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REVIEW: Faust Vol. 1


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Mysticmidnightmaiden



Joined: 14 Dec 2005
Posts: 123
Location: California (Bay Area)
PostPosted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:33 pm Reply with quote
I totally forgot that Del Rey was working on this. (I'm pretty sure it's them, right?)

My only wonder is how is the binding and the paper? I hope it's around Yen Plus's quality... But I'm all for anything to do with light novels, anyways. *orders*
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konkonsn



Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 172
Location: Illinois
PostPosted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:50 pm Reply with quote
Some of the fiction is good plot-wise? But how good is the writing? Is it somewhat complicated, really complicated, or very simple? I've read translated literature, and some of it can be very good, but when I've read some of the light novels that have come out (the Death Note novel and Shinigami no Ballad), I wasn't very impressed.
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Grico



Joined: 18 May 2004
Posts: 201
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
PostPosted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:51 pm Reply with quote
Sounds interest, Might have to pick it up. Strange collection of people of interest.
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abstract-alchemist



Joined: 18 Jun 2008
Posts: 65
Location: Hawaii
PostPosted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:51 pm Reply with quote
I gotta say I agree with the comments here. That Drill in the hole story took me almost a week to read because of it's twisted nature. I think a must for anyone who thinks they like Japanese Pop Culture.
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redcomet15



Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 42
Location: I just don't know anymore.
PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:25 am Reply with quote
Quote:
Some guy from Type-Moon.


What. No. Not cool. Kinoko Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi aren't just some guys. They are the guys. Together, they founded Type-Moon, with Nasu as writer and Takeuchi as illustrator.

Honestly.

Otherwise though, I'm happy to see this book getting a review; I'm even happier that this book exists in the first place. It's really a treat for the American anime fan.
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Big Hed



Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 1607
Location: Melbourne, Australia
PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:55 am Reply with quote
I'm happy to finally see a review of this. I just got around to reading this a couple weeks ago while flying from Chicago to Singapore and I've gotta say, it was good entertainment. I agree with Carlo that the highlights were F-sensei's Pocket and Drill Hole in My Brain.

F-sensei's Pocket was an engaging little adventure story that combined elements from multiple genres very smoothly, and Obata's crisp illustrations were a perfect complement (the action panels towards the end in particular worked quite well). Even the cracks in the fourth wall felt like they fit in, which is the type of thing that be a gamble in my opinion.

Drill Hole in My Brain was...I don't know what to say. Incredibly surreal. A chaotic torrent of visual metaphors, driven relentlessly forward by two streams of consciousness. Chofu Tower was a hilarious touch amidst all the talk of giant praying mantis, unicorn head-sex, and the rest. Somehow the narration holds together throughout, so the story ends up being a real trip. Anyway, while it really helped while away a couple hours in United economy, I was way glad to leave this story behind for F-sensei's Pocket.

I didn't think Garden of Sinners was too bad; actually, I thought the end of the chapter played out pretty well, and there was a good sense of atmosphere from start to finish. Although, I think the best part of this excerpt was that it reminded me to check out the first OVA, which is very pretty indeed.

The XXXHolic story was interesting if only because it offered the perspective of an outsider with regards to Yuko and Watanuki; having said that, the playing up of the psychological over supernatural that was used was a cool change from the usual XXXHolic pattern. Too bad there weren't more illustrations for this one.

As for Outlandos d'Amour, I share the same opinion as Carlo with regards to that. Focusing primarily on the characters rather than Koryo's powers was interesting but ultimately kind of boring since that woman he ends up marrying is a total drip.

Yeah, the majority of the essays weren't all that great, although the interview with the Type-Moon guys was nice just for a little background on The Garden of Sinners. Shiina's essay was a definite stand-out, if only because it's not often I get to see the Japanese perspective on the North American-Japan culture exchange. She covered some good points.

The manga section I wish had been a little longer. What was contained within was definitely solid eye candy, though, especially since most of it was presented in full color and black & white as well. The Kouga/NISIOISIN collab was enjoyable to read and look at; it's just a shame there wasn't more of it.

Forgot to mention: I hope the cover for volume 2 is just as cool as volume 1's is.
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Labbes



Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Posts: 890
PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 4:05 am Reply with quote
Could someone tell me the ISBN of this? It's really hard to find it on amazon thanks to Goethe Very Happy
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Acinom



Joined: 04 Dec 2004
Posts: 49
PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:33 am Reply with quote
Labbes wrote:
Could someone tell me the ISBN of this? It's really hard to find it on amazon thanks to Goethe Very Happy


978-0345502063

Here you go
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fuuma_monou



Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 1817
Location: Quezon City, Philippines
PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:37 am Reply with quote
Labbes wrote:
Could someone tell me the ISBN of this? It's really hard to find it on amazon thanks to Goethe Very Happy


ISBN: 978-0-345-50206-3

Easy enough to find if you include Del Rey in the search. Got my copy last month thanks to translator Andrew Cunningham pimping it.
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maaya



Joined: 14 Oct 2007
Posts: 976
PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:17 am Reply with quote
is this considered a light novel?

and has any other light novel apart from death note been reviewed her on ANN already?

anyway I'm definitely buying this very soon ><
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fuuma_monou



Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 1817
Location: Quezon City, Philippines
PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:23 am Reply with quote
maaya wrote:
is this considered a light novel?


All the stories are illustrated. Technically, this is a magazine in paperback book format, like the various incarnations of Jim Baen's DESTINIES.
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Andrew Cunningham



Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 442
Location: Seattle
PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:25 am Reply with quote
maaya wrote:
is this considered a light novel?


It's pretty specifically pitched as a bridge between light novels and real novels; some of the authors started as light novelists and went mainstream, others always were with the major labels but had a lot of cross over appeal. I'd say it's aimed more at a college audience than a high school one.
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maaya



Joined: 14 Oct 2007
Posts: 976
PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:20 am Reply with quote
fuuma_monou wrote:
All the stories are illustrated. Technically, this is a magazine in paperback book format, like the various incarnations of Jim Baen's DESTINIES.


what does illustrated mean? since light novels almost always have illustrations.

Andrew: Thanks for the explanation. Sounds really good.
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fighterholic



Joined: 28 Sep 2005
Posts: 9193
PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 10:30 am Reply with quote
I have to agree. This is a very interesting group of people to put together in the same book. Since it covers a whole variety of mediums, it probably will be interesting to pick it up and go through it.
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yblees



Joined: 10 Jul 2008
Posts: 165
Location: New Zealand
PostPosted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:46 pm Reply with quote
Damn, just when I thought I'd got my wishlist under control, ANN throws up another "must have".
Hmm, wonder if I can get the local library to order it ....
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