Poll: Do you people read the Afterword of Light Novels?

[Mystes]

Isn't english fun?

It's hell.

[ainsoph9]

On that note, while I know one of the reasons why "light novels" are called "light novels," I always had the feeling that they could be called something else that is somewhat more fitting. The term just seems kind of awkward to me.

[Kinny Riddle]

Stop wasting page space and going off topic, folks. Do you know how exhausting it is to scroll down through any posts that veer off from the main topic just to get back to one that talks about it again? Just on the last 2 pages, I think I counted nearly 50% of posts veering into the meta-discussion on what an "afterword" is, rather than responding to the main topic question itself.

That goes for all of your other discussions as well, since I'm at it.

Anyway, I always read the afterword, as it gives insights into the author's intentions on the plot and any replies to reader feedback he has received.

Occasionally, you get the lazy standardized afterwords, with Shana's Takahashi Yashiro being a notorious example.

Every afterword in his novel goes with the exact same format:

1. Greeting
2. Two summarising sentences about what the volume's main theme is all about
3. Moaning about his editor Miki-san
4. Very long paragraph listing the names and place of origin of all the letters he has received from the readers, mostly from Japan. Though occasionally he gets a few from Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
5. Thanking the editor, publishing staff and readers

[ainsoph9]

That format just sounds very Japanese to me.

[Teh_ping]

Here's a sample of Kamachi Kazuma:

Spoiler! :

Nice to meet you. This is Kamachi Kazuma.

Right about now, I’m starting to feel incredibly embarrassed about referring to myself with a penname. To people who have done things online: it’s a bit like revealing your handle to the world for the first time.

Come to think of it, this book got its start online.

The magicians in RPGs and such that can create balls of fire or revive the dead at the cost of some MP are quite convenient, because the term “magic” lets them do whatever they want. But (for the sake of argument) let’s assume magic actually existed. What kinds of people used magic throughout history? What kinds of rules exist behind the term "magic"? This all started when I typed “magician” and “actually exist” into a search engine in an attempt to answer those questions.

It came up with things like “how to control a black cat with silver vine powder” and “voodoo witch doctors used fugu poison to create zombies that had a state of apparent death”. I got interested when I realized that the workings of the occult seemed an awful lot like science.

Dengeki Bunko’s light novels treat magic like it's normal, so I thought that a novel that went deeper into the idea of magic might be a new idea.


…Really, this is a work that was more about my personal interest rather than an idea marketed to a certain type of reader (that is, I didn’t try to come up with some catchy topic). My bowed head will never be raised when in front of my editor Miki-san and my illustrator Haimura Kiyotaka-san who both stuck with me on this. I am truly thankful.

And to you readers who picked this book up, I am very grateful that you stuck with my long, drawn-out writing style for this long.


I hope that Kamijou Touma and Index will live just a little longer in your hearts.

And I pray that I will get to make a 2nd volume.

For today, I lay down my pen.


…It’s actually still December 26, 2003.

-Kamachi Kazuma

And Inoue Kenji's version of an afterword:

Spoiler! :

I am very grateful to all readers for buying this book, and at this point, this author will give you his most sincere thanks. I am Kenji Inoue, the author of this book. To think that the second volume would be published so quickly; it is all due to the support of everyone, so please let this author again show his thnaks.

Well, anyone would be tired of seeing such a long letter of appreciation, so just let me say a few simple things. There is no content regarding this book behind, so please read on with ease.


I live a solitary life. On a certain day, a package was sent to me. It was from my mother, and the contents were indicated to be 'food'. It looked like it was sent from my hometown, and I was really grateful for it.

I used my penknife to cut the plastic wrapping, thanking my mum as I pull the food out from inside. Now, what did she send? I was really looking forward to it.

The thing that appeared in front of this person that had this feeling was--


'A pillow case'.


This sudden curveball shocked me.

I say, mum, how do you think I've been living my life? No matter how painful my life can be, a pillow case cannot be eaten. We had been living together for at least 18 years, I don't think I actually ate pillow cases for my nutrients, no?

Haiz, seems like some daily commodities were packed in, so allow me to thank you for sending the pillow case over. Being re-motivated, I rummaged through the contents of the package.

Next, what I pulled out from the canvas containment was--

'Orange, scallops, can'

Now this is an actual food. Though the oranges were a bit bruised, it was still acceptable. Being able to use these as a secondary source or an emergency supply of food made me really happy, since as I'm living alone, I didn't really have time to buy these things. In order to get even high class food, I reached inside the canvas package.

I pulled out something familiar from the canvas package.


