Spice and Wolf Light Novel Discussion

[kenshin-dono]

hmm where was the baka tsuki page updated? last update note i saw was July 13, 2009 - Volume 2 Chapter 2 Completed

of course i havent been looking at those percentages on volume 2, are those just creeping up?

Maybe its lame not buying a novel because of the cover, but for people on the boarderline like me who dont really buy this stuff, having them lame up the cover is enough to make us just say F it. I honestly just dont see the point. Like i said if their goals to appeal to the fantasy crowd that would like that all they have to do is to open the cover and see its not what they expected

im just a stickler for stuff like that. As much as i LOVE the kenshin OAV's i probably would have skipped them if they hadn't had the reversable covers. Im not having that lame Samurai X label on my shelf, and i dont really want that ugly bait and switch cover on my shelf.

[BashZeStampeedo]

Originally Posted by kenshin-dono

hmm where was the baka tsuki page updated? last update note i saw was July 13, 2009 - Volume 2 Chapter 2 Completed

of course i havent been looking at those percentages on volume 2, are those just creeping up?

Maybe its lame not buying a novel because of the cover, but for people on the boarderline like me who dont really buy this stuff, having them lame up the cover is enough to make us just say F it. I honestly just dont see the point. Like i said if their goals to appeal to the fantasy crowd that would like that all they have to do is to open the cover and see its not what they expected

im just a stickler for stuff like that. As much as i LOVE the kenshin OAV's i probably would have skipped them if they hadn't had the reversable covers. Im not having that lame Samurai X label on my shelf, and i dont really want that ugly bait and switch cover on my shelf.

Not that I don't understand your point, but there is always the slip-jacket in their December issue, right? It feels like a cash-grab to me, but I'm certainly going to get that. I very much like the original cover art, because the style just clicks with me for some reason.

I'm also a little disappointed that they didn't even ask the fan base. Not that I feel like I'm the most important person in the world, but it would have been nice if they had checked with fans before coming to such a conclusion. What gets me is that I introduced 4 of my friends to Spice and Wolf, and all of them liked it so much they decided to pre-order the novel. Three of them weren't happy with this development.

I'm glad they are doing the slip-jackets to compensate, but it doesn't feel very nice to be considered an afterthought, even if my voice is ultimately drowned out by the demands of "general market research". Heck, even if there was a possibility of a limited printing with the original cover I'd be all over it.

[kenshin-dono]

you hit the nail on the head. the slip jacket in the december issue is a cash grab, bs tactic. If they really cared they would just do a reversable cover or something to that effect.

i would get it then. Forcing you to buy more crap just to get the cover that should have been is lame as hell

[LKK]

Originally Posted by kenshin-dono

If they really cared they would just do a reversable cover or something to that effect.

I've heard several people mention the reversible cover idea. I don't understand how it work. How do you do a reversible cover for a paperback book? For a hardbound book, I can understand how a reversible dust jacket would work. But for a paperback book? How many paperback books even come with dust jackets?

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by LKK

I've heard several people mention the reversible cover idea. I don't understand how it work. How do you do a reversible cover for a paperback book? For a hardbound book, I can understand how a reversible dust jacket would work. But for a paperback book? How many paperback books even come with dust jackets?

A lot of JAPANESE manga comes with dust jackets.... just something else the American market cheaps out on to reduce costs.

I was looking for an excuse to buy a YEN magazine but the issue pricing is pretty staggering for not being able to glance inside (they're sealed in the store). I figure the December issue is a good reason to give it a try.

Again, it makes me wonder where Yen Press thinks their books are going to be shelved in the bookstores. "nekkid wolf girl photo" covers may not sit well in the manga/anime section since most 'Mericans view that as a kiddy section (and its where all the light novel series are placed). I can see the irate mothers now..... :P

[LKK]

Originally Posted by Vexx

A lot of JAPANESE manga comes with dust jackets.... just something else the American market cheaps out on to reduce costs.

Yeah, I know. As you said though, the American market doesn't use dust jackets for its paperbacks except in rare cases.

I was looking for an excuse to buy a YEN magazine but the issue pricing is pretty staggering for not being able to glance inside (they're sealed in the store). I figure the December issue is a good reason to give it a try.

I have yet to hear a reason why Yen Plus is bagged. I understand why it would be bagged when a give-away is included. But I don't understand why the regular issues are bagged. Seems to me, it would cut down on casual or curious buyers.

Again, it makes me wonder where Yen Press thinks their books are going to be shelved in the bookstores. "nekkid wolf girl photo" covers may not sit well in the manga/anime section since most 'Mericans view that as a kiddy section (and its where all the light novel series are placed). I can see the irate mothers now..... :P

According to a YP rep on another forum (Kurt Hassler??), YP is promoting the Spice & Wolf novels for the Young Adult / Teen science fiction & fantasy section. YP doesn't want the novels placed with the manga. Of course, whether the bookstore chains follow suit is beyond YP's control. Based on the Haruhi novels, I expect Barnes & Noble will put the novels where YP wants and Borders will put the novels with the manga. That's how Haruhi is shelved in my area.

