AMG goes light novel!!

[Tiamat's Disciple]

There's no post for this (or none that came up in the search) so i'm making it :p

Title say's it all really, Ah My Goddess now has a light novel version, and it's written bu URD!!

I've just ordered mine from the Book Depository :)

It was released 12 Dec '07, info can be found on the Dark Horse Website (http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.php?theid=14-704)

I've read the teaser for it, and it looks really good so far, any one bought it yet? How good is it?

[TigerII]

Too bad the manga never finishes.

[FinnMacCool]

That's very interesting. When I first saw the anime of Ah! My Goddess, I never imagined I would like it because I was never into romantic comedies but it took only one or two episodes for me to be completely emotionally attached to the characters. Since I've finished the animes already and I'm not exactly willing to spend a ton of money on the mangas at the moment, perhaps I'll pick this up. Thank you for posting this.

[Spectacular_Insanity]

Oooooh, looks good. Me like! I'll order it if I get the chance... :D

[Mr Hat and Clogs]

Cool, might have to get this, whats it about exactly? Read the little teaser, and it didn't really give anything away except Skuld failing. Written by Urd? Oh the voice actor, was thinking you meant it was written from her perspective, which was somewhat confusing me. ;)

[Tiamat's Disciple]

When i get it i'll post a review of it, but im hoping it's not the anime as a book, but rather new adventures sort fo thing. I actually like the manga because it has no end, it's really interesting to see how they grow over the years. The only thing thats annoying me at the moment though is the lack of movement in Bell and k3's relationship. I'm not saying they should be jumping each others bones every night, but come on. They should easily be at the holding hands/smooching,stage by now.

That said the fact Urd is the author is reason enough to buy it, i like Bell, but Urd is HOT!!. Can i have a goddess like her forever please :D

[Mr Hat and Clogs]

Yeah Urd is pretty awesome, little bit more of a Lind fan myself, but ahh well. Looking forward to your review then.

[Tiamat's Disciple]

My book has been dispatched (yesterday) should take upto 10 days for it to be shipped over from the states, and a day or so for me to read it a few times. Then i'll post my thoughts on it. It's times like this i wish i could afford to just jump on a plane over lol. Expensive ride to pick up a $10 book >.<

[Tiamat's Disciple]

My book has arrived at the store!! (nice of them to ring me at 0530am to tell me ths lol) I'll pick it up when the store opens in a few hours and get stuck ito it. Expect a review up later this evening

[Mr Hat and Clogs]

5:30am huh, lol, how nice of them.

[Tiamat's Disciple]

its pretty large as light novels go, half way through it and loving it :)

[aikming]

Mine's on the way... shipping from amazon

[mdauben]

That said the fact Urd is the author is reason enough to buy it, i like Bell, but Urd is HOT!!. Can i have a goddess like her forever please :D
QFT. I'd worship Urd anytime! ;)

[Tiamat's Disciple]

AWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEE EEEEE!!!!!!

No other word describes it lol

Not sure i qualify it as a light novel though, it's actually more of a full blown novel. That said, the pictures in this are just mind blowing. I found the images in both Good Witch of the West and 12 Kingdoms to e a bit lacking, but the ones for this novel are just awesome. I have to buy another copy now just so i can cut out those images!!!

I'll have a review, and thoughts up on my blog in a few hours, i want to reread a few parts of it :)

[Mr Hat and Clogs]

Nice, good to see that you enjoyed it.

[mdauben]

AWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEE EEEEE!!!!!!
Great! I just ordered a copy. Can't wait to read it myself now. :D

[Otomefan]

As of a fan of the series and of the light novel, I have a question. We hear Urd's mother Hild mentioned a lot in the series and we see a lot of her on screen and in the pages. Has any mention ever been made as to whom Belldandy and Skuld's mother is ? It may not be an important plot point of the story, but she would have had to have been a powerful goddess.

[mdauben]

Has any mention ever been made as to whom Belldandy and Skuld's mother is ?
I've watched all the anime and read all of the manga (including the scanlated chapters of what has not been released in the US yet), and as far as I remember, the only mention of Bell and Skuld's Mother in the whole thing was just that she was different than Urd's Mother. If I remember correctly, it's not even totally clear that Bell and Skuld have the same Mother, I think the only thing that was explictly stated was that all three of them had the same Father.

[Tiamat's Disciple]

All i can say is WOW!!!