'Pillow case (blue)'


Though I did pull this out at the beginning,.the colour this time was diffirent. If I were to add up the ones that I had, I got 4 of them. However, it is good to have extra when I'm washing through and changing pillow cases. I'll happily keep it then.

After that, what's next is--


'Pillow case (Aquamarine)'


How dirty did my mum think my pillow cases are? I couldn't ignore the fact that my mum's a bit eccentric.

After that, I pulled out things like 'barbecued meat (char siu/ roasted Cantonese meat)' [1] and 'pillow case (pink)'. After confirming the contents inside, I called back home to say thanks. Even though the contents were mostly pillow cases, a gift's still a gift.

Me: "Is that mum?"

Mum: "Ah, are the items delivered over?"

Me: "Mm, I got it. Thanks."

Mum: "Hurry up and finish it before it gets bad."

Me: "Besides the pillow case, I'll do my best to finish up the rest."

Mum: "Especially the barbecued meat. You must cook it thoroughly before eating it, okay? Because it has already expired."

Me: "Ah, yes. I got it. That's all for now, bye bye."

Mum: "Mm, bye." --Ka-chng


...Expired?


I don't understand, why would she send expired food over? I have no understanding of what my mum's thinking at all.

Mum did say "You must cook it thoroughly before eating it, okay?"

I suppose cooking it thoroughly isn't the problem here, no?

As the saying goes, 'chip off the old block'. The reason why my novel obviously lacks common knowledge is probably a heredity thing, even though I feel that I have to take up 80% of the responsibility.


Well， enough casual talk.

I'm really grateful to all the readers who have read the 1st volume. Fanmails came pouring in, telling me that they want to read the second volume, which resulted in this volume being published. To S-kun from Hiroshima-ken, you were the first fan to send me a fan letter. I'll treasure this letter of yours.

Also, to Takaaki Kaima-san, who assigned Sugawa's role in a letter, I'm really grateful--hold on, Takaaki-sensei, what are you doing now? You were supposed to be helping out in the live-action movie adaptation of Gakkō no Kaidan[2], is there really a need to help someone like me write a book? I feel that you only need to read the illustrations next time.

To Haga-sensei, who normally draws such cute drawings, I'm really happy to be able to work with you. My heartfelt thanks can't be expressed through words, so next time, lets go out for a drink!

To M-sama, who's in charge of printing, KAGAYA-sama, who's in charge of design, to all the sempais and to everyone who helped out in the publication of this book, thank you all. With your help, this novel is able to reach the 2nd volume.

And to all the readers who bought this book, I would express all my thanks through words in my work. I will continue to do my best!

So, if possible, we will meet in the 3rd volume. Oh yeah, there's a magazine called 'FBSP' that is slated to be released in May. I have already added a little column inside, so if you readers don't mind, you can take a look; especially the love letter that starts with the letter M, this author chipped in quite a lot of effort.

(On a side note, if it can be successfully released, I intend for the story in the 3rd volume to be even more nonsensical then the 2nd volume. Now, if the editors can agree to it...)

[larethian]

Kagami Takaya:

Spoiler! :