[yezhanquan]

I don't mind the pic per say, but what's with the smile? I know Horo's smile is famous, but that mouth looks a little off-model.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by yezhanquan

I don't mind the pic per say, but what's with the smile? I know Horo's smile is famous, but that mouth looks a little off-model.

I figure they had to look pretty hard for just the type of model that would reflect Horo's build... and they asked for a toothy wolf smile and that was the best she could muster.

Had me thinking of Florence in the web comic Freefall when she smiles

[Anh_Minh]

Hadn't really noticed the smile issue. I don't expect a realistic-styled picture to show as wide a smile as manga Horo.

[kuroishinigami]

Originally Posted by crimmy88

Are the side-stories considered canon? The side story about Horo's future seems...weird because its like the author gave us already the ending we're gonna get :|

Which side story covers Horo's future? And in which volume in light novel that side story is included?

Thx in advance.

[judgment26]

Originally Posted by kenshin-dono

hmm where was the baka tsuki page updated? last update note i saw was July 13, 2009 - Volume 2 Chapter 2 Completed

of course i havent been looking at those percentages on volume 2, are those just creeping up?

Actually, I just completed chapter 3 a few days ago, and the percentage reflects that. I simply forgot to post the update in the updates section. Note that the updates section itself is only updated when an entire chapter or volume is completed.

Regarding the controversial cover, I personally don't like it, but this is how I think it just might work: regardless of what people think when they first see the cover (and it most certainly WILL catch people's attention), as long as curiosity prompts them to actually read a few pages into it, or at least read the back or inside cover (where a brief synopsis is usually found), they just might find it interesting and end up taking it up. I think Horo would do the rest. Therefore, like it or not, Yen Press just might be on to something.

[Riful]

Originally Posted by wandering-dreamer

Ehhh, I feel like with a cover like that I'm buying a porno

Originally Posted by kenshin-dono

Thatys a horrible cover. i agree with wandering dreamer. It looks like the cover of some bad porno flick. Not good at all. If they want the fans to support this release theyre sure not off to a good start.

The japanese DVD cover.

How is that any different? XD

[wandering-dreamer]

Originally Posted by Riful

The japanese DVD cover.

How is that any different? XD

You know, not really but I would be complaining about that as well. XD And correct me if I'm wrong, but the slip cover YP is offering doesn't seem to be the original novel cover either. Am I remembering right or slowly going crazy over here?

[LKK]

^^ Yes, the picture Riful provided is different from the YP slip cover picture. That's because Riful's picture is of the first DVD not the first novel. The cover of the first novel can be seen on Spice and Wolf's Wiki page. It's the same picture that YP is using for the slip cover.

[wandering-dreamer]

Yeah, I understood that they posted the image of the first DVD, I was wondering if YP was using the same cover as the Japanese novel. And it is the same, the coloring was a little different than I remember and the different font was throwing me off as well. Just was a bit confused.

[LKK]

^^ Ah, I get you now.

[ElizLestrad]

Just out of curiosity, are these "light novels" as in actual book novels or are they manga?

[BashZeStampeedo]

Originally Posted by ElizLestrad

Just out of curiosity, are these "light novels" as in actual book novels or are they manga?

Although there are a few images here and there, they are mostly words like other novel. They are something between a short story and a novel in length, usually using a short paragraph style that is mostly dialogue-driven.

Compared to a manga, which are mostly image-driven, light novels are word-driven (but are meant to be read clearly and easily, so usually not much prose).

In case you are wondering, I believe the in-novel images for Spice and Wolf are generally full-page black and white ones in the style of the original Japanese cover art.

[kenshin-dono]

Originally Posted by judgment26

Actually, I just completed chapter 3 a few days ago, and the percentage reflects that. I simply forgot to post the update in the updates section. Note that the updates section itself is only updated when an entire chapter or volume is completed.

Regarding the controversial cover, I personally don't like it, but this is how I think it just might work: regardless of what people think when they first see the cover (and it most certainly WILL catch people's attention), as long as curiosity prompts them to actually read a few pages into it, or at least read the back or inside cover (where a brief synopsis is usually found), they just might find it interesting and end up taking it up. I think Horo would do the rest. Therefore, like it or not, Yen Press just might be on to something.

tnx much i thought the update notes got updated as it went i'll keep an eye on that that then. keep up the great owrk

[velderia]

When I saw the article on Yen Press about the cover, someone actually made a funny comment on it. Something like "Oh gawd, imagine when these teens pick this up and instead of reading about some hawt erotic wolf smex, - it's about economics" XDD So true.