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Log Horizon #2
ログ・ホライズン2 キャメロットの騎士たち
表面的な穏やかさは取り戻したものの、一方ですさんだ空気をまとい続ける<アキバ>の街。教え子たる双子・トウヤとミノリの拘留が発覚し、アキバの情勢に嫌悪感をぬぐいきれなくなったシロエがついに動く！歴戦を制した猛者11人を結集させ、無法地帯アキバに「希望」を取り戻す!!
344 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2011
40 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
Mamare Touno
77 books61 followersName (in native language): 橙乃 ままれ
Mamare Touno real name is Daisuke Umezu (梅津 大輔, Umezu Daisuke).
Blog: m2lade JAM
Mamare Touno real name is Daisuke Umezu (梅津 大輔, Umezu Daisuke).
Blog: m2lade JAM
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 12, 2022
It seems that a revolution isn't necessary in order for society to transform from a dystopia where the weak prey on the strong, to a peaceful and industrious collective. A one-day committee meeting will sort it all out. Handy!
The workings of this world aren't entirely clear. Maybe if Elder Tales hadn't been a video game first, but instead a more typical "medieval world with magic," I might have been more convinced, rather than constantly feeling compelled to poke holes in the worldbuilding. For example, much of Shiroe's endgame at the negotiating table involved his
Aside from that, I get a little impatient when a book's world warps itself to accommodate the main character. Shiroe has a lack of self-confidence, in theory, but that wouldn't hold up for long when life doesn't put the slightest amount of friction between him and his goals. His closest friends show nothing but support, and his schemes always succeed.
I do appreciate that this is a story that moves along not with big ol' fantasy battles, but with cooperation and negotiation (for certain values of "negotiation"). I also like some of the quieter moments where the characters enjoy the sunset or a moonlit night. A scene featuring Shiroe and Nyanta was striking in that respect, and made me actually believe that Shiroe doubted himself at times. Kazuhiko Hara, the illustrator, must have been struck by this scene as well, since he did a basic sketch treatment for the scene that was included as a bonus in this book. (Unfortunately, it wasn't chosen for an illustration in the main body of the book.)
Log Horizon continues to be somewhat too paternalistic or sexist for my liking, though I've certainly dealt with worse. It puts forth the possibility of women being equal participants in society; however, if there is only one woman guild leader among the twelve-member Round Table coalition, and her "ample bosom" comes up often in scenes where she's featured, for example, there's something amiss there.
Now that governance in Akiba has been all sorted out, and manufacturing, construction, and commerce are well on their way, I'm curious about what happens next. Maybe it will take less than the six years between my reading of v. 1 and 2 for me to find out...
The workings of this world aren't entirely clear. Maybe if Elder Tales hadn't been a video game first, but instead a more typical "medieval world with magic," I might have been more convinced, rather than constantly feeling compelled to poke holes in the worldbuilding. For example, much of Shiroe's endgame at the negotiating table involved his
Aside from that, I get a little impatient when a book's world warps itself to accommodate the main character. Shiroe has a lack of self-confidence, in theory, but that wouldn't hold up for long when life doesn't put the slightest amount of friction between him and his goals. His closest friends show nothing but support, and his schemes always succeed.
I do appreciate that this is a story that moves along not with big ol' fantasy battles, but with cooperation and negotiation (for certain values of "negotiation"). I also like some of the quieter moments where the characters enjoy the sunset or a moonlit night. A scene featuring Shiroe and Nyanta was striking in that respect, and made me actually believe that Shiroe doubted himself at times. Kazuhiko Hara, the illustrator, must have been struck by this scene as well, since he did a basic sketch treatment for the scene that was included as a bonus in this book. (Unfortunately, it wasn't chosen for an illustration in the main body of the book.)
Log Horizon continues to be somewhat too paternalistic or sexist for my liking, though I've certainly dealt with worse. It puts forth the possibility of women being equal participants in society; however, if there is only one woman guild leader among the twelve-member Round Table coalition, and her "ample bosom" comes up often in scenes where she's featured, for example, there's something amiss there.
Now that governance in Akiba has been all sorted out, and manufacturing, construction, and commerce are well on their way, I'm curious about what happens next. Maybe it will take less than the six years between my reading of v. 1 and 2 for me to find out...
