The Party At The End

寶石之國台版特裝贈品

by Haruko Ichikawa, 市川春子, 謝仲庭 (Translator)

本集（十二集）特別向日本講談社授權日本特裝版，附由作者市川春子本人裝幀設計之精裝畫冊，共176頁，收錄市川春子新繪之畫作與文字，描繪紀錄迎向末日的寶石與月人們所舉辦的狂歡之宴，並附上派對邀請卡，值得所有讀者收藏。

172 pages, Hardcover

Published May 6, 2023

About the author

Haruko Ichikawa (市川春子 in Japanese), born in 1980, is the author and artist of Land of the Lustrous (宝石の国, lit. "Country of Jewels"). She started her career in 2006 with the one-shot Mushi to Uta (虫と歌, lit. Insects and Songs). Between 2007 and 2011, she published seven one-shots in the manga magazine Afternoon, which were later compiled into two individual books named Ichikawa Haruko Sakuhinshuu (市川春子作品集, lit. Haruko Ichikawa Works Collection). She started writing Land of the Lustrous on October 25th, 2012, which currently has 10 volumes.

In 2010 she won the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for works on Mushi to Uta. She has also contributed characters designs to the games Pokemon Sun & Moon and Pokemon Sword & Shield.

Reviews

[Valence Vertigo etc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the houseki no kuni series, this book fills a vital gap in the story that occurs between chapters 96 and 98, to me my only complaint about it was that the contents of this book were not included in the main run of the manga. Though I understand that due to the differences in format I understand the author's choice to separate this story into its own book. That said, this book to be as absolutely required reading for the Houseki no Kuni series and improves the pacing of the later half of book 12 in the absence of the long hiatus that was taken after the release of chapter 96.
I quite enjoy the format of this book, each page contains a 'photos' beautifully illustrated as always and the dialogue of a short interviews with various characters all taking place on the same day. It's very far removed from the typical panel set up we've had until now. I think this works very well for the kind of story its trying to tell and the entire book gives the vibe of finding a message in a bottle, overall the tone of the book is very bittersweet and shows what the gems are like removed from phos' perspective.

[Sol · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Party at the End, or "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" Was Far Too Optimistic



A difficult read, because of my antipathy for its subjects. Despite how short it is, my eyes slide off the page, and even the beautiful illustrations inspire no good feelings. These characters are not interesting to read about once the truth of their evil nature is known. Maybe that's why Phos didn't converse with them. He understood their nature, that despite being surrounded by former friends, he was utterly alone. The true tragedy of this story is that Adamant existed at all ("If only you weren't here!"), corrupting the gems, who may have been beings like the rocks in their original state. The ultimate irony being that he himself is not an evil being (praying for Phos daily and planning the escape vessel with Aechmea).



The final sequence of the party itself is excellent, visually telling its own story about the emptiness of its subjects, fading into nothingness, especially when compared to the light of Phos' eternal compassion.