Vampire Hunter D (The Novel)

Has anyone here read the novel?

I found the translated version of the book in the library. I'm between midway and the end, and well... The imagery in this novel is rather well done. The book leaves you with only a few hints of detail to each character, only going into detail at the best moments. It leaves the audience something to imagine, rather than having the imagery set out the way the author sees fit.

For the few who do not know about Vampire Hunter D... yes, its about a guy named D, and he is a Vampire Hunter. The story is set in 12,090 AD, and of course, the world has been fucked over. He befriends Doris, an adolescent girl and Dan, a young, stereotypically annoying kid. Doris has been bitten by Count Lee, and hires D to kill off the Count. I'll leave the rest to you lot, I don't like to spoil a decent story.

Would you like this book? If you love a combination of sci-fi, apocalyptic times and horror, or find it intriguing, I suggest you go find a copy and give it a read. If you have seen the movie, go read it. Books usually tend to kick more ass than the movies anyhow.

-Kat

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I think this should be in Animespot....

But to the topic, I've been dutifully buying every volume as it comes out. I devoured the first one, really enjoyed the second, and couldn't really stand the third; somehow, the anime movie was better. I haven't read the fourth that just came out, but I'll get around to it eventually. After all, I was waiting for 4 years for these novels to be released in English. It's about time!

The translator is actually the guy who did the novel summaries on the net I read years ago, after I saw the first VHD movie. The translation is kind of funny in places, but it might be due to the way that Japanese novels are written; the odd 'talking to the audience' perspective throws me off, when it suddenly pops up during the narrative. I've noticed this in some other Japanese novels, so I guess it's just a writing style that isn't employed in English as often (like 2nd person perspective, also rarely used in English). And constantly saying "Countenanced Carbuncle" is so...annoying. In a way.

But D is infinitely sexier in the novels than the series. He talks a lot more, for one thing .

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Ah see, it wouldn't be in Animespot, this is only for discussion of the novel. The Vampire D movie came after the books

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Well, yes. I know they came after the books -- they have been published since 1983 into the present-day. Still, I think that the fact that they are more well-known and popularized by the anime movies, and more than likely the people reading VHD novels are manga/anime fans merits that it be in Animespot (after all, the novels are always stocked in the manga section of every bookstore I go in, and published under Dark Horse's manga imprint).

But that's for the mods to decide, so I'll shut up about it :shh:.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I have the first three novels, but I haven't read any of them yet. I plan to start reading them after I'm done reading the 24 Declassified novels. I skimmed through the first one though, and it seems pretty interesting.

Also, I have to say I agree with Arkhangelsk that this should be in Animespot. Not only because of the reasons she stated, but also since they feature artwork from Yoshitaka Amano. But like she said, that's for a mod to decide.

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24 Declassified novels?

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Yeah, they're a series of novels that focus on Jack Bauer and CTU, and they take place before the TV show (meaning most of the people are from season 1, like Richard Walsh, Nina, Jamie, Milo, etc.). They're pretty good books (right now I'm in the middle of the second one, Veto Power), especially if you want to know more backstory of the 24 universe (though some of it is somewhat contradictory of the TV series). Here's a link to the website for them. PM me if you want to know more.

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I read most of the first book at a book store, but didn't have any money on me at the time. I found it to be quite good though, and intend on purchasing them in the near future.

Really went into alot more of the back story to my enjoyment.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

While I did read the first one, I can't say that it was particuraly good. I don't know if it was the translation or the actual writing but the whole thing seemed a bit akward to me in it's execution. I would be interested in knowing if they get any better farther on in the series.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I really think it's the translation that makes it seem akward, aside from the obvious differences in Japanese and English writing styles. Since both things persist through the other books, I can't say that it really improves. You really just have to change the way you read, and visualize it more as a movie script or something; Kikuchi said himself that his writing is influenced most by old horror films and such.

I think they're better than the movies, since the books give more dimension and backstory to D. I can't wait until later in the series, when

Spoiler:

D has some sort of quasi-shounen-ai encounter with one of his vampire quarry. XD :fangirlism:

There's nowhere I can't reach.