The Novel and Manga of Haruhi Suzumiya

[CrowKenobi]

Originally Posted by ultimatemegax

On the right is Kyon's sister and on the right left is Miyokichi since this volume contains the part of Editor in Chief★Straight ahead! where she is featured.

Then why does she look like Mikuru? I'm asking this because whoever that is is definitely wearing a North High uniform...

I know she's supposed to look older than she really is, but come on...

[ultimatemegax]

Originally Posted by CrowKenobi

Then why does she look like Mikuru? I'm asking this because whoever that is is definitely wearing a North High uniform...

I know she's supposed to look older than she really is, but come on...

She has a lighter hair color than Mikuru does from Tsugano's color images. (check 1, 2, and 3 for comparisons) I thought it was her at first due to the anime focusing on her interactions with Mikuru, but according to the poster from 2ch it is Miyokichi. It also fits with the story in the volume much better than if it is Mikuru.

We should get a better image in a couple of weeks with the official background color (new pattern is likely).

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by J the Drafter

I think the poster is wishing that Asakura was more than a terminator. We know she's capble of opinions, at least, and the author wanted Asakura fleshed out instead of being left as a plot device.

I like to think Asakura is developing human emotions like Yuki is. However, the human emotions she is developing doesn't have to be nice ones. After all, plenty of human mass-murderers have emotions too.

Being a Psychopath is technically still an improvement from just being an uncaring machine. From Asakura's perspective anyway.

[Gamer_2k4]

Originally Posted by Vallen Chaos Valiant

I like to think Asakura is developing human emotions like Yuki is. However, the human emotions she is developing doesn't have to be nice ones. After all, plenty of human mass-murderers have emotions too.

Being a Psychopath is technically still an improvement from just being an uncaring machine. From Asakura's perspective anyway.

You're using the present tense like this is something that's still going on. Am I missing something? The real Asakura doesn't exist after the first book. Disappearance doesn't count, since Asakura was a creation of Yuki's there, and she never did anything emotional in her only other appearance. Attempting to kill Kyon in the first book was just a means to an end; if the way to provoke Haruhi was as simple as pushing a button, she would have done that with exactly the same enthusiasm.

[ijuinkun]

Well, as for Asakura being gone or not,

Spoiler:

The preview that we have seen to "Surprise" published in The Sneaker shows that Asakura has been re-activated, but is currently being kept on a leash through Kimidori and is not presently allowed to act on her own initiative.

[ultimatemegax]

For the Japanese release of Surprise:

There will be a first press limited edition containing both books as well as a 64 page color booklet of Noizi Ito illustrations drawn specifically for the release. It will go on sale 5/25 for 1260 yen (about the price of two light novels). On 6/15 the common edition of each book will begin to be sold separately.

[quigonkenny]

Originally Posted by Gamer_2k4

You're using the present tense like this is something that's still going on. Am I missing something? The real Asakura doesn't exist after the first book. Disappearance doesn't count, since Asakura was a creation of Yuki's there, and she never did anything emotional in her only other appearance. Attempting to kill Kyon in the first book was just a means to an end; if the way to provoke Haruhi was as simple as pushing a button, she would have done that with exactly the same enthusiasm.

Yuki didn't destroy Asakura in Melancholy, she severed the connection to her humanoid interface (I believe "sever [her] data link" was the phrasing used in the translations). Or did you miss the significance of calling them "interfaces" in the first place? In Disappearance, Yuki reestablished her interface as a form of protection (going from effective godhood to meek normality might understandably create a feeling of insecurity), and presumably tried to overwrite her established personality much like she did with herself (we saw how well that worked). And then of course there are the additional spoilers about Surprise that are not so much spoilers anymore, since the initial except was released...

Needless to say, Asakura is the same Asakura (even beyond the physical) in all her appearances. That heavily implies a consistent presence over the whole time. Yuki can't actually "create" data, remember? (And even if she was borrowing Haruhi's powers to do so in Disappearance, that doesn't explain Surprise)

[bayoab]

Originally Posted by ultimatemegax

For the Japanese release of Surprise:

Any sign of per-store retailer bonuses?

[ultimatemegax]

Originally Posted by bayoab

Any sign of per-store retailer bonuses?

Since the bookstores won't be taking reservations until Saturday, we haven't had the opportunity to be told of any yet.

[PastPrime]

Originally Posted by quigonkenny

Yuki didn't destroy Asakura in Melancholy, she severed the connection to her humanoid interface (I believe "sever [her] data link" was the phrasing used in the translations). Or did you miss the significance of calling them "interfaces" in the first place? In Disappearance, Yuki reestablished her interface as a form of protection (going from effective godhood to meek normality might understandably create a feeling of insecurity), and presumably tried to overwrite her established personality much like she did with herself (we saw how well that worked). And then of course there are the additional spoilers about Surprise that are not so much spoilers anymore, since the initial except was released...