The second volume of "Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi" has already been published! How was it?
Even though the story started in the first volume and covered an important part of the story, in this volume at last, the setting of the story has been established, and the real story has properly started. To put it in another way, the first volume follows mainly the perspective of the ignorant Taito, who as an ordinary high school student, got embroiled into an irregular story; so as to speak, the appearance of the world and the characters were introduced in that volume, but, from this volume onward, things shall shape up properly. Right from the beginning, I was told that I could write this with a continuation in mind, and a serialization has already been decided, that's why this time round, right from the beginning, the story will encompass a humongous amount of material.
At any rate, the first volume was only a foreshadowing, and the unexplained things will start appearing incessantly and made known, just so you know. What in the world is the Tenma? What on earth is the Dark Rabbit? What about Bahlskra? And << Bliss >>? Well, this is just the second volume, so it's not really possible to explain every single thing, however, the main focus will be how will everyone battle with, the various darkness shouldered, together with the true agony which will appear at one go.
By the way, when this volume 2 was first handed to my editor-in-charge, bishoujo Catherine-san, this was her reaction.
"Eehh~, doesn't this seem like we're nearing the end! Is this really alright?"
And on top of the that, the editor-in-chief asked,
"Kagami-san, are you planning to end this at volume 3?"
And I was like, Even though volume 2 is going with a bang! It'll be fine. The truth is Itsuten's subject material is pretty humongous, so even with this pace, it'll be fine. In volume 1, the parts where one may be thinking, how is this going to turn out, are in fact foreshadowing moments! In volume 2, the eeeeeeeeehhhhhhh surprising parts will be (ah, but, since this is just volume 2, it is a secret) ermm, well, that guy will do that thing and it will into something like that......, things like that will come aplenty. But yet, in the same merry manner as before, Itsuten will go with a big bang! Since there will be a lot of material to cover, the development will be a little fast. So, please give me your support!
Well, as we're talking about the work, by the way.
Firstly, I offer my thanks. Initially, we were all fretting and were so nerve-wrecked and scared, and the editorial department was in such uproar that it seemed like we were having a festival of some sort; that was how bad it was. What should we do if this doesn't sell; although my editor-in-charge Catherine-san was shaking in fear, when the lid was open, somehow, thanks to everyone, it has become something awesome. Well, in order to show you how much me and my editor-in-charge Catherine-san were shivering in fear, I'll let you in on one of our conversations.
"Ka-Kagami-san."
"Yes."
"Y-your new work is about to be launched right!"
"When you tell me this, I'm going to get anxious and lose sleep over it, so don't remind me about it!"
"By the way, have you heard of this particular jinx which I've heard happens to manga a lot?"
"What is it?"
"The author of a best-seller will have his next work end up in a flop."
"Don't give me bad omenssssssssssssssss."
"On top of that, Kagami-san, in a miraculous way, after your first work 'Bukan Bengoshi Eru Win'[1], your second work, 'Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu', managed to continue to sell."
"I'm grateful for that."
"But to continue this streak for your third work may be a little tough!"
"Heyyyyyyyyyyyyy! Why are you so pessimistic?"
"Be-be-be-be-because I'm scared. If this doesn't sell, you know what will happen to me right? You know right? And everyone has been telling me that!"
"Well, that may be scary, I'm also afraid you know!"
"However, the genius me shall overcome this fear, just like Gekkou-kun, I have found a ingenious way!"
"Eh? Seriously? What's that?"
"Immediately following the release day, I shall go on a tour to Singapore!"
"Aren't you running away from reality! Then, I shall go as well! I'll go to Bali!"
"Why Bali?"
"Because I want to. By the way, Catherine, why did you choose Singapore?"
"Because I want to."
""Yeah!!""
While 80% of that foolish conversation is a joke, after the release day, my editor-in-charge worked many late nights to finish her work, and really went to Singapore! And then, after she came back to the editorial department, somehow, Itsuten managed to sell very well and she received applause from the entire editorial department. Even though I didn't receive any applause, my editor-in-charge who went to Singapore actually did! (LOL)
Well, jokes aside, I, my editor-in-charge, and the whole editorial department, while we really trembling, have to express our gratitude to the readers, you, and thanks to you, the story about me getting dried up in the sun will not come to pass somehow! Yay! I survived!
Well, the battle will start from here, though today I'm still alive thanks to everyone!
Everyone, thank you!
To show more of my courtesy, from now on, I shall work hard to write an interesting story that can be enjoyed by everyone, so please continue to support me!
By the way, this afterword was written on the day after the signing event one week after volume 1 was released. After meeting you all yesterday, I have an increasing desire to seriously work harder. Everyone of you is so kind. And ermm, this is something I always say, but I haven't yet written this in the afterword of Itsuten, and I have to write this. Then again, for those who have read in the afterwords of other series by me, you might tire of this, so sorry.
But, I'll say it. A novel belongs to everyone. Of course, without the readers, it will be nothing. That's why, thanks to everyone's support, I'm able to write this and the publisher can publish it. I must never forget the gratitude that I must rightfully have. So, thank you, everyone! The editorial department and I love you guys! We hope we can always answer to your expectations.
So, let us all make this "Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi", a story which has just only begun, together. Please continue to give your support!
Alright, I'm done with the necessary!
Now now, since the number of pages left are fast disappearing, I shall move on to the upcoming schedule ~.
By the way, right now, we are in the middle of the 6-month consecutive release spree. This book is the third in line. Back to the main point!
So, "Dai Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu 5" will be released next month. The story is also unfolding quickly. Speaking of that, the greatest story in the history of Denyuuden is coming. The war is finally starting. And Ryner is faced with a really difficult choice. But for those who are not reading Denyuuden, you may be wondering, who the hell is Ryner! My apologies to you. And because Denyuuden has many volumes, there are also those who are afraid to get into it, it seems, yeah.
I also think so! (LOL)
Why is it that, despite the fact there are so many volumes of Denyuuden, the circulation numbers are not dropping at all, and people are still reading it; that is also puzzling to me! Everyone is really kind! Thanks!
But, if you suddenly wonder whether you want to read it or not, why not challenge yourself and pick up a volume. I think if you try it without being too committed, you might find a surprising appeal to it!
And for those who still think that there are too many volumes, why not try the comics? The truth is that the comic version of Denyuuden was recently sold at last! On the 9th of March, the manga, which will make the story in volume 1 easily understandable, will start serialization under the Dragon Age comic label. Every time I'm asked to do a name check for the manga, I find it to be extremely interesting! Well, try reading that, and if you like it, you might want to try the novels as well, so how about that? Going into the story through comics might be more appealing right? Right? And now, I'm going to make a wonderful announcement! (LOL) I'm sure the editorial department will bring me to a high-class BBQ meat store for a treat to reward me for this...... eh? Hurry up with the manuscript? Ah wah wah wah wah.
Errrrmmmm ~, on the 9th of February, another even more appealing work by Toyota-san, the hilarious 4-panel comic "Nantonaku Densetsu Yuusha no Densetsu (The Legend of the Legendary Heroes Somehow)" will be out. In there, you will also find a mini-short story that I've written. I'll also be getting a copy for myself!
Following that, "Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi 3" will be soon in your face in the month after next! A 6-month consecutive releases is indeed too scary! (LOL)
So, with that, it's time for me to bid you goodbye here, thanks for your support ~.
Kagami Takaya
Kagami Takaya official homepage: http://www.kagamitakaya.com/

