in 2017. With a title like that, I was almost too scared to give it a try, but conniving little Tanya turned out to be nothing like I anticipated. Yen Press has released Volume 02 of the light novel adaption, and you can read on for the review. (For reviews of other Tanya the Evil works, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

After being reborn and becoming a magic wielding soldier in the Imperial Army, Tanya Degurechaff bemoans her fate of being placed at the very edge of the front lines instead of a comfy place in the rear. Swearing revenge on Being X, she plunges head-first into battle, dragging her subordinate along with her!

The Review

The second volume of The Saga of Tanya the Evil is as much about Tanya’s newly formed battalion, the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion, as it is about Tanya. The battalion’s very existence came about because of Tanya, and its fate is intricately connected to hers. While Tanya often curses Being X, there is no real dialogue between mortals and immortals in this installment. It’s all about human actions, individual and corporal, and as the beleaguered Empire faces enemies on three sides, it sends the 203rd jumping from front to front.

As in the anime, the 203rd first obliterates a Dacian invasion and then gets sent to Norden before finally going to the Republican Front. As a result, the book starts with a positive tone, which gets progressively darker as battle conditions worsen and enemies get tougher. Meanwhile, Tanya continues to be misunderstood by friend and foe alike; no one would think that she wants peace more than anyone.

Although the situations Zen sets up in Volume 2 are quite intriguing, his particular writing style requires effort to slog through. Just as in Volume 1, the text is plagued with abrupt POV shifts and lack of dialogue tags. On top of that, Zen has a tendency to overexplain the decisions of military and state heads. In addition, the narrative is full of redundant statements. So even though the reader winds up learning exactly what everyone’s doing and how they came to that plan of action, reading all that minutiae gets tedious.

However, there are fun bits. While the anime delves into the training of the original 203rd members, it glosses over the raw recruits that the battalion receives AFTER arriving on the Republican Front. Tanya’s praises to the shovel rather remind me of the way the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy hails the towel. The new recruits’ baptism by fire in the trenches did not get animated, but reading about it from Second Lieutenant Warren Grantz’s perspective was thrilling.

Another Volume 2 arc that wasn’t included in the anime is the botched Norden-Commonwealth smuggling attempt on the high seas. Although the text flowed like cold tar and Zen takes a ridiculous amount of time before revealing the ultimate fate of the Commonwealth submarine, this skirmish is a gripping collision of coincidences and mistakes from everyone involved. If Zen could somehow streamline his writing, it would definitely make for on-the-edge-of your-seat reading.

Extras include a map and fold-out illustration in color; appendixes explaining military strategy and history timeline; author afterword; and six black-and-white illustrations.

In Summary

Carlo Zen’s longwinded prose continues to test the endurance of those who would read about his alternate world. (He even admits in the afterword that this volume is a bit thick.) However, if you’re willing to take on this 406-page behemoth, you’ll be rewarded with a Norden battle and a Republican Front “training exercise” that weren’t included in the anime. In addition, you’ll know all the details that lead up to each of 203rd Battalion’s orders— whether you’re interested or not.

First published at the Fandom Post.

 

 

 

Manga Review: Spice and Wolf Vol. #15

Spice and Wolf is a wildly popular light novel series that has spawned off an anime, an Internet radio show, and a manga series. While its European medieval setting is typical of high fantasy, this series has  a unique bent to it. Rather than swordfights and magic, the plot focuses on economics, trade, and peddling in a way that skillfully blends adventure and romance.

Yen Press has released Volume 15 of the Spice and Wolf manga, and you can read on for the review. (For my reviews of previous Spice and Wolf releases, click here.)

Back Cover Blurb

The Debau Company is headed to a point of no return. The radicals within the company have made their move and deposed the conservative faction, all the while steering the northlands closer to the brink of open battle. A certain wolf rushes South as fast as her paws can carry her, but can Lawrence and the Myuri Mercenary Company hold back the flames of war long enough for a chance at lasting peace?

The Review

Having been manipulated by Hilde into fleeing Lesko, Lawrence and the Myuri Mercenaries must determine their next plan of action. The discussion between Lawrence and the mercenary leaders is intended to provide a snapshot of their current circumstances and options, but it is a little difficult to follow. However, they clearly make the decision to go to Svernel, as Hilde intended, and shortly thereafter, the situation really gets interesting when pursuers hired by the Debau Company catch up to them.

The Myuri Company’s reaction to the arrival of the Hugo Company and Luward’s communications with Captain Rebonato might strike readers as baffling. After all, these people are mercenaries, and modern Western readers generally think of mercenaries as fighters-for-hire whose only loyalty is to money. To the contrary, the mercenaries of the Spice and Wolf world are people with their own code of honor and who are distinctly different from knights, hired thugs, and assassins. As such, the staged battles between the Myuri and Hugo Companies were not at all what I expected.

Holo’s return to Lawrence is also rather low-key. Although she alludes to difficulties when she returned to Lesko to find Lawrence gone, the Myuri Company is not in dire straits when she rejoins them. That relaxed atmosphere allows for an unexpectedly tender moment in the snow with our lead couple. (Although the romance is immediately followed by blatant fan service when Holo retrieves the forbidden book.)

That lack of tension also serves another purpose: heightening the Myuri Company’s shock when their staged negotiation go awry. While the code of honor between mercenaries remains a bit of a puzzle for me, the turnabout is effective at flinging our heroes back into peril and bringing excitement back to the pages.

Extras include title illustration in color and afterword.

In Summary

Apparently, merchants aren’t the only ones who strike negotiations and scheme to minimize losses. Mercenaries do, too! Lawrence gets a glimpse into the world of mercenaries as he flees with the Myuri Company to Svernel.

First published at the Fandom Post.