November 16, 2015
If these first two volumes are any indication, Log Horizon is among the strongest light novel series currently getting an English release. The characters and politics are both sharply written, and though there's very little action in this volume, which I prefer, there's plenty of tension to be had from the way that interpersonal relationships play out on the political scale. The plot of this volume has a lot more cuteness than I expected, with food and the restaurant business being surprisingly pivotal, and the new characters for this volume struck me as adorable as well. Where this book excelled, though, is scenes where characters just sit down and talk, trying to decide what path to take now that they're trapped within the center of the Sword Art Online and House of Cards Venn diagram that I'm now tempted to make. It's not that there's nothing world-changing as far as the stakes of this novel go, but the quieter scenes really stood out to me.
I'm very sleepy today, so I apologize if this is a less coherent review than I'd usually leave. Still, it should be clear that I do recommend the first two volumes of Log Horizon without the same reservations that I have about other light novel series that I enjoy. It's smart, well written, and plays in surprisingly complex politics without losing sight of the importance of the personal connections, both deep and superficial, that keep this fictional world running.
I'm very sleepy today, so I apologize if this is a less coherent review than I'd usually leave. Still, it should be clear that I do recommend the first two volumes of Log Horizon without the same reservations that I have about other light novel series that I enjoy. It's smart, well written, and plays in surprisingly complex politics without losing sight of the importance of the personal connections, both deep and superficial, that keep this fictional world running.
December 13, 2021
ช่วงต้นของค่อนข้างเนือยนิดหน่อย จะรู้สึกไฟติดขึ้นมาก็ตอนกลางเล่มแล้ว
ถ้าเล่มแรกเน้นนำเสนอโลกของเกมเอลเดอร์เทลให้เห็น เล่มนี้ก็คงตอกย้ำว่าโลกของเอลเดอร์เทลมันมีความเป็นไปได้มหาศาลจริง ๆ ขึ้นอยู่กับว่าผู้เล่นอยากจะพลิกแพลงมันยังไง และแน่นอนว่าเมื่อคนมาอยู่รวมกันมาก ๆ จะขาดเรื่องการปกครองไปไม่ได้ แล้วก็เป็นอีกครั้งที่พระเอกโชว์เทพด้วยกลยุทธ์อันคาดไม่ถึง 😂😂
เป็นนิยายแนวเกมออนไลน์ไม่กี่เรื่องที่อยากอ่านต่อจนจบ เพราะอยากรู้ว่าตัวละครจะพัฒนาไปทางไหน เมืองอากิบะของเหล่าผู้เล่นสุดท้ายจะลงเอยยังไง พระเอกจะโชว์บุ๋นอะไรให้เห็นอีก
ถ้าเล่มแรกเน้นนำเสนอโลกของเกมเอลเดอร์เทลให้เห็น เล่มนี้ก็คงตอกย้ำว่าโลกของเอลเดอร์เทลมันมีความเป็นไปได้มหาศาลจริง ๆ ขึ้นอยู่กับว่าผู้เล่นอยากจะพลิกแพลงมันยังไง และแน่นอนว่าเมื่อคนมาอยู่รวมกันมาก ๆ จะขาดเรื่องการปกครองไปไม่ได้ แล้วก็เป็นอีกครั้งที่พระเอกโชว์เทพด้วยกลยุทธ์อันคาดไม่ถึง 😂😂
เป็นนิยายแนวเกมออนไลน์ไม่กี่เรื่องที่อยากอ่านต่อจนจบ เพราะอยากรู้ว่าตัวละครจะพัฒนาไปทางไหน เมืองอากิบะของเหล่าผู้เล่นสุดท้ายจะลงเอยยังไง พระเอกจะโชว์บุ๋นอะไรให้เห็นอีก
August 18, 2015
Original review here: http://pokemaster12.blogspot.com/2015...
Before I begin, can I just say that I freaking love the artwork for Log Horion? I seriously, seriously love it. Having read A Certain Magical Index and Spice&Wolf, Log Horizon is like a breath of fresh freaking air as far as artwork goes. Both of those other light novels have very bland and unoriginal art styles. I look at their illustrations and feel like they could belong to any light novel. Log Horizon's art is very distinctive. The thicker lines lend an interesting weight to the characters, and the dimensions themselves are rather pleasing. I also like the designs of each character. Truly, artwork wise, I made a good choice to read this one.
