Crest of the Stars

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They're also jailers. They do not allow space travel without their regulation and control.

That's a bit extreme. I'm wondering what tiny percentage of the human population would actually be affected by those laws? How many would even notice?

(spoiler tagged to save space)

Spoiler

Maybe I've misunderstood what you were trying to say, but Spice and Wolf is a light novel, not traditional novel.

Also, manga based on novels (both light and traditional) is almost always much worse than its source material. And that's not something exclusive to manga either. Most adaptations, regardless of medium, are significantly weaker than their original works.

I don't argue that on average manga based on LNs may be worse than original manga. But even if we assume that this is the case, then it would likely be because those stories were originally made for a different medium.

I would also agree that traditional novels are usually better than most light novels. But this is just a generalization, not a rule. There are plenty of LNs that can stand side by side with proper novels and still look favourably.

Btw, you are mixing things up. LNs are not oriented for cell phone reading. They are published in physical form, just like regular novels are.
What you are thinking about is most likely Cell phone novels.

I'm thinking Light Novels like 'Full Metal Panic', 'Haruhi Suzumiya', and 'The Devil is a Part Timer'. Really enjoyed all of those. Well the anime's of those at least.

As for Light Novels themselves, experience suggests they exist (as you said) halfway up on the proverbial foodchain. Not as meaty as full-blown novels, but far more substantial than your traditional comic.

As an aside, there are anime that are not based on any source material, or are even inspired by other works. 'Vision of Escaflowne' and 'Now and then, Here and there' would be good examples of the former. As for the latter, this has some of the best anime out there:-
Infinite Ryvius - based on 'Lord of the Flies'
Haibane Renmei - derived from a short story by Haruki Murakami

Nadia - Secret of Blue Water - an incredibly well done pastiche of Jules Verne
 

I'm with you on the actual novels.  A standout for me is Spice and Wolf.  But I dunno about the "light novel" thing.  I don't actually watch much anime, but with manga it feels to me like the average quality of manga sourced from "light novels" is actually worse than that of original manga.

Edited to add: It would be more elegant to have sort of ascending quality tiers of (manga, lowest) (light novel, more words less pictures, mid) (real novels, all words and more "serious" top), but I don't think it's actually the case. Maybe it's because light novels are heavily oriented towards cell phone reading.

It helps to remember that what sets it apart from most other series is the source material. The vast majority of anime's come from manga's. Hence they have the structure and simplicity of one. A few on the other hand are derived from 'light novels'. You can sense straight away the stronger writing and a greater depth in story telling. Rarer still are those that come from an actual novel. There aren't many, 'Twelve Kingdoms' is one, and 'Crest of the Stars' is another.

I'm with you on the actual novels.  A standout for me is Spice and Wolf.  But I dunno about the "light novel" thing.  I don't actually watch much anime, but with manga it feels to me like the average quality of manga sourced from "light novels" is actually worse than that of original manga.

Edited to add:  It would be more elegant to have sort of ascending quality tiers of (manga, lowest)  (light novel, more words less pictures, mid)  (real novels, all words and more "serious" top), but I don't think it's actually the case.  Maybe it's because light novels are heavily oriented towards cell phone reading.

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They're also jailers. They do not allow space travel without their regulation and control.

Don't want to come off as being some sort of white knight, but seriously what the hell? The closest analogue we have is air travel and that's heavily controlled and regulated (as it should be). The only real overreach would be disallowing citizens from owning FTL capable spaceships, and I believe all pilots having to be a part of the Star Forces. My lore is a bit rusty so may be getting some things wrong, but it's beyond hyperbolic to equate control and regulation to "jailers."

I've been racking my head on that one for years. 'Best of a bad bunch' is my opinion. On the one hand autocratic, militaristic, and imperialistic. On the other, very socially liberal (especially when compared to what calls itself 'humanity'), and seemingly just.

A very nice bunch of b------s

They're also jailers. They do not allow space travel without their regulation and control.

Let's face it. The Abh are the bad guys. I like them, really, but they are all horrible, arrogant, insufferable jerks and I really never mind when they lose, because they deserve to.  That the author manages to make me care about them anyway is a feat of great skill.

I've been racking my head on that one for years. 'Best of a bad bunch' is my opinion. On the one hand autocratic, militaristic, and imperialistic. On the other, very socially liberal (especially when compared to what calls itself 'humanity'), and seemingly just.

A very nice bunch of b------s

It's fair to say that 'Crest of the Stars' is my favourite anime of all time. Everything I love about anime is right here. The subversion and reinvention of a familiar genre, the moral ambiguity, and the bittersweet outcome. Helped of course by solid characters, excellent writing, and superb world-building.
As for the new comic; something just doesn't seem right. 

It helps to remember that what sets it apart from most other series is the source material. The vast majority of anime's come from manga's. Hence they have the structure and simplicity of one. A few on the other hand are derived from 'light novels'. You can sense straight away the stronger writing and a greater depth in story telling. Rarer still are those that come from an actual novel. There aren't many, 'Twelve Kingdoms' is one, and 'Crest of the Stars' is another.

Just watching it you can feel that this is a genuine story with 'a beginning, a middle, and an end'. Proper structure, proper pacing, and above all, not treating the audience like imbeciles. Now, this is not the first time that there has been a manga adaptation of this series. Though it was amusing enough, there was none of the subtlety or dry wit from before.

With this one, only more of the same. 

