Seikai Trilogy Volume 2: Banner of the Stars.
March 13th 2008 23:29
Category: Graphic Novels/Comics
Publisher: Tokyopop Manga.
Original Story by: Hiroyuki Morioka.
Written & Illustrated by: Toshihiro Ono.
Translation by: Bryan Masumoto.
Retouch & Lettering: Vincente Rivera, Jr.
Graphic Artist: James Lee.
Cover Design: Patrick Hook.
Cost: US $9.99.
Unlike Sorcerers & Secretaries which I have reviewed previously this particular manga by Tokyopop sticks to the traditional Japanese manga format, you read it from right to left. Fortunately like all such manga there is a page at the ‘front’ that tells you you’re reading in the wrong direction and precisely how to read the dialogue in the manga which is really handy if you’re new to the manga experience. Another interesting thing that you’ll find with this particular manga volume at the back is a glossary of various terms and phrases that are peppered throughout the dialogue in this story, this also is very hand as it gives you some idea as to precisely what the heck some of the characters are referring to.
Our story takes place some time in the distant future, precisely how distant is not specified, suffice it to say that it’s likely to be several millennia as there are many worlds that have been colonised by humanity and humanity itself has branched out into several different subspecies, the most prominent of these being the Abh. The Abh are a genetically engineered subspecies of humanity whose characteristics have made them eminently suitable for the life of spacefarers. Over time the Abh achieved dominance in the areas of technology and ability and established a vast empire over the various systems and planets inhabited by the other branches of humanity. This vast empire was not accepted willingly by the other branches and they formed an alliance to try and break the dominance of the Abh over trade and technology. Several major nations namely the United Mankind, the Republic of Alcont and the People’s Sovereign Union of Planets (PSUP) formed the Triple Alliance which initiated a conflict against the Abh Empire and its military. Three years ago the Triple Alliance and the Abh Empire reached a standstill in this conflict and both sides have spent the intervening time regathering their forces.
Now the Sekai Trilogy shares an interesting feature in common with Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Series and that is in the distinct absence of any aliens be they intelligent or non-sentient life forms. This isn’t the usual state of things in most science fiction works set in the interstellar deeps, be they manga or novels. Aliens often abound either as living presences or as long vanished cultures and societies, this isn’t the case in the Sekai Trilogy. Still as the focus of this story is on the conflict between the Abh and the Triple Alliance there is no real need for aliens to be in this tale. As the Abh are a species that prefers the deeps of space the bulk of the drama actually occurs in space, either aboard various space stations or spaceships there is only one brief scene that actually takes place on a planet. It seems that the Abh really don’t enjoy being on actual solid planets, they prefer the interstellar void and their various space habitats to the worlds on which their predecessors evolved and which their enemies live.
Much of the drama in this particular volume focuses around Operation Phantom Flame, the Labule’s efforts to take the Aptic system and its surrounds from the forces of the Triple Alliance. The key point for this operation is the Aptic Sord (gateway) which ships emerge from planespace (known to the Abh as Fwas) into normal space (or dadeocks as the Abh call it). So essentially Fwas is this manga’s equivalent to the ever present hyperspace that is found a great many science fiction works that involve faster than light travel, but in order for this to be achieved its seems that vessels must enter and exit a Sord or gateway in order for them to journey interstellar distances. As a result a systems sord is a highly valuable strategic asset. Whoever controls the sord thus controls access into and out of that particular system.
One of the many ships involved in this particular operation is the Basroil, an assault ship under the command of Lafiel, the granddaughter of the Empress of the Abh Empire. With her on this mission are her trusty crew and her long time friend Jinto Lin who serves as the Basroil’s supply officer. Jinto and Lafiel are the story’s two primary protagonists and much of the drama revolves around their actions and reactions to the situation unfolding about them, the events of Operation Phantom Flame. Chaos interspersed with rare moments of peace are what takes place in this interstellar conflict and the action depicted is on an epic scale, spaceships firing away at each other and then exploding into a million fragments as their defences are breached or a critical hit is scored. There is a distinct atmosphere of speed within this story, as if everything is literally occurring at superluminal velocities and yet there is also a feeling of laconic detachment at certain points within the narrative. It seemed to me that the people behind the story were trying to depict the fact that even though space battles occur at tremendous speeds and within a matter of moments to the Abh as a species its all very much a days work, that over the centuries in which they have existed they can actually think and react even faster than what physically takes place in a space battle.