Fanboying aside, Log Horizon volume 2 really is a great addition to the series. Starting off almost immediately after the ending of volume 1, this particular volume deals with a surprising issue that I've never seen in a "trapped in a video game" novel/anime/manga whatever - the darkness that seeps into players' hearts when they're left to live without a purpose. Unlike most RPGlit series, in this one, death is not the end, and since death is not the end, it means that characters here are left to toil in obscurity, with nothing to do day in and day out. It doesn't help that the food sucks monkey balls. As stated previously in volume 1, everything people try to make tastes likebland rice crackers.
However, fear not! Shiroe and his pals have decided to do something about the despicable lack of good food and drink - and they also plan on helping Akiba regain it's previous luster before Elder Tales became their reality, but I think they're mostly in it for the food and drink.
I'm sure you'll all remember how, in volume 1, Nyanta, the swashbuckling cat man who adds "mew" to all of his sentences, found a way to make food taste like food. He did this by disregarding the Elder Tales gaming mechanics and cooked food the normal way, as in, he cooked the way someone in real life would cook. This led to the miraculous discovery of real food.
Being the smart guy that he is, Shiroe decides to use this new knowledge in order to better Akiba's atmosphere. He does this by having the Crescent Moon Guild open up a hamburger joint - yes, a hamburger joint. I know that sounds kind of weird, but trust me, when you go months eating what amounts to soggy rice crackers, eating a hamburger that actually tastes like a freaking hamburger is heaven on the taste buds. Lo and behold, it does help revitalize Akiba's inhabitants. Shiroe doesn't stop there, however. Oh no. A hamburger joint is not nearly enough to fix Akiba's situation. It's a start, but he plans on doing so much more. What does he do? Heh, not telling.
Just like in the previous book, Log Horizon is very enjoyable. While the previous book does a lot of world building, this one deals more with philosophy and politics. Now, I usually hate politics. Why? Because politicians suck. They're a bunch of lying, deceitful little shi - ahem, anyway, my dislike for politics aside, I actually found the politics used here intriguing. It's interesting to read about characters negotiating mercantile rights, or debating what to do about the tense atmosphere in Akiba. I found it truly delightful to read about.
This volume also introduces a lot of new faces. In book one, we were introduced to Shiroe, Akatsuki, Naotsugu, Nyanta, Marielle, Henrietta, and Serara. This volume features nearly a dozen more characters, and each one seems fairly interesting. We weren't given much of a glimpse into these characters, but I feel like we will in later volumes.
I think what I liked the most about this volume wasn't its many characters, but Shiroe coming into his own. I remember in volume 1, Naotsugu said he was a "Machiavelli with glasses," which I take to mean he appears to be a rather unscrupulous individual. Well, in this volume, I think unscrupulous is the kindest word you can use to describe him. Shiroe is truly in fine form in this volume, and I love how freaking awesome he was to read about. I think he might honestly be one of my all-time favorite book characters.
Overall, I felt this was a great second volume that was even better than the first. I enjoyed it immensely and hope the next volume will be even better.
Before I begin, can I just say that I freaking love the artwork for Log Horion? I seriously, seriously love it. Having read A Certain Magical Index and Spice&Wolf, Log Horizon is like a breath of fresh freaking air as far as artwork goes. Both of those other light novels have very bland and unoriginal art styles. I look at their illustrations and feel like they could belong to any light novel. Log Horizon's art is very distinctive. The thicker lines lend an interesting weight to the characters, and the dimensions themselves are rather pleasing. I also like the designs of each character. Truly, artwork wise, I made a good choice to read this one.
Fanboying aside, Log Horizon volume 2 really is a great addition to the series. Starting off almost immediately after the ending of volume 1, this particular volume deals with a surprising issue that I've never seen in a "trapped in a video game" novel/anime/manga whatever - the darkness that seeps into players' hearts when they're left to live without a purpose. Unlike most RPGlit series, in this one, death is not the end, and since death is not the end, it means that characters here are left to toil in obscurity, with nothing to do day in and day out. It doesn't help that the food sucks monkey balls. As stated previously in volume 1, everything people try to make tastes likebland rice crackers.
However, fear not! Shiroe and his pals have decided to do something about the despicable lack of good food and drink - and they also plan on helping Akiba regain it's previous luster before Elder Tales became their reality, but I think they're mostly in it for the food and drink.
I'm sure you'll all remember how, in volume 1, Nyanta, the swashbuckling cat man who adds "mew" to all of his sentences, found a way to make food taste like food. He did this by disregarding the Elder Tales gaming mechanics and cooked food the normal way, as in, he cooked the way someone in real life would cook. This led to the miraculous discovery of real food.