Needless to say, Asakura is the same Asakura (even beyond the physical) in all her appearances. That heavily implies a consistent presence over the whole time. Yuki can't actually "create" data, remember? (And even if she was borrowing Haruhi's powers to do so in Disappearance, that doesn't explain Surprise)

Also, Yuki's first story in "Editor in Chief★Straight Ahead!" indicated that she existed as part of the Data Entity prior to becoming a humanoid interface. That would indicate that all the humanoid interfaces were originally part of the Data Entity and will return there when their mission is over, hence the coffin in her last story.

[ultimatemegax]

Reservations have started in Japan!

Kadokawa has updated their Haruhi webpage with a big "First Press Edition reservations have started!" image. There are two pieces of news: 1. A special event will occur in Akiba this week. 2. There will be a special Surprise website opening sometime soon. Other than that, the only real news to report is that the 64 page color booklet will be written by Tanigawa as well as that there are no differences for cover images.

So places that have opened reservations:
Amazon (Follow the ranking here over time)
Kadokawa's own online shop
7Net shopping
Kinokunya
Gamers (store bonus in planning)
Animate (no store bonus listed yet)
E-hon (Store bonus: PC wallpaper)
Rakuten
Tora No Ana (Store Bonus in planning)
Chara-Ani
Getchu

As more are listed, I'll edit them into this post. Thanks to Amazon, we have the official ISBN for the First Press Editions. No one has listed the Common Editions yet, so those will have to wait.
# ISBN-10: 4044292108
# ISBN-13: 978-4044292102

Unfortunately, I spoke too soon about possible plot details, cover images, etc that might have been revealed. There has not been any revelations about such topics and I apologize for misleading anyone. Nothing was said about any international release so far.

Edit 1: Here are a couple pictures of the vehicle that will be going around Akiba this week (thanks to twitter user chiruoka):

(Better image of the side:here)

[Gamer_2k4]

I have to say, I didn't like the novel-style drawings when I first saw them, but they're definitely growing on me.

[Tensei]

I'll be sure to pre-order the 10th volume of off Kinokuniya bookstore as soon as thye make it available for Pre-order.　great thing is they already have it listed as being released may 2011 at a price of ￥1,200 ^_^

[Marina2]

Originally Posted by ultimatemegax

Two points of interest for the thread:



2. The cover characters for the 13th manga volume have been revealed in this month's Shounen Ace:

On the right is Kyon's sister and on the left is Miyokichi since this volume contains the part of Editor in Chief★Straight ahead! where she is featured.

Edit: I had "left" before re-typing Miyokichi's description. Thanks Crowkenobi!

Wait, the story in manga reached 8th novel volume calready??? I haven't followed it for a while.

May I ask how they draw "Girl dressed in red" (Kyoko) and Fujiwara in volume 7 part of story?

[ijuinkun]

"Editor in Chief★Straight ahead" is being released before "Intrigues" since Tsugano Gaku is running the stories in strict chronological order. As of this writing, the latest chapter in Shounen Ace Magazine was the third chapter of "Intrigues" showing Kyon and Next-Week-Mikuru meeting with Yuki.

[spawnofthejudge]

English Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya will be available in June from Amazon.

I'm glad they're moving quickly on this, averaging like 6-9 months per novel. Still feels slow when all we want to see is the one that's about to come out in Japanese.

[AbZeroNow]

Originally Posted by spawnofthejudge

English Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya will be available in June from Amazon.

I'm glad they're moving quickly on this, averaging like 6-9 months per novel. Still feels slow when all we want to see is the one that's about to come out in Japanese.

I know that in June when I am able to read Snow Mountain Syndrome, I'll be wishing even more for that story to be to animated. I guess that's the trade-off when you're dealing with KyoAni(high quality anime, but they only take on one or two projects a year).

At least reading the Endless Eight story will take less patience than watching it(I accept it as a necessary prelude to Disappearance).

[quigonkenny]

Originally Posted by Gamer_2k4

I have to say, I didn't like the novel-style drawings when I first saw them, but they're definitely growing on me.

Noizi Ito designs > KyoAni designs

[Khu]

OH MY GOD 10TH NOVEL

squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeee

But it'll take time to translate.

Ah well. :/

[ultimatemegax]

Originally Posted by Khu

OH MY GOD 10TH NOVEL

squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeee

But it'll take time to translate.

Ah well. :/

This volume is being translated currently by Kadokawa according to the January 2nd edition of Culture Japan. It will be released worldwide on the 25th of May. No other details about the international release have been revealed.