[Falkor]

Light novel written by Eiji Mikage and illustrated by 415 aka Tetsuo. 3 Volumes so far released with the fourth one coming on June 10th. Baka-Tsuki is currently translating the work: 3 volumes so far translated.

Originally Posted by B-T

It was March when the new transfer student Aya Otonashi arrived at the classroom 1-6. The entire class was stunned by her beauty and curious about the reason she transferred in the middle of the term.
Her "self-introduction", however, ended with a blunt mention of her name, upon which the classroom turned dead silent.

That is, until -

"Kazuki Hoshino"

- she called out my name.

"I'm here to break you."

Link.



A few comments:

hands-down, probably the best light novel B-T is translating at the moment. :P

though not precisely its strongest point, Utsuro no Hako presents a varied set of characters, with Otonashi-san and Kazuki being the most important ones. I guess I'm sort of neutral negative towards Kazuki, who just happens to be be the male character of this novel. he hasn't got to the point of annoying me, which is good, I think; but he hasn't done anything relatively interesting, either. On the other hand, the way she talks, the way she is portrayed, the way she interacts with others, or simply the way she confuses me; I have only love for Otonashi-san, who is easily my favorite character in all installments of the series. Strong, determined, outspoken... a female of unique personality, with great conviction on what she does and thinks; not only is her kind hard to come by, but also difficult to like. and yet, Otonashi-san is different: she is honest, endearing... a refreshing character you can't help but find especial. oddly enough, she reminds me of Senjougahara (Bakemonogatari)---for how she talks, for how she interacts, for how she speaks her mind. nonetheless, Otonashi-san and Kazuki are the main characters and both have a certain degree of importance. we see the unfolding events through their eyes; we discover the world through their thoughts and feelings---and without them, Utsuro No Hako wouldn't be the same.

however, probably the best thing about this light novel is the story and the way it's told, with a concept that is constantly changing, a mystery that never fails to be thrilling or amusing, and a execution that is nothing short of amazing. I was kinda surprised at first to discover that each novel is always trying something new. For example, the first novel is very non-linear, using multiple iterations to reveal what's going. at its core, it remains a mystery novel with strong psychological aspects, where finding clues, creating conjectures and discovering the "culprit" is combined with the exploration/exposition of the characters' psyche. By scrutinizing words, by interpreting actions, by understanding different behaviors; we are closer to solving the mystery as well. It's amazing how everything starts to click together at some point, no matter how twisted, how confusing or how unexpected it is. I found myself trying to figure out what's going, believing or disbelieving what the characters say, only to discover that my conjectures were all wrong. it's a really nice and cathartic feeling, if I can say so myself. While the dialogue is a heavy part of the story, it also has to be one of the most complex, interesting and entertaining dialogue I've read in this medium---sometimes philosophical, sometimes existentialist, sometimes making sense on a much deeper level of thought. it really adds a lot of enjoyment to the story, together with the fascinating/unveiling mystery and the strong psychological aspect of the characters.

To read Utsuro no Hako is to expect the unexpected; there's always a surprise waiting for you at the end or beginning of a new chapter. you may even have to read the lines a couple of times more than usual; you may also have to deal with the confusion of not exactly knowing/understanding what's going on; but surely, you will not get bored while reading this.

The second novel follows the same pattern as the first: the story is more linear, though; but oh boy, the dialogue becomes even more philosophical/psychological. The third one though I've only read half of it is hands down the best installment: more psychological, more interesting, even more mysterious---truly a game about deceiving.

by the way I really want to see this animated...

Not sure if I have to mention this, but remember to title your posts (e.g. Volume 3, Round 3)

---------------

Thoughts on the First Volume.

Spoiler for Thoughts on the First Volume:

Who is Zero?

it was sort of difficult to figure out the owner of the box, more or so when I was led to suspect the wrong person. And even more difficult was to suspect the existence of zero, who I believe is going to play a recurring---and yet, very important---role in this novel. I'm finding his existence---together with Otonashi-san---to be the place-holder of the story. He is the enemy; he is the "true" antagonist. But he hasn't quite reached the level of being a constant threat to the main characters; and yet, he has the power to make things happen---for his amusement, for his twisted purposes. would you think of him as a human with the power? or, on a more philosophical level, would you think of him as god?

Why is the empty box empty?