This light novel, dispite its minor faults, is freaking awesome!!!!! For those that are wanting a conclusin to AMG go read it, you get your wish, but be ready for heart break!!. Think the movie ending, only in total reverse, and you'd be close to the heart ache of the novel ending.

Touma-sensei shows she has what it takes to be a novelist aswell as a seiyu and i'm hoping that there are subsequent novels coming.

I've posted a Thoughts and impressions post on my blog, be warned it does have some spoilers in it.

Being in hospital is good for something other than hell it seems, i'm off to reread it again :)

[Mr Hat and Clogs]

:O wow nice. A tragic ending huh, interesting. /waits for novel.

[Tiamat's Disciple]

spoiler for ending:

keiich dies, bell resets the universe to bring him back, mucks it up, so they have to do it again. This time they make it so he never meats bell at all. He ends up married to one of the college girls, but makes her wait till he's 30 before tying the knot

it's not a bad bad ending, but a sad one over all. If your looking for a happy ever after, then this isnt it. That said, given the title of the book 'First End' im wondering if there's going to be a series of endings, could be interesting

[miloy2k]

Too bad the manga never finishes.

Yup, still on going up to chapter 229 =_=

That's very interesting. When I first saw the anime of Ah! My Goddess, I never imagined I would like it because I was never into romantic comedies but it took only one or two episodes for me to be completely emotionally attached to the characters. Since I've finished the animes already and I'm not exactly willing to spend a ton of money on the mangas at the moment, perhaps I'll pick this up. Thank you for posting this.

second that since this is the first manga/anime that really 'drag' me to the anime world XD

[Double_Edge]

I finally got this book! I'm only on page sixty something but it's really cool how it's just like the show, except in book form!

Since it's a softcover book, I want to get something to protect it. I went through ALOT of trouble (accidently driving into San Francisco [then I had to go home since it was late], getting lost in Oakland, somehow ending up in china town and FINALLY making it to Emeryville. -_- So does anyone know how to protect paperback books?

EDIT: never mind, i got this clear plastic film thing. ^_^

[mdauben]

I got the book a little while ago, but just had a chance to read it this week. Overall it was a very good read, but a warning that if you are a real fan of the story (anime or manga) and the characters, the ending is very, very emotional.

I cryed like a little girl when Belldandy returned Keiichi's ring and said goodbye to him. :(
keiich dies, bell resets the universe to bring him back, mucks it up, so they have to do it again. This time they make it so he never meats bell at all. He ends up married to one of the college girls, but makes her wait till he's 30 before tying the knot
Actually, I don't think that is quite true.

Keiichi asking that girl to marry him actually took place in an "alternate universe" where Belldandy did not exist. That universe was created when they reset Yggdrasil, but Urd retained her memories becacuse they did not reset Nidhogg (the operating system of Hell), too. When they did the final reset of both systems with the help of Hild, the universes were merged back into each other and the whole thing reset to the point just before Belldandy recieved Keiichi's first phone call. With Belldandy's phone ringing at the very end of the book, my belief was that had to be Keiichi and they were going to start all over again. Surely nothing in the universe can keep Belldandy and Keiichi apart forever! :D
So, I while it does have some very sad (or at least emotional) moments, I thought the actual ending was happy enough. ;)

[Tiamat's Disciple]

Not sure i agree with you there, in part.

I got the impressions Hild was showing Bell that even on his own, he's destined for good things. Since even without Bell's influence the machiners still sought him out. Which was something Bell thought she was the reason for.

Although yeah, i had a few lumps in my throat with the ending and had dust in my eyes causing them to water....alot :)

I also got the impression it was about to start all over again, whith her premonition at the end, casuing her not to answer the phone straight away. Though it would be bad IMO. This novel gives a conclusion, all be it a traumatic one, and by having them start all over again it would just wipe out the entire story. Also it would just have to repeate, since the crux of the story is that being around the goddesses for so long was what caused the problems.

I'm hoping they do other 'ending' sories, ideally one with them getting married or something. Though i wonder what a half human/half goddess kid would be like >.<

Touma-sensei is a awesome novelist, and for her first attempt i was astounded bu it. Sure it wasn't perfect, but it was better than some professional novelists have written :)

[mdauben]

I got the impressions Hild was showing Bell that even on his own, he's destined for good things. Since even without Bell's influence the machiners still sought him out. Which was something Bell thought she was the reason for.
I agree with you on that. Keiichi is such a good person, he surely has to eventually get his share of goodness in his life.