Banner of the Stars was an interesting read, certainly the story is enough to capture your attention and its characters are lively enough to create a sense of empathy within the reader. What got me though was that the action and the various Abh terms and Abh speak just overloaded my little grey cells. It’s an artistic/literary explosion and frankly I didn’t cope with it, as I was reading I found myself constantly flicking to the glossary at the back of the manga to try and work out what a term or phrase meant. And the action, it literally has the feel of happening at superluminal speeds, still it has to be said the presentation is fantastic and the back-story behind it all is relatively unique, my suggestion is if you come across a copy of this read it a couple of times to let it all sink in. Chance’s are after two or three reads you’ll get the hang of the Abh speak and the speed will be manageable.
Original Story by: Hiroyuki Morioka.
Written & Illustrated by: Toshihiro Ono.
Translation by: Bryan Masumoto.
Retouch & Lettering: Vincente Rivera, Jr.
Graphic Artist: James Lee.
Cover Design: Patrick Hook.
Cost: US $9.99.
Unlike Sorcerers & Secretaries which I have reviewed previously this particular manga by Tokyopop sticks to the traditional Japanese manga format, you read it from right to left. Fortunately like all such manga there is a page at the ‘front’ that tells you you’re reading in the wrong direction and precisely how to read the dialogue in the manga which is really handy if you’re new to the manga experience. Another interesting thing that you’ll find with this particular manga volume at the back is a glossary of various terms and phrases that are peppered throughout the dialogue in this story, this also is very hand as it gives you some idea as to precisely what the heck some of the characters are referring to.
Much of the drama in this particular volume focuses around Operation Phantom Flame, the Labule’s efforts to take the Aptic system and its surrounds from the forces of the Triple Alliance. The key point for this operation is the Aptic Sord (gateway) which ships emerge from planespace (known to the Abh as Fwas) into normal space (or dadeocks as the Abh call it). So essentially Fwas is this manga’s equivalent to the ever present hyperspace that is found a great many science fiction works that involve faster than light travel, but in order for this to be achieved its seems that vessels must enter and exit a Sord or gateway in order for them to journey interstellar distances. As a result a systems sord is a highly valuable strategic asset. Whoever controls the sord thus controls access into and out of that particular system.
One of the many ships involved in this particular operation is the Basroil, an assault ship under the command of Lafiel, the granddaughter of the Empress of the Abh Empire. With her on this mission are her trusty crew and her long time friend Jinto Lin who serves as the Basroil’s supply officer. Jinto and Lafiel are the story’s two primary protagonists and much of the drama revolves around their actions and reactions to the situation unfolding about them, the events of Operation Phantom Flame. Chaos interspersed with rare moments of peace are what takes place in this interstellar conflict and the action depicted is on an epic scale, spaceships firing away at each other and then exploding into a million fragments as their defences are breached or a critical hit is scored. There is a distinct atmosphere of speed within this story, as if everything is literally occurring at superluminal velocities and yet there is also a feeling of laconic detachment at certain points within the narrative. It seemed to me that the people behind the story were trying to depict the fact that even though space battles occur at tremendous speeds and within a matter of moments to the Abh as a species its all very much a days work, that over the centuries in which they have existed they can actually think and react even faster than what physically takes place in a space battle.
Banner of the Stars was an interesting read, certainly the story is enough to capture your attention and its characters are lively enough to create a sense of empathy within the reader. What got me though was that the action and the various Abh terms and Abh speak just overloaded my little grey cells. It’s an artistic/literary explosion and frankly I didn’t cope with it, as I was reading I found myself constantly flicking to the glossary at the back of the manga to try and work out what a term or phrase meant. And the action, it literally has the feel of happening at superluminal speeds, still it has to be said the presentation is fantastic and the back-story behind it all is relatively unique, my suggestion is if you come across a copy of this read it a couple of times to let it all sink in. Chance’s are after two or three reads you’ll get the hang of the Abh speak and the speed will be manageable.
| 46 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
