The Novel and Manga of Haruhi Suzumiya

[Hedd]

Originally Posted by quigonkenny

Did you do so before or after my post? And did you get the $10.19 Amazon.com stock copy? Reason I ask is that the (presumably) same one copy in Amazon.com's stock that remained after I ordered mine is still in Amazon.com's stock, and is still only one. If you ordered after me, it's safe to assume that Amazon.com has more than one in stock, or has an inventory mapping feature that is either incorrect or poorly updated, or both.

Honestly I don't remember, I didn't notice a stock number when I ordered mine. It's sitting happily in my lap though. They've translated it pretty well so far.

[Bane Rieko]

I just got all of the translated light novels by Baka-Tsuki (saved on my computer for easy reading) and I was wondering something:

How accurate are the translations (if anyone has read the original Japanese). I can't read Japanese at all (save for... two or three kanji) and I wanted to get the most accurate translation I can until I can buy the official translation when they start coming out in April.

[moose25]

Well i finally just finished the book (I'm a slow reader) i really like it. Far more enjoyable than many books recently read. Yes it is short and relatively expensive but totally worth it. Think I'm going to buy the hardcover edition to support the series and to have Noizi Ito's cover art. So has anyone else read it? What do you think?

[quigonkenny]

Finished the official translation (got it in the mail Saturday), and I've got to say I'm impressed. I never assumed the translation job would be as difficult as translating an anime or manga, since those by definition have a more limited space in which to fit the work. If a single Japanese term can only be adequately defined by a sentence and a half of English, with a novel you can always throw that in as an aside, and as long as the majority of the flow is good, no one will really notice. Fitting a sentence and a half into two mouthflaps or a small speech bubble is a different story.

That said, keeping tone and flow is important, and they have succeeded in that.

Spoiler for length and anyone who STILL hasn't read the first novel:

While the language chosen may be a little young for my taste in places (Kyon admitting internally that Asakura is "a hottie" during Taniguchi's ranking conversation was a bit jarring at first) it was generally appropriate to the tone of the story, which all will be happy to find is just as snarky and crotchety as the anime and B-T translation was. And I am a bit of a fogey, at heart if not so much in age, so maybe it's just me.

I'm going to have to go back over the B-T translations of Volume 1 to see if there were any subtle changes to plot points, but aside from a few slightly different and understandable takes in translation (most notably a slight lowering of the "technical" sound to some of the terms) I don't forsee finding anything odd, and in fact as I skim over a few passages as I type this, it seems even more similar than I remember it being (maybe someone at B-T made an editorial pass recently to smooth things out?).

Kyon's random references to things one would expect to be above his intelligence level is fully intact, with only one example I can think of being Americanized (appropriately and necessarily done). It is very obvious that this is taking place in Japan, and not Generic Everyone Speaks English City. There is no kiddification, as Haruhi does threaten to accuse the Computer Club members of "gang rape", and her "violations" of Mikuru are appropriately descriptive. Those worried that someone who doesn't "get it" would be handed this job and try to change things to fit a certain expectation or demographic need not have. This is the same Melancholy we've all grown to love, only laid out in English by a single author and not by committee.

In fact, I personally only see two problems with this translation, one of which doesn't affect the story and that I have to compare with the B-T translation to be sure it's even there, and one that I don't personally have a problem with but I know some will.

First, and I'm not 100% sure of this, but I think some of the ambiguity between internal monologue and what Kyon is actually speaking out loud has been removed. I only really noted this at a few times in the last couple of chapters (and then only by my admittedly questionable memory), but I think that whenever there is a response from another character, Kyon's corresponding statement is unambiguously wrapped in quotes. And when his ambiguously stated internal monologue is not responded to (and he does tend to—possibly—talk at length to no one in particular quite often) it remains internal. That ambiguity was a fun part of the quirk of Kyon's character, and if it is indeed gone, I will miss it, but it doesn't detract from the plot, and he's already plenty quirky...

Second, and I expected it, but the Integrated Data Sentient Entity is now officially (in print, at least) not called that. And while "Data Overmind" is not as "Japanese overdescriptive" as IDSE, it does qualify as a technically correct translation of the original Japanese (情報統合思念体, jouhou tougou shinentai, literally "integrated [built-in] data thought body"), and does have a "fifties alien movie" feel to it that I find oddly appropriate. Of course, as there are people who will take any opportunity to shun the official and stick to their "more accurate" (and completely coincidentally, free) alternatives, as is always the case with this fandom, expect this difference to be the standard they rally to.