It showed that Keiichi was both special in his own right, and destined to be happy even without her, and perhaps even that by the fact that she was with him, she was denying him the sort of deeper "human" happiness of actually getting married and having a family. Cruel in a way as it might have been for Hild to show her that, it was only that knowledge that Keiichi would eventually be happy without her which allowed Bell to finally let go of him so that they could reset the universe.
On the other hand, while everything has supposedly been reset and Belldandy will have lost the memory of that visit, I would like to hope that it might somehow subtley influence the re-running of their releationship. The crux of may people's complaints about the story is that the relationship between Belldandy and Keiichi never progresses. This seems to be due to a combination of Keiichi being too shy and self concious to try and press things further, and Belldandy's unfamiliarity with normal human relationships, such that it never occured to her before seeing that event that Keiichi might want anything more than just to "be together".

Besides, if they don't get back together in the reset universe, the title of this book would become a lie, as it would not be First End, but The End. ;)
Also it would just have to repeate, since the crux of the story is that being around the goddesses for so long was what caused the problems.
That really seemed the only weak point of the novel, that they did not really address the root cause of the fundimental problem, which would presumably just result in a continual "time loop" of the same events playing out again, them resetting back to the beginning, over and over. Still, as long as Keiichi and Belldandy exist in the same universe, I can't believe (or accept!) that they would not end up together. If ever two fictional characters were destined to be together, it's them. ;)
Touma-sensei is a awesome novelist, and for her first attempt i was astounded bu it. Sure it wasn't perfect, but it was better than some professional novelists have written :)
True! I was a little aprehensive when I heard who wrote the book (being an voice actress certainly does not automatically qualify one to be an author) but I agree that she did a splendid job and I would eagerly look forward to seeing more from her. :D

[Tiamat's Disciple]

I think the deciding factor was when he called Kozueko his goddess, which was cute in a way, i got all misty eyed over that. That said, it took him long enough, i mean shesh, he met her in college but makes her wait till he's in his thirties before tying the knot. Sheesh he's still as indecisive as ever.

I disagree with the book title though, it could be they never meet again and still make sense of being First End, IF she writes other endings. For example one ending i've always loved was the movie ending, which showed just how right they are together.

I could also think of a good ending based on the original OVA, where he met her as a kid, but was forced to forget it.

It's a shame really though, since several things were made important in the manga, but were never built upon. Otaki getting a fiance, Keiichi having a singularity in him, not to mench the later things where a human supporting an angel. THe explanation given in the manga dosent really make much sense, and i always felt that was silted.

There so much potential in the AMG universe it would catastrophic for Touma-sensei not to carry on writing novels in it. There's so much potential that she could draw out, potential the manga could never draw out. And as she showed with this novel, she dosent have to flow with the story.

One of the best things about this book though is the art, those drawings are just mind blowing, and Hild looks so damned cute!!!

I do think other novels are coming aswell, since it's being push as 'the first' AMG novel, if it was only going to be this one, i think they would of gone for 'A' or something. 'The First' screams there's going to be other novels

But dang, it dosent qualify as a light novel >.< it's huge, thicker than a normal novel, and twice as thick as most normal light novels. Best money i ever spent!!!

hmmmm would love to see a story about them later in life, with rug rats and all :) really want to see Urd and Skuld babysiting the brats hehe

In a sad way though, no matter what happens Belldanady is set to become heart broken, since Keiichi will die eventually even if it's old age, and she'll still be the same old Belldandy (now there's an icky thought). The book shows what she's like when he dies, and i can actually still see her reacting like that. Really sad :(

My only main beef with the book, was the beginning, it didnt flow right. The prologue and first chapter didn't match properly.

[miloy2k]

Correct me if I am wrong, seems that the relation this novel compare to the anime@manga is in "Different universe" right?

[Tiamat's Disciple]

no, it's a spin off, it's more a 'what if' than a seperate universe. It builds on the story that was laid in volume 5 of the manga, where Skuld says Keiichi has a singularity in him because of the goddesses being around him. Though it actually spins off after the angel eater arc, since there's mention of that in the novel aswell, just not sure as to how much after.

[miloy2k]

ok thanks for the info... XD

[aikming]

Got mine yesterday.

P/S: It's a fan-fiction by urd vocal Touma, not like it's the ending Fujishima's aiming for.

[Tiamat's Disciple]

Got mine yesterday.

P/S: It's a fan-fiction by urd vocal Touma, not like it's the ending Fujishima's aiming for.

No it's not a fan-fic. it's and authorised version that Fujisima helped out on, including cover art and giving advice on the story itself.

