なお、所収作品は漫画作品のみです。
鈴木貴昭氏の小説総集編は・・・いましばらくお待ちください。
まずは取り急ぎ告知まで。
all works are translationed to English.
novels by Takaaki SUZUKI is not contain this conpilation. just wait for a while...!
The Witches of the Sphinx Vol.2 – The Waterpipe from the Bazaar is going to be ready for sale on Sunday at the Comic Market!
I’ve finally found some time to prepare a simple preview of the
latest Strike Witches doujinshi I participated on. The Witches of the
Sphinx story line is part of the North African Front campaign being
waged in the Strike Witches world.
The broad direction of the project is supervised by Takaaki Suzuki, the
script writer and military/world construct advisor. He’s the person that
makes sure the world of Strike Witches remains consistent. Strike
Witches concept was created by Humikane Shimada.
The manga is authored Takeshi Nogami. Nogami has worked on numerous
projects together with Suzuki and Nogami wanted to help realize Suzuki
and Shimada’s conceptualization of the North African Front.
I’ve also tried to do my part by contributing some reference material to
the production. I translated the entire project, manga and short story
and all.
Last episode showed how humanity’s forces were starting to come
together to try to push back the Neuroi threat. In this episode, you
find out that the Neuroi pushed through the Middle East and overran
Britannia forces in the Suez.
Local Egyptian forces suffered tremendously and resentment between
Europeans powers and the locals have left their mark, but the witches
will stop at nothing to try to alleviate the situation.
The key word for the manga this is is, “Never mess with a girl’s shopping!”
Suzuki also authored a short story for this volume. In A Midnight Night Dream in the Desert,
you’ll find out more details about the epic battle that took place
prior to the current Neuroi onslaught. The Battle of Fusō Sea has been
hinted at for some time in the Strike Witches Universes, but Keiko Katō
finally reveals what happened.
Kei, the current commander of the Joint Fighter Squadron Afrika, was a
combatant in the battle that took place from 1937 to 1938. She was a
member of the Three Birds of Fusō Sea, a celebrated trio of the Imperial
Fusō Army Air Services Witches Force that helped keep Neuroi at bay.
If you want to find out more about Takeko Katō, Tomoko Anabuki and
Keiko Katō, you’ll have to get yourself a copy to read this short story.
Here’s a small sample:
“When I opened these eyes of mine once more, I found myself
resting upon a comfortable summer mattress covered in bright white silk.
Thus, having escaped the maw of death, I find myself wrapped in thin
silk gauze. And so, my days of armed contest, filled with much gallantry
and glory, had come to an end.”
Mami’s voice recedes into the darkness.
For a moment, the air is silent, but a moment later a thunderous applause is directed at her.
Having completed reading her book, Mami’s face expresses absolute bliss.
She had her eyes closed and her hands clasped against her chest, but
then the boisterous applause snaps her out of it and she takes a deep
bow.
“I liked that tale,” says Marseille as she lifts her glass and directs a nasty smile at me.
I fill her glass with whatever that was inside the bottle that was
nearest to me, beaming the best expression of contempt and scorn I could
muster. I seriously ponder pouring milk into that glass of hers.
Knowing Marseille, she’ll mistake it as whiskey punch and enjoy it. I shouldn’t bother.
Mami just completed reading out loud a book I tried my best to banish to
the deepest recesses of my mind. I came, I flew, I fell written by me,
yours truly. Marseille ordered Mami to translate the book into
Karslandish. And then, has Mami read it to everyone. What kind of
torture is this?
That paymaster lieutenant who brought this book here from Fusō is going to regret being born after I’m done with him.
But once Marseille has her heart set on something, there’s no way anyone
can stop her. Even if General Rommel issued an order, or even if the
Karlsland Emperor Frederick IV issued an imperial decree, Marseille
couldn’t be swayed from her course of action.
So that just means it would be better if I sit here and take the
punishment. This is great amusement for the soldiers who have so little
to do in the desert. Even small gags like this can raise the morale of
the troops. Especially when the butt of said joke is their superior
officer.
Now it’s one thing for Marseille and Raisa and the maintenance troops to be enjoying this…
“But what on earth are YOU people doing here!?” I yell out loud at the
other senior officers sitting at my table. Officers that rank above me.
Werner and other high level officers the Britannia 7th Armored Division,
and Herr General Rommel, the supreme commander of Karlsland Afrika
Korps himself, are sharing drinks at this table.
Another sample:
The Nine-Sevens.
Project designation, Ki-27. The Nagashima Type 97 Fighting Limbs.
Equipped with the Nagashima Ma-1-Otsu (II) magic engine, its top speed
was 460 km/h, or 285.8 mph. It was 60 km/h faster than the previous
Nine-Fives or the Kawataki Type 95 Fighting Limbs, thanks in part to
numerous refinements.
I have very fond memories of the Nine-Sevens.
It was light, could turn on a dime, and was both sturdy and easy to
handle. The Type 97′s shortcomings were its somewhat limited range and
the way you couldn’t get much of a boost to its defensive shield even if
you tweaked the power distribution settings.
But we grew accustomed to the Nine-Sevens right away and we were able to fight even more effectively as a team than ever.
We’d launch together and we’d return to base together. At times, we’d
take to the air together with our Navy friends, but they’d be jealous
over how our rate of climb and acceleration was better than theirs. It’s
strange, because our top speed was the same, but perhaps it had
something to do with how the Ma-1-Otsu had more power.
As we kept on fighting like that, someone came up with name “The Three
Birds of Fusō Sea”. I understand some newspaper was the first to coin
that phrase, but other units also started getting nicknames, like the
“Eagle of the Fusō Sea”, “Raging Tiger of Fusō Sea”, “Fusō Sea
Lightning”, “Samurai of the Gale Winds” and “One-Eyed Dragon.”
Even back then, Tomoko would be placed in the middle when we had our
photos taken together. With her long black hair and doll-like features,
Tomoko was considered the most photogenic among the three of us. She had
such a slender physique, and there’s no doubt that she looked stunning,
standing there with her favorite Fusō katana.
I, on the other hand, was the exact opposite…
While its hard to get any translation perfect, I’ve tried my best to
work on this project with quality in mind. I had a fellow translator
David Fleming help out with proofing, so it should be even better than
before. I tried my best to try to replicate the tone Suzuki infused with
the story, so there will be parts were the terms might be different
from what you’re used to, but I’ve checked with Suzuki regarding this.
My goal was making his brainchild as authentic in English as much as
possible.
Overseas sales of this volume is currently being worked out. I’ll
make sure to let you know when more details are finalized. In the
meantime, keep alert of recent updates over this project here and at Nogami’s website and blog.
The book will be on offer at the summer Comic Market on Aug.15th
taking place this weekend. Nogami’s doujinshi booth will be setup at
M-24a/b in the East Hall. The booth names are Firstspear and Unidoraku.
M-24 is located roughly right between East 1 and East 2, near the
interior pillar, so it should be easy to find. Nogami himself will be
there!
An iPhone, iPad, iPod
Touch and Kindle version of The Witches of the Sphinx can be enjoyed by going
to Circle.ms located at corporate booth No. 4. This is a limited service only
available for those that who personally attend Comic 1 (Ichi) #4.
●「スフィンクスの魔女」国内書店頒布開始のお知らせ
Announcement
on the
Japanese distribution of The Witches of
the Sphinx.
The
Witches of the Sphinx
will be available through outlets listed below.