 Let's face it. The Abh are the bad guys. I like them, really, but they are all horrible, arrogant, insufferable jerks and I really never mind when they lose, because they deserve to.  That the author manages to make me care about them anyway is a feat of great skill.

Hard to consider the Abh as bad guys when the opposition is hardly any better and in fact worse in some aspects. Can certainly do a hell of a lot worse when it comes to being ruled by a galactic overlord. Not that I'm excusing their behavior, but they really are the lesser of two evils here. Should be able to see the difference soon enough between an Abh-controlled planet and a UM-controlled planet.

Reading this is like falling in love again. I loved the anime, and the manga is great. Thanks for sharing this!

 
Indeed, reading this while listening to the old OST is like revisiting an old friend.  An old friend who's refined, classy, and, well...
 

That said, although I love the setting, the characters, the unique look at a space empire and everything else (as my avatar shows), damn, it's hard not to think of the dickery of the Abh. It's almost hilarious how Abh imperialism tries to justify itself: "the universe's political situation should have been extremely simple" (aka: "only us can rule"), the changes made them "uncomfortable" (aka "how can we justify our space hegemony when we can't claim monopoly on space travel anymore? "), "unfortunately, the insistence of the empire was not popular", their part in conflicts was "due to unavoidable circumstances" and that led them to their modus operandi of "steal their space technology and don't stop until their systems are annexed".

Let's face it. The Abh are the bad guys. I like them, really, but they are all horrible, arrogant, insufferable jerks and I really never mind when they lose, because they deserve to.  That the author manages to make me care about them anyway is a feat of great skill.

collapsed

I agree with everything that you said EXCEPT for skipping the first episode of the anime. I believe that it should be watched as it sets the tone for how the Abh think and act for the whole series and is therefore important to the entire story line.

 

But that is just my opinion and I don't believe that either of our two opinions on this are wrong, merely different.

P.S.  I also believe that your response to the publisher of the authorized English translations was far too lenient. An upraised middle finger is nowhere near a proper response to the lack of continual publishing of this incredible story. May I suggest bastinado? Or perhaps burying him up to his neck near a fire ant nest and covering him with honey?

 

My sister is recommending this as punishment to the publisher, although I still feel that it is too damn lenient:

Spoiler

Sorry it took me so long to come back and respond - thank you for your endorsement. And agreeing to disagree on a point is completely fair. The US would be in much better shape if more of us could do that.

My initial misread of your suggested punishments for Mr. TP reminded me of Edgar Allen Poe's "A Cask of Amontillado", which might be adequate. (^_~) That, or

Reading this is like falling in love again. I loved the anime, and the manga is great. Thanks for sharing this!

That said, although I love the setting, the characters, the unique look at a space empire and everything else (as my avatar shows), damn, it's hard not to think of the dickery of the Abh. It's almost hilarious how Abh imperialism tries to justify itself: "the universe's political situation should have been extremely simple" (aka: "only us can rule"), the changes made them "uncomfortable" (aka "how can we justify our space hegemony when we can't claim monopoly on space travel anymore? "), "unfortunately, the insistence of the empire was not popular", their part in conflicts was "due to unavoidable circumstances" and that led them to their modus operandi of "steal their space technology and don't stop until their systems are annexed".

Thanks for the updates; Is the original anime worth a watch?

It is, but bear in mind that you should expect the same tone as in the manga: lots and lots of dialogue drive the plot. And the art is very old-school.

Also, you should know that Crest of the Stars has one season, while its sequel, Banner of the Stars, has three seasons (well, the last one is a couple of OVAs). The art is noticeably different (and for my taste, better) and is more focused on Lafiel's and Jinto's role in the war. A pity no adaptation has been made of the two last novels, though.

Thanks for the updates; Is the original anime worth a watch?

Thanks for the updates; Is the original anime worth a watch?

Most definitely

Thanks for the updates; Is the original anime worth a watch?

boring!!

I am displeased.  This Baron is treating a Count like trash, it does not matter if the Count is a subhuman (or a subabh) he is a noble of higher rank and should be treated as such.  It would be dishonorable to not show a modicum of respect to a noble of higher precedence.  Plus, insulting a higher ranking noble is a good way to end up dead.

God that super wide grin is sometimes cute and charming, and other times makes them look psychotic. I also get Hirano Kouta vibes from the art from time to time. Anyone else? Just me?

I am displeased.  This Baron is treating a Count like trash, it does not matter if the Count is a subhuman (or a subabh) he is a noble of higher rank and should be treated as such.  It would be dishonorable to not show a modicum of respect to a noble of higher precedence.  Plus, insulting a higher ranking noble is a good way to end up dead.

Well, and now we get an obligatory racism arc.

Can you blame him? I mean if you're landed and live in a feudalistic racial hierarchy that you're at the top of, creating a harem of maids just seems like the logical conclusion. He's the ultimate NEET.

Well, and now we get an obligatory racism arc.

It actually is obligatory. One physically different group of people has dominated and is effectively oppressing another under threat of force. There is going to be prejudice. Any story that features two or more physically different peoples at war or otherwise in conflict with each other and doesn't include some degree of racism (and/or sexism) is just naive.

Well, and now we get an obligatory racism arc.

Thanks, guys.

God that super wide grin is sometimes cute and charming, and other times makes them look psychotic. I also get Hirano Kouta vibes from the art from time to time. Anyone else? Just me?