[Double_Edge]

I finished the book today. I had a nearly 200 page reading marathon. Anyway, loved the book. I was really sad when Belldandy was watching Keichiis life without her.....
I can;t decide how I would want to interpret the ending. Thinking that Belldandy eventually answers the phone is kind of a happy ending. But i also like the possibilty of her staying in a daze not picking the phone up in time. It will give it a sad but not tragic ending....

Anyway, what are the machiners? Did they show up in the anime? Because I've seen all the episodes except for the last DVD of season two and I can;t remember what they are.

[Tiamat's Disciple]

Machiners aren't in the anime. They were in the manga. They're basically sentient machines that come to Keiichi for repairs.

[miloy2k]

I finished the book today. I had a nearly 200 page reading marathon. Anyway, loved the book. I was really sad when Belldandy was watching Keichiis life without her.....
I can;t decide how I would want to interpret the ending. Thinking that Belldandy eventually answers the phone is kind of a happy ending. But i also like the possibilty of her staying in a daze not picking the phone up in time. It will give it a sad but not tragic ending....

Anyway, what are the machiners? Did they show up in the anime? Because I've seen all the episodes except for the last DVD of season two and I can;t remember what they are.

just imagine a new OVA release referring to this novel XD :upset:

[Tiamat's Disciple]

just imagine a new OVA release referring to this novel XD :upset:

nah, not going to happen. They have to much material left to cover in the manga, and it's unlikely we'll see a new series this year. If we're lucky we may get another 3 part OVA, hopefully carrying on from where the current one ends.

[aikming]

No it's not a fan-fic. it's and authorised version that Fujisima helped out on, including cover art and giving advice on the story itself.

It IS a fan-fic. Fujishima and Matsubara ONLY did the illustration. There's no indication that this is what Fujishima's going for. Fujishima jsut there to supervise so that things wont go wrong or outta hand. It's just an ending that Yumi wrote.

[Tiamat's Disciple]

No, your wrong:

Fan fiction (alternately referred to as fanfiction, fanfic, FF or fic) is a broadly defined term for fiction about characters or settings written by admirers of the original work, rather than by the original creators. The term applies to works that are uncommissioned and unauthorized by the owner/creators and publishers of the original and usually works which are not professionally published.

This was AUTHORISED by Fujishima, who also did artwork and advised on the story. True he didn't write it, and true we have no idea how he wants to end it. However it IS an official release that is fully authorised and approved. Fan Fisction is work done by fans (not professionals), is not authorised by the original creators, and not officially published in mainstream.

[Cookiez]

Yay i've just managed to order it! Can't wait... :eyespin:

Now lets hope it doesn't get lost in transit :laugh:

[Tiamat's Disciple]

lol

it's an awesome read!!

[hlteoh]

hey there,

yup, I got the AMG-First End novel last Sunday and finish reading the novel in just 1 night...record breaking for myself (haha...never managed to complete reading a novel in the same day of which I purchased it)

I agree too, that it was kinda of heartbreaking that the machiners managed to sought after Keichi without Belldandy's help. Damn, all the while I strongly believe that it was Belldandy who brings all the good fortune upon K1...

But, hey, the final ending is kinda subjective....I'm still confused on whether Belldandy phone is it K1 or someone else....hopefully it will still follow back the main story line :PP

[Tiamat's Disciple]

Urd is back!!!!

Well, possibly. It's unconfirmed rumors at the minute but apparently Urd has started on the second AMG novel. I got the info from a DH rep in london. While it's pretty much a shoe in for licensing, there was no definite answer. Apparently while the sales of the first novel were good they fell short of the expected.

I'm curious now as to what a second story would cover. We've had a bittersweet ending, not i want my blissfully happy ending, i want the AMG Movie ending!!

Then i want an OVA styled ending, where their relationships is actually not blessed by the heavens, and they get ripped appart by 'gods' decree. Damn it's enough to get me writing fanfic again!!

[Cookiez]

A second "Light" Novel would be awesome... I loved the first one to bits, despite the ending :(

[Tiamat's Disciple]

what was wrong with the ending? I actually enjoyed it. It made a break from the usal happy ever after stuff we usually get

[Last_Hope]

what was wrong with the ending? I actually enjoyed it. It made a break from the usal happy ever after stuff we usually get

Well, looking at the mood of AMG! is and how sweet Kei and Bell is to eachother. Of course every ending, no matter how good it may have been done quality wise, will end up meeting a lot of resistance. :)

[Tiamat's Disciple]

I disagree, everyone wants them to be together true, but it dosent mean they HAVE to be together. I like the fact that Urd decided to go for a hard hitting ending, over a sappy one. I actually enjoyed it more because of the different than expected ending.