[Kogetsu Shirogane]

Originally Posted by quigonkenny

Data Overmind

That tears it! I don't care that they left the groping scene intact, I don't care if Haruhi's mention of gang rape wasn't removed, so what if most of the translation is actually comparable to what is currently available. How DARE they use a different confusing name than the confusing name everyone is used to?!

This is barbaric!

I will not stand for it! They can just go to hell for all I care.



Okay, now that I've given the first angry rant response, I can be serious. It is nice to know that the "dumbing down" is actually relatively minor. If anything, it'll make it a lot easier to read, and that can't be bad, now can it?

[Roger Rambo]

I don't particularly mind the IDE having some different name.

[Kogetsu Shirogane]

I picked that as the rant target because it was the most blatant alteration. Personally, I actually like the idea of a two-word name for it, as now it matches up with Canopy Domain (though I don't really know what an overmind is )

[wittyusername]

Originally Posted by quigonkenny

*snip*

I'm relieved to know that the dumbing down and Americanization was kept to a minimum. I don't really mind the IDE having a new name, as long as the actions and purposes and whatnot of the entity aren't changed. The one thing I really don't like is the changing of the internal monologue stuff. If it's that clear, it's going to take some of the fun out of it. Still, as long as Kyon's his snarky old self...

I wish my copy would come sooner! I ordered it from the Chapters website, but I was only recently informed that if it's a hardcover it could take up to a week extra to ship.

[Guernsey]

Data Overmind?!


Who came up with that?!

[DJ_RockmanX]

Originally Posted by Kogetsu Shirogane

(though I don't really know what an overmind is )

"Awaken my child, and embrace the glory that is your birthright. Know that I am the Overmind; the eternal will of the Swarm, and that you have been created to serve me."

Is the first thing I thought of.

[besieger]

Originally Posted by DJ_RockmanX

"Awaken my child, and embrace the glory that is your birthright. Know that I am the Overmind; the eternal will of the Swarm, and that you have been created to serve me."

Is the first thing I thought of.

Same. Stupid American references!

[Kogetsu Shirogane]

I... don't even know what that's from. Someone care to explain for me?

*e* Never mind. Just looked it up

[typhonsentra]

By the way, Yen released the second volume of the manga this past week. The next volume will be the first one with material that wasn't previously translated into English.

[quigonkenny]

Originally Posted by Kogetsu Shirogane

I picked that as the rant target because it was the most blatant alteration. Personally, I actually like the idea of a two-word name for it, as now it matches up with Canopy Domain (though I don't really know what an overmind is )

I don't know if there's a real definition for it, but "overmind" gives me an impression of the old Twilight Zone/Outer Limits alien invasion episodes with a more psychological bent, where the aliens were all controlled/linked by some nebulous "queen" or "hive mind", and any individual sentience they had was by and large subsumed by the greater resulting ego.

Quite fitting for how Nagato initially (and in later, chronologically previous instances) comes across and is constantly referred to by Kyon as a "doll". This series is as much about her growth as a character (and steadily growing spark of individual existence) as it is Kyon's.

Wikipedia has a page on the word, which is pretty much in the same direction.

And I believe that quote is from Starcraft? Something regarding the Zerg Big Baddie (they being predominantly a hive mind collective)?

[Solachinx]

Originally Posted by typhonsentra

By the way, Yen released the second volume of the manga this past week. The next volume will be the first one with material that wasn't previously translated into English.

Wait, what? I thought the next one was the 3rd volume, you know the one with Yuki on the front and containing Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya, Mysterique Sign and Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody?

What do you mean by "first"?

[Hedd]

While I personally don't mind Data Overmind as another moniker for the IDE, I will admit this is what I thought of the first time I saw it:

[Ithekro]

Considering that Yuki could probably out Zerg rush the best Korean Starcraft players now...I suppose that fits.

[YohoBrook]

Originally Posted by Solachinx

Wait, what? I thought the next one was the 3rd volume, you know the one with Yuki on the front and containing Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya, Mysterique Sign and Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody?

What do you mean by "first"?

I think he means that volume 3 of the manga (not the novels) contains new material which was not dubbed into english. (Filming of the Adventures of Mikuru Asahina)

[quigonkenny]

Originally Posted by YohoBrook

I think he means that volume 3 of the manga (not the novels) contains new material which was not dubbed into english. (Filming of the Adventures of Mikuru Asahina)

Which, coincidentally, is what Volume 2 of the novel is about.

Frankly, it's my least favorite volume. Can't really pin down why, though. Maybe the manga version will be more fun.

[Skane]

Originally Posted by Hedd

While I personally don't mind Data Overmind as another moniker for the IDE, I will admit this is what I thought of the first time I saw it:

Ah... nostalgia...

That was quite possibly one of the funkiest "cheat" code that few know about.

Cheers.