"Utsuro no Hako" translates to an "Empty Box". This is the second time I've come across the idea of a "box" being used as one of the motifs of the work (Mouryou no Hako being the other one that comes to mind). I think that using the word box reinforces the purpose of the box: to be trapped, isolated---to-be-inside-a-box---that restricts the idea of freedom. Obtaining this box, and yet, being able to free yourself from this box, is in itself a contradictory and interesting concept. But again, there are different kind of boxes. The first one represents the wish one must obtain, and it can take different forms. This one box is the box of "rejection" and in order to acquire this box, one must fulfill (or not fulfill) the wish of the owner. sometimes the wish is different from the purpose of the box, but it's always connected through a theme: in this case "rejection". the first box embodies the thoughts, feelings and emotions that can be associated to this concept: to be rejected or not be rejected, to be accepted or not be accepted; while the second box creates an environment that allows its existence, and from which one must escape its influence. This is the box that more readily accepts the idea of being inside a box, of being isolated, by projecting a "rejection" towards the outside world and the every day life. However, I want to think that a third box exists in this interpretation, in the figure of Otonashi-san, who antagonizes both the idea of rejection and the wish of the owner. While the owner seeks to repeat the same day hoping to meet a particular event, Otonashi-san's objective is to obtain the box and break away from the loop. she will not reject her circumstances, but will readily accept them; she will not play along with the game, but will constantly search for a way to escape from it---opposing the purpose of the box. Otonashi-san may not be the last box, however; but her importance makes her one of the most prominent characters connected to the box. Now, "Utsuro no Hako" makes reference not just to a box, but to an empty one. When I was younger I was asked one strange question regarding what an empty glass was filled with; if the empty glass is empty, it cannot be filled with anything, but the answer to the question was air. I think it can be analogous to the box here, which is supposedly empty, but it quite isn't. I want to think that while the empty box may appear to be empty, it is not devoid of any meaning or content. what it contains... I wonder... maybe thoughts, feelings, emotions that are connected to the owner---abstract ideas and not material ones... maybe it's making a reference to how the empty box is suggesting a different kind of space outside of the real world (or everyday life): in this case the "rejected classroom". I think Utsuro no Hako is a really nice and meaningful title. The work does not make mention **so far** to an empty box, but it constantly uses the box as a very interesting and perhaps unusual concept/motif.

Why is the "rejected" classroom?

The "rejected classroom" is an isolated space that receives its name in reference to the classroom where the events start to take place. however, I want to think that "rejected classroom" has a different meaning. a "rejected classroom" is a space that becomes isolated by rejecting the outside world, the every day life and the normal flow of time---it rejects all these three. in addition, the "rejected classroom" rejects people's every day life by repeating the same day over and over again. At its core, the rejected classroom comes to be as result of the rejection suffered by the owner of the box. the hope of not being rejected juxtaposed with the hope of being accepted, is what creates the "rejected classroom". I want to say that it's really an interesting choice of words given the context and the circumstances surrounding the story. After all, a "rejected classroom" is nothing more than a projection of the feelings and emotions connected to the word "rejection".

Aya Otonashi's Introduction

"I am Aya Otonashi. Pleased to meet you."
"At first I'd like to express a declination."
"Please, --don't make friends with Aya Otonashi - me."
"Please don't take offense at this. If I could, I'd love to make friends with everyone. This is, however, not possible. That is because--"
"--the existence of Aya Otonashi has to be an illusion." (my favorite line)
"We're a bad match anyway. We're just phantoms from the viewpoint of the other. For I am the 'transfer student'. I am not acquainted with anyone, no one knows me and I'll constantly return to this state. I will have to endure returning to this condition of no relations for a long time. I suppose you can call my existence a phantom. But even being a phantom, I still have a self. I also feel that this is sad. But I have no other choice but to accept it. When I stop being able to accept being an illusion, when I can't endure it anymore, I will get taken into this false recurrence."
"In order to become an illusion, I abandoned my real name inside this 'box'. If I used my real name, I'd be held back by myself. I did so because I felt such a hindrance would appear. And if I got taken into this false recurrence, you would probably all be erased."
"But I am not strong."
"I suppose there will be times I want to complain. However, I will stop being «Aya Otonashi» as soon as I complain hereafter. Therefore, in order that I won't become sentimental in the future, I will be so now. I--"
"I---want someone to be by my side."
"Well then, please let me introduce myself once again."
"I am «Aya Otonashi». I hope we can be on good terms during the long time that's about to come."

My favorite part of the first volume: Aya Otonashi's introduction. I would be lying if I didn't find it confusing.

Why the existence of Aya Otonashi has to be an illusion?

I don't really want read between the words but this is surely an interesting line. I don't think we can take what she says in a literal way, but it certainly has a ring of truth to it. Aya Otonashi is not her real name and neither is her identity---which is by the way hidden in a veil of mystery. However, "illusion" is the word that best describes the character of Aya Otonashi. The illusion is, after all, an illusion that captures a sense of reality, but is not quite reality yet---it's an abstract, a thought that never materializes. Aya Otonashi is the mysterious transfer student who doesn't want to associate with others---and thus her existence is simply an illusion. while she may be physically there, her presence would be that of an outcast---an illusion as she claims. But I want to think that she may be perhaps talking about her "self". As I said before, Aya Otonashi is neither her real name nor her identity; claiming that said persona must remain illusion is a way to protect her self and real name: Maria Otonashi. The existence of Aya Otonashi has to be an illusion because she wants to be Maria Otonashi. Yes, I get the impression that these two are the same person, but still quite not the same.