Being the smart guy that he is, Shiroe decides to use this new knowledge in order to better Akiba's atmosphere. He does this by having the Crescent Moon Guild open up a hamburger joint - yes, a hamburger joint. I know that sounds kind of weird, but trust me, when you go months eating what amounts to soggy rice crackers, eating a hamburger that actually tastes like a freaking hamburger is heaven on the taste buds. Lo and behold, it does help revitalize Akiba's inhabitants. Shiroe doesn't stop there, however. Oh no. A hamburger joint is not nearly enough to fix Akiba's situation. It's a start, but he plans on doing so much more. What does he do? Heh, not telling.
Just like in the previous book, Log Horizon is very enjoyable. While the previous book does a lot of world building, this one deals more with philosophy and politics. Now, I usually hate politics. Why? Because politicians suck. They're a bunch of lying, deceitful little shi - ahem, anyway, my dislike for politics aside, I actually found the politics used here intriguing. It's interesting to read about characters negotiating mercantile rights, or debating what to do about the tense atmosphere in Akiba. I found it truly delightful to read about.
This volume also introduces a lot of new faces. In book one, we were introduced to Shiroe, Akatsuki, Naotsugu, Nyanta, Marielle, Henrietta, and Serara. This volume features nearly a dozen more characters, and each one seems fairly interesting. We weren't given much of a glimpse into these characters, but I feel like we will in later volumes.
I think what I liked the most about this volume wasn't its many characters, but Shiroe coming into his own. I remember in volume 1, Naotsugu said he was a "Machiavelli with glasses," which I take to mean he appears to be a rather unscrupulous individual. Well, in this volume, I think unscrupulous is the kindest word you can use to describe him. Shiroe is truly in fine form in this volume, and I love how freaking awesome he was to read about. I think he might honestly be one of my all-time favorite book characters.
Overall, I felt this was a great second volume that was even better than the first. I enjoyed it immensely and hope the next volume will be even better.
January 22, 2019
หลังจากอ่านอย่างสนุกกับสิ่งละอันพันละน้อยที่เล่มแรกที่ถ่ายทอดความเป็นเกม MMORPG มาใส่ในนิยายได้อย่างสนุกสนานในธีม’ติดอยู่ในเกม’
ด้วยการเล่าเรื่องและการอธิบายอย่างมีกฎเกณท์ที่เคร่งครัดในเกมไม่ว่าจะเป็นระบบสเตตัส
พลัง อาวุธ และ อาชีพ
นั่นยังราวไปถึงระบบปาร์ตี้และการต่อสู้เป็นทีมเวิร์คอย่างสนุกสนาน
เล่มสองลดด้านแอ็คชั่นลงแต่เน้นเรื่องของระบบ’กิลด์’
อย่างชัดเจนตั้งแต่จำนวน การวางกฎเกณท์
การวางวัตถุประสงค์ของแต่ละกิลด์
รวมไปถึงระดับอำนาจของกิลด์ต่างๆในเมืองที่ตัวละครอยู่อาศัยหลักๆอย่าง ‘อากิบะ’
ฟังดูเหมือนจะไม่ค่อย’บู๊’ แต่เล่มนี้กลับโชว์’บุ๊น’ได้อย่างสนุกน่าสนใจ
การวางแผน การบลัฟ การใช้เทคนิคความเก๋าของ
’ชิโรเอะ’
แสดงออกมาเต็มที่ที่ทำให้กิลด์ใหญ่ถึงกับสะเทือนเลยทีเดียว
.
