Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by eely225
Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Vol. 1: Dawn by Yoshiki Tanaka
4.0
{A Public Space}
[Enter Inquisitive Stranger; You close a book.]
STRANGER, I: Oh my, did you just finish that book?
YOU: Oh, hello. Yes, I did, actually.
STRANGER, I: Legend of the Galactic Heroes? So, is this a YA thing?
YOU: Ah, well the title is a bit misleading. It's translated quite literally from the Japanese and sounds dumb in English. I'd rather just call it Dawn.
STRANGER, I: Not really about what you'd rather do, is it? It's in giant letters on the cover.
YOU: I try to pretend otherwise. But trust me, it's good sci-fi.
STRANGER, I: Oh really? So are there a number of characters on competing sides who the reader can empathize with?
YOU: Totally!
STRANGER, I: Cool, like who?
YOU: Well there's this guy named Yang Wen-li. He's really humble but also a war hero/strategic genius but also a committed democrat and conflicted pacifist but also good friend and father. I really relate to him.
STRANGER, I: Okay, who else?
YOU: Right. I mean. The other guy is kind of a fascist. He's cool about it and he likes his friends, but like, pretty fascisty.
STRANGER, I: The other guy? Are there only two characters?
YOU: I mean, technically, yes. They are mostly archetypes whose worth is determined by their opinions toward the two main characters and I forget all their names, but yeah, it's a fun cast.
STRANGER, I: Is this one of those things where people describe something as "fun" when they mean "not that fun"?
YOU: I mean, it's not really *about* the characters. You have to take it in context; think of how Tanaka was a young Japanese author in the late 70's, having grown up in the post-war but trapped geographically between states in the Cold War. He structured the story around the Prussian Wars, but it clearly mirrors the rise of fascist powers in World War II as well as the seemingly unending struggle between the Soviet Union and NATO. It's a plea for pacifism in a world where militancy destroys nations' souls!
STRANGER, I: Right, but isn't this about lasers and spaceships? Do you really think the audience is going to pick up on an anti-war message when, judging by the cover, the book is focused on huge battles and their delightful intricacies?
YOU: You sure are perceptive, stranger.
STRANGER, P: Thanks.
YOU: I can't disagree with anything you've said. And yet, it's still a really fun read. It isn't deep, but it is interesting to see it as a product of its time. Plus, the struggle to define a democracy in a world defined by nationalism, populism, lust for power, and external threats is always relevant. I can't dislike a book that's this much fun, even if the characters are more representative than realistic.
STRANGER, P: Very well!
[The Generous Stranger hands you a copy of Ambition (Legend of the Galactic Heroes #2).]
STRANGER, G: You are strapped into this roller coaster, and there's no getting off.
YOU: Oh, okay. I mean, these characters could still be fun for another volume.
STRANGER, G: You're still using that word? Also, there are eight more books after this one.
[As the Stranger fades into a sudden mist, You look into the middle distance, then rising, begin to trundle offstage]
YOU: It may have mainstream appeal because of its military narrative, but that belies the subtle contradictions embodied in its protagonist! It's a commentary, an important and timeless....
[Enter Inquisitive Stranger; You close a book.]
STRANGER, I: Oh my, did you just finish that book?
YOU: Oh, hello. Yes, I did, actually.
STRANGER, I: Legend of the Galactic Heroes? So, is this a YA thing?
YOU: Ah, well the title is a bit misleading. It's translated quite literally from the Japanese and sounds dumb in English. I'd rather just call it Dawn.
STRANGER, I: Not really about what you'd rather do, is it? It's in giant letters on the cover.
YOU: I try to pretend otherwise. But trust me, it's good sci-fi.
STRANGER, I: Oh really? So are there a number of characters on competing sides who the reader can empathize with?
YOU: Totally!
STRANGER, I: Cool, like who?
YOU: Well there's this guy named Yang Wen-li. He's really humble but also a war hero/strategic genius but also a committed democrat and conflicted pacifist but also good friend and father. I really relate to him.
STRANGER, I: Okay, who else?
YOU: Right. I mean. The other guy is kind of a fascist. He's cool about it and he likes his friends, but like, pretty fascisty.
STRANGER, I: The other guy? Are there only two characters?
YOU: I mean, technically, yes. They are mostly archetypes whose worth is determined by their opinions toward the two main characters and I forget all their names, but yeah, it's a fun cast.
STRANGER, I: Is this one of those things where people describe something as "fun" when they mean "not that fun"?
YOU: I mean, it's not really *about* the characters. You have to take it in context; think of how Tanaka was a young Japanese author in the late 70's, having grown up in the post-war but trapped geographically between states in the Cold War. He structured the story around the Prussian Wars, but it clearly mirrors the rise of fascist powers in World War II as well as the seemingly unending struggle between the Soviet Union and NATO. It's a plea for pacifism in a world where militancy destroys nations' souls!
STRANGER, I: Right, but isn't this about lasers and spaceships? Do you really think the audience is going to pick up on an anti-war message when, judging by the cover, the book is focused on huge battles and their delightful intricacies?
YOU: You sure are perceptive, stranger.
STRANGER, P: Thanks.
YOU: I can't disagree with anything you've said. And yet, it's still a really fun read. It isn't deep, but it is interesting to see it as a product of its time. Plus, the struggle to define a democracy in a world defined by nationalism, populism, lust for power, and external threats is always relevant. I can't dislike a book that's this much fun, even if the characters are more representative than realistic.
STRANGER, P: Very well!
[The Generous Stranger hands you a copy of Ambition (Legend of the Galactic Heroes #2).]
STRANGER, G: You are strapped into this roller coaster, and there's no getting off.
YOU: Oh, okay. I mean, these characters could still be fun for another volume.
STRANGER, G: You're still using that word? Also, there are eight more books after this one.
[As the Stranger fades into a sudden mist, You look into the middle distance, then rising, begin to trundle offstage]
YOU: It may have mainstream appeal because of its military narrative, but that belies the subtle contradictions embodied in its protagonist! It's a commentary, an important and timeless....