[Poke2201]

I think I read some of Toradora's afterwords, some were very humorous.

[ainsoph9]

One of the things about the afterwords of many authors and manga-ka that I have noticed is that they tend to talk about things that come off as completely random from the reader's perspective, especially since they typically have nothing to do with the novel. Do you think there is any particular reason why this is?

[Doraneko]

One of the things about the afterwords of many authors and manga-ka that I have noticed is that they tend to talk about things that come off as completely random from the reader's perspective, especially since they typically have nothing to do with the novel. Do you think there is any particular reason why this is?

Because frankly speaking, cookie-cutter afterwords that thank everyone on earth and his grandma and her dog are boring to everyone, including the author himself.

I prefer authors who won't reserve their creativity even in the limited span of one or a few pages.

[Mystes]

Do you think there is any particular reason why this is?

Actually, I see that they tend usually to talk about their personal experiences or such. My guess is that they don't think that a 2 pages-comment about their work would be interesting.

BTW, Daisuke Suzuki introduced his own characters as real characters, or ou can also says that he makes himself 'fictional' in the afterword. Both works. However, the main point is that he interacts with his character(s) and talks often about the next volume. And sometimes, it's pure characters breaking the fourth wall. Though I guess many authors do that, there's not an ounce of narrative passage in. Purely dialogue.

[ainsoph9]

Because frankly speaking, cookie-cutter afterwords that thank everyone on earth and his grandma and her dog are boring to everyone, including the author himself.

I prefer authors who won't reserve their creativity even in the limited span of one or a few pages.

While cookie-cutter is boring, that kind of formula is not by necessity. Talking about the novel and things of the sort like Gatou Shoji does for FMP can also be a way to keep things interesting. The funny thing is that Gatou Shoji was never able to truly keep his promises in the afterwords to lighten things up.

Actually, I see that they tend usually to talk about their personal experiences or such. My guess is that they don't think that a 2 pages-comment about their work would be interesting.

BTW, Daisuke Suzuki introduced his own characters as real characters, or ou can also says that he makes himself 'fictional' in the afterword. Both works. However, the main point is that he interacts with his character(s) and talks often about the next volume. And sometimes, it's pure characters breaking the fourth wall. Though I guess many authors do that, there's not an ounce of narrative passage in. Purely dialogue.

It is nice that they talk about their lives and such, but I think many of them do somewhat of a poor job helping the reader relate to their life experiences sometimes. There is generally not enough intro to make the reader understand where the author is coming from and why they are saying what they are saying. Hence, it comes off as obtuse.

The other side of this is, of course as you said, making the author somewhat fictional by drawing half-done manga drawings of themselves and the like. It is either that or being quite self-depreciating. Takaya Natsuki of Fruits Basket fame tends to do this a lot in her afterwords and sidebar notes in addition to telling personal stories. She sometimes does break the 4th wall, but it is not too common. The one thing that she does do well is make you kind of walk through her life to an extent with continuous stories throughout the volumes of Fruits Basket, which is not as nearly as obtuse.