ดังนั้นความสนุกของ ‘LOG Horizon’ มีแรงขับเคลื่อนที่น่าสนใจสำหรับคนที่ชอบการอ้างอิงและอยู่ในกรอบระบบเกมประหนึ่งเหมือนเล่นเกมไปในตัว
ค่อนข้างจะตรงข้ามกับฝั่ง ‘Sword Art Online’
ที่เน้นความเก่งโดดเด่นของพระเอกที่ติดอยู่ในเกม
แต่พระเอกเทพจนเรื่องราวอาจหลุดความเป็นเกม
เข้าสู่ความเป็นแฟนตาซีที่มากกว่า
ตัวผมเองรู้สึกว่าชะลอการอ่าน SAO ไป (หยุดไว้ที่เล่ม 4)
แต่กลับมีความอยากอ่าน LOG มากขึ้น
เพราะทิศทางตัวละครต่างๆในการ���อาตัวรอดในเกมน่าสนใจกว่าการไปตีบอสนั่นเอง
ด้วยการเล่าเรื่องและการอธิบายอย่างมีกฎเกณท์ที่เคร่งครัดในเกมไม่ว่าจะเป็นระบบสเตตัส
พลัง อาวุธ และ อาชีพ
นั่นยังราวไปถึงระบบปาร์ตี้และการต่อสู้เป็นทีมเวิร์คอย่างสนุกสนาน
เล่มสองลดด้านแอ็คชั่นลงแต่เน้นเรื่องของระบบ’กิลด์’
อย่างชัดเจนตั้งแต่จำนวน การวางกฎเกณท์
การวางวัตถุประสงค์ของแต่ละกิลด์
รวมไปถึงระดับอำนาจของกิลด์ต่างๆในเมืองที่ตัวละครอยู่อาศัยหลักๆอย่าง ‘อากิบะ’
ฟังดูเหมือนจะไม่ค่อย’บู๊’ แต่เล่มนี้กลับโชว์’บุ๊น’ได้อย่างสนุกน่าสนใจ
การวางแผน การบลัฟ การใช้เทคนิคความเก๋าของ
’ชิโรเอะ’
แสดงออกมาเต็มที่ที่ทำให้กิลด์ใหญ่ถึงกับสะเทือนเลยทีเดียว
.
ดังนั้นความสนุกของ ‘LOG Horizon’ มีแรงขับเคลื่อนที่น่าสนใจสำหรับคนที่ชอบการอ้างอิงและอยู่ในกรอบระบบเกมประหนึ่งเหมือนเล่นเกมไปในตัว
ค่อนข้างจะตรงข้ามกับฝั่ง ‘Sword Art Online’
ที่เน้นความเก่งโดดเด่นของพระเอกที่ติดอยู่ในเกม
แต่พระเอกเทพจนเรื่องราวอาจหลุดความเป็นเกม
เข้าสู่ความเป็นแฟนตาซีที่มากกว่า
ตัวผมเองรู้สึกว่าชะลอการอ่าน SAO ไป (หยุดไว้ที่เล่ม 4)
แต่กลับมีความอยากอ่าน LOG มากขึ้น
เพราะทิศทางตัวละครต่างๆในการ���อาตัวรอดในเกมน่าสนใจกว่าการไปตีบอสนั่นเอง
April 11, 2014
Now that the expositions out of the way, the series can finally get down with the the totally epic ... civics.
Yes, this is a series in which the hero saves the day by opening a fast food restaurant, securing a loan, and buying real estate, which gives him enough clout to call a constitutional convention and start a government. Even the one fight scene in the book is equivalent to a sysadmin taking away someone's user privileges. And it is awesome.
Yes, this is a series in which the hero saves the day by opening a fast food restaurant, securing a loan, and buying real estate, which gives him enough clout to call a constitutional convention and start a government. Even the one fight scene in the book is equivalent to a sysadmin taking away someone's user privileges. And it is awesome.
November 20, 2019
"I finally realized that the place where I belong can't exist until I make a place for other people to belong."
Log Horizon has quickly rocketed up my list of favorites. After a first book that, on every level besides prose, wowed me, I entered book 2 with the idea that I might have just been overwhelmed by how well book 1 pushed all the right buttons for me. It's safe to say that my reservations were unfounded, as book 2 upped the ante in every conceivable way, including the prose! Pynchon, Joyce, or David Foster Wallace the (unfortunately un-credited in the book) translator (and most likely Mamare Touno, the original language author) is not. However, I noticed a distinct lessening of the repetition of information, an issue that plagued book 1. Alongside this, more varied word choice helped make the prose more lively.
To get another negative out of the way, the scenes involving the Council of the Round Table required the occasional reread due to a mixing of voices between the side-characters. I still don't really know all of their names, but I have a feeling it won't be that important.
Now, my GOD do I love this cast of characters. The standout, much like last time, is the protagonist, Shiroe. If you've read my review of book 1, I noted how he felt different in a sea of samey Japanese media protagonists. I'm happy to say that he developed in the way I was hoping for, and his actions in this book had me in awe of his resolve and arc. An arc that has repercussions for the entire world of Elder Tales. The other standouts in this book are Marielle and the two twins, Tohya and Minori. Enslaved by a mid-level guild trying to make money off of low level players, their story forms a strong part of the emotional core of the book.
