Spice and Wolf Light Novel Discussion

[BashZeStampeedo]

Originally Posted by Vexx

Where do you think many of the demigods come from?

Oh, I'm not arguing against the "real life" precedents, just in the Hasekuraverse. If we are to assume he will follow typical pagan myths of that approximate time and era, then the story practically writes itself.

[wandering-dreamer]

Just finished reading the second novel myself and I have a question (which I now remember puzzled me in the anime as well). When Lawrence is going around trying to raise money one of the people he goes to says something along the lines of "of course no one's helping you, you're going around with a women!" I'm a little confused, female merchants seem to be rare but more or less accepted in this world so does everyone seem to think that Holo is a whore that Lawrence is dragging around or am I missing something?

[BashZeStampeedo]

Originally Posted by wandering-dreamer

Just finished reading the second novel myself and I have a question (which I now remember puzzled me in the anime as well). When Lawrence is going around trying to raise money one of the people he goes to says something along the lines of "of course no one's helping you, you're going around with a women!" I'm a little confused, female merchants seem to be rare but more or less accepted in this world so does everyone seem to think that Holo is a whore that Lawrence is dragging around or am I missing something?

That's basically it. She's FAR more likely to be a whore or girlfriend that he's obviously treating well, so why does he need money? Female merchants aren't unheard-of, but even Lawrence has never seen one.

So not only is he likely fooling around "in the eyes of god" (this is a very religious town), but he also has the gall to beg for money while flaunting her at the same time. That's a bit insulting, isn't it?

They're being judgmental, of course, but you can't blame them. If they did help him, what would the town think of them? Of course they don't realize that he's so scared he's completely irrational. Not even Horo realizes that before it's too late.

[Rajura]

Well put... to distill that down to one sentence... don't come begging to me for money because you don't have enough to spend on your girl AND REPAY YOUR DEBTS!

[noahgab1133]

I bought the second novel and I must say i'm glad that I did. The translation was smooth and it felt good rereading the second volume and from an official source.

I still find it hard to believe that this series is ending soon. It feels like i just started getting into this series even though its been 3 years since i got into it. Hopefully yen press speeds up their release schedule. If not when has learning another language been a bad thing?

[nsmcho]

It takes too much time to me able to read a novel in japanese...

[SpaceGoo]

I'm a big Spice and Wolf fan and I was thinking about buying these novels. Will someone give me a little insight on the English-translated novels? I've heard the first novel's translation is bad, but subsequent novels are a lot better. How many in English are there? How different are they from the anime?

[Rajura]

The first Eng. novel is not "bad"... the style is just different than subsequent novels he wrote. It has a nice charm and is a great read!

There are only 2 out at this time... 3rd is coming out in December. Of the manga, there are 2 out with the 3rd slated for the end of November.

No Chloë... that's probably the biggest difference, then there is the extra bits of dialogue here and there.

[tyranuus]

Aye, nothing wrong particularly with the first book, in some senses, the author has admitted the issues are with the second book, not the first. I enjoyed the first novel, when you read it, bar little extra bits and pieces, you realise how faithful the anime translation was.
You also have to remember Spice and Wolf 1 was the authors first book, so his writing style was always going to mature/refine as time goes by.


As Rajura states, Chloe was an anime-only creation (well a tweak as she replaced a male character), but she got the approval of Hasekura, who liked the extra dynamic she added being female.

Only issues with the translation for the first novel was a few typos here and there, but really nothing to get your knickers in a twist with, and if any small liberties were taken during the translation, you wouldnt know as it read pretty smoothly.

[ThunderSt0rm]

Finally got around to buying volume 2 :D

I'm liking it so far

[tyranuus]

I think my amended custom title says it all

[ThunderSt0rm]

I completely agree with that, considering I'm almost done with volume 2 D:

Speed it up yen press.....

[wandering-dreamer]

ANN has confirmation that volume 15 is entering the final arc (but not the final book itself).

[taichi-kun]

Originally Posted by wandering-dreamer

ANN has confirmation that volume 15 is entering the final arc (but not the final book itself).

Great news

volume 15 is the first part of the "Taiyō no Kinka" storyline , I don't know what's it about ...

Maybe volume 16 is the end...

[Rajura]

So I heard...

There is a good chance there will be a Side Colors IV (from what I've heard), especially since there is already one short story not put into volume format.

So, at the end of the day, the last volume will likely be XVII... since a final Side Colors would likely not sell as well AFTER the central story ends... of course for fans of the series, would it really matter? For the most part, probably not.

[AlaAlba]

OMFG!! so 15 is out already!!????
wooooot!

[Vexx]

Yeah, its out (vol 15 JP edition). Somehow I missed noticing til just now.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4...9716072_snp_dp

[AlaAlba]

Spoiler for volume 15:

くううううう, Who is that guy/girl???
Eib? Ru Rowa? maybe it's Eib. maybe she knows about Horo from Col.
damn cliffhanger.

Horo and Lawrence is more like of a lover now, they keep holdng hands wherever they go XD. Too bad they didnt do more than that.....

And I expect some info about 16 from the afterword, but nothing, > > only some random stuff about diving. Sensei...

[poleno]

What is the plot summary?
Ehhh... I really want to know the outcome of the final arc...
Or at least 15 vol

[AlaAlba]

Originally Posted by poleno

What is the plot summary?
Ehhh... I really want to know the outcome of the final arc...
Or at least 15 vol

Spoiler for summary 15:

Plot summary just as written in the back of the book:
Mully(? or Murry) Mercenary, a mercenary group whose name is using Mully, Horo's once time friend in Yoitsu(a wolf too). To meet them, Horo and Lawrence visits Resco, the town in where Debau & Co holds control.
It's said that Debau is planning to start a war at northern lands, with conquest and mine developing at that areas as their purpose. For that, Debau gathers all arm forces they could gather. But once Lawrence arrived at the town, there're no uneasy atmosphere ,the mood like when a war will begin, at all. In contrary, the town filed with vigors and lifes. While still suspicious at it, Lawrence & Horo headed to the inn where Mully Mercenary is staying.

spoiler starts from here

Spoiler:

At the inn, they meet Ruwald Mully(ルワード・ミューリ). He wears an accessory, a claw accessory. Turned out that the claw is Mully's, the claw divide by two vertically and a message is written on the inside surface, a message from Mully himself.
"Long time no see."
Long ago when the mercenary group just was created, they were helped by a wolf, who was Mully. The details was not mentioned but in some way, before they parted the wolf gave his claw and the message, and asked them to give the message to Kenrou Horo, hoping one day they will meet her.

I half-expected the Mully guy would be Mully himself or his descendant > > this is just too sad, dang Hasekura.

For Lawrence, he never had the feelng of losing someone he loves before. So he doesnt know how to cheer up Horo, fearing he would make her more sad. He doesnt know what to say, but still, even if she might call him a clown, even if he knows it maybe a needless thing to do, Lawrence determined to not make a regret anymore, so he gave her his hand.

I think I'm about to have a tear.

So Lawrence takes Horo looking around the town. The town is different from all town they have visited, there no regulation, no ruler, no town wall. But the town is living, crowded, and for outsider merchant like Lawrence, it looks like a town of heaven. The gold rate is abnormal, as in the town the gold costs a lot cheaper than any town.

that's for today. I ll write more when I have time, sorry. Or maybe someone can continue the spoiler.