[Last_Hope]

I disagree, everyone wants them to be together true, but it dosent mean they HAVE to be together. I like the fact that Urd decided to go for a hard hitting ending, over a sappy one. I actually enjoyed it more because of the different than expected ending.

I actually don´t understand why you disagree. I don´t think it has anything to do with quality (as I´ve already written) nor does it have anything at all to do with your, or mine, personal opinion about the ending. Even if you, and me, as individual readers feel that they don´t have to be together forever in an ultra happy ending there stilll are a lot of readers out there that do crave for that ending. If they are 10 or 80% isn´t anything I´ll bet on but they are indeed out there (I can suddenly hear the intro to X-Files). :heh:

I merely kicked in an open door since (most probably) no story so far has ever had a 100% perfect score of readers perfectly satisfied with the ending. :)

[Tiamat's Disciple]

As i already said, urd is working on a new novel, there's also been roumors for a while she's planning on doing multiple ending scenarios. Which when tied with the novels title, does make sense,

For every fan you find who wants a sappy ending, you'll find one that wants an ova styled ending. From experience i've actually found alot more wanting them to be split apart than to have a sappy ending

[Kleo Scanti]

As i already said, urd is working on a new novel,
I've heard it was Touma Yumi, not Urd. ;)

[incube]

I've heard it was Touma Yumi, not Urd. ;)

:heh:

Hmm you guys made me want to buy the novel although i rarely do so. Specially after reading this... it would be disrespectful if i didn't get it just because im lazy to walk 5 blocks from my house *.*

I went through ALOT of trouble (accidently driving into San Francisco [then I had to go home since it was late], getting lost in Oakland, somehow ending up in china town and FINALLY making it to Emeryville. -_- So does anyone know how to protect paperback books?


About the ending... i would fall under the group that wants a happy ever after for Belldandy and Keiichi. Going through hardships to be together is ok but i dont think good ppl that loves each other so much should be separated like that.
If it was a historical event and ended tragically i woudnt complain since it did happen but i definitly don't like to watch something fictional to turn into a tragedy too.

[Spectacular_Insanity]

I actually don´t understand why you disagree. I don´t think it has anything to do with quality (as I´ve already written) nor does it have anything at all to do with your, or mine, personal opinion about the ending. Even if you, and me, as individual readers feel that they don´t have to be together forever in an ultra happy ending there stilll are a lot of readers out there that do crave for that ending. If they are 10 or 80% isn´t anything I´ll bet on but they are indeed out there (I can suddenly hear the intro to X-Files). :heh:

I merely kicked in an open door since (most probably) no story so far has ever had a 100% perfect score of readers perfectly satisfied with the ending. :)

That's me. I want a damn happy ending. Give me what I want, dammit! :frustrated:

Sad/bittersweet ending are overrated in anime. In books I think they just plain suck.

[Tiamat's Disciple]

sappy happy ending get lame after a while. When every anime/maga and its grandma have them it gets lame and pointless. Whats the point of reading when you know it's ending already >.<

[incube]

It all comes to personal likes and dislikes... i dont think a certain kind of ending gets "old" or "repetitive"... if something is getting boring for you then just find something else that would entertain you. Dont blame the anime because you dont like it.

I just finished watching the movie of AMG and i definitly liked that happy ending (were they are allowed to live together) than the one on the novel.

[Tiamat's Disciple]

What i said was the generic endings get boring, not the anime or manga, don't put words in my mouth please.

I also love the movie, and i love the manga. Not so keen on the anime because it makes a dogs dinner of it, but meh. However looking at different endings is what makes the novels so damned good. The OVA is a great example of different ending, and so is the novel. Rather than saying 'everone lives happily ever after' we're getting treated to different ending theories, which is excellent. It spices up a series that is starting to go stale, and yes AMG is starting to get a bit stale.

[OverMaster]

Well, for starters, a happy ending doesn't have to be 'sappy' per se. It's all in the execution.

You couldn't say happy endings are 'sappy' more than you could say sad endings are 'emo'.

[Urd]

so.. are there any more news about a possible 2nd novel?

[Banjou Haran]

I've heard it was Touma Yumi, not Urd. ;)

hehe, she is part of the Goddess Family Club! ;)

Anyways, I want to get this light novel soon!