I am going to cut off the non spoiler section here, because to talk about what I really love about the book requires a section on general content and then specific plot reveals. If you wish to stop reading here, know that I obviously recommend one picks up this series, especially if you've already read book one.
General Spoilers (Themes, general plot arc, etc):
MAJOR PLOT REVEALS SPOILER
Overall, man this series is so great I love it a lot. Please give it a shot.
Log Horizon has quickly rocketed up my list of favorites. After a first book that, on every level besides prose, wowed me, I entered book 2 with the idea that I might have just been overwhelmed by how well book 1 pushed all the right buttons for me. It's safe to say that my reservations were unfounded, as book 2 upped the ante in every conceivable way, including the prose! Pynchon, Joyce, or David Foster Wallace the (unfortunately un-credited in the book) translator (and most likely Mamare Touno, the original language author) is not. However, I noticed a distinct lessening of the repetition of information, an issue that plagued book 1. Alongside this, more varied word choice helped make the prose more lively.
To get another negative out of the way, the scenes involving the Council of the Round Table required the occasional reread due to a mixing of voices between the side-characters. I still don't really know all of their names, but I have a feeling it won't be that important.
Now, my GOD do I love this cast of characters. The standout, much like last time, is the protagonist, Shiroe. If you've read my review of book 1, I noted how he felt different in a sea of samey Japanese media protagonists. I'm happy to say that he developed in the way I was hoping for, and his actions in this book had me in awe of his resolve and arc. An arc that has repercussions for the entire world of Elder Tales. The other standouts in this book are Marielle and the two twins, Tohya and Minori. Enslaved by a mid-level guild trying to make money off of low level players, their story forms a strong part of the emotional core of the book.
I am going to cut off the non spoiler section here, because to talk about what I really love about the book requires a section on general content and then specific plot reveals. If you wish to stop reading here, know that I obviously recommend one picks up this series, especially if you've already read book one.
General Spoilers (Themes, general plot arc, etc):
MAJOR PLOT REVEALS SPOILER
Overall, man this series is so great I love it a lot. Please give it a shot.
December 5, 2021
This second volume of Log Horizon is everything I could have wished for in the series and deserves every single star I could possibly rate it with.
One of my main criticisms abuts the previous volume one was that it felt rather anti-climactic in its plot and didn't really give the protagonists the level of political or economical challenge that Log Horizon was always praised to have at its core, resulting in rather laughable final "showdown" fight between the overpowered Lvl. 90 players and some wannabe baddies that thought they could play by their own rules but miserably fail at being so much as a slight threat to the protagonists.
"The Knights of Camelot", however, approached the "stuck in an MMO" scenario from the very different angle that Log Horizon is by now known for: Politics, economics, negotiations. The aspects of the plot that you read about in the blurb - friends of Shiroe's being held hostage by a sinister guild - is just the pebble to bring the avalanche that Shiroe evolves into in this volume into motion. After this, the main focus of this volume is Shiroe trying to figure out how to bend the rules of "Elder Tales" he just has to deal with in his new life to his favours, him exploring the world of "Elder Tales" not in a geographical manner but in a manner of laws of craft, economics, and social interactions. What Shiroe did in this volume felt extremely clever; I think Touno comparatively seldom let characters comment on just how badass and awesome the things Shiroe does in this volume actually are, because this volume actually shows it all to you and trusts you that you are smart enough to understand just how cool all of it actually is.
I found myself often pausing to digest what I just read because of so many scenes that are basically the armchair/discovery/planning equivalent to shonen protagonist showing up with new transformations and - after having just mastered their awesome, flashy new technique - obliterating the baddie that no one else had a chance against with ease while not even looking at the explosion. Especially the finale was an awesome mix of negotiations, action, and plans kicking into action, that was easily on par with "Owari no Chronicle", which pretty much mastered this kind of sequence.
This second novel took everything that was great in the first novel - the tropey but lovable characters, the superb world-building, the smart decisions that characters make - and made it better with pretty shocking character development and a plot that involved high stakes, high competence on the side of the protagonists, and literally world-changing gambles, decisions, and discoveries. If you liked the first volume just a little bit but are unsure whether Log Horizon is for you, I highly recommend that you give this second volume a shot, as I think it almost perfectly embodies everything that Log Horizon is known for in the "stuck in an MMO" genre and will help you to form a based opinion regarding whether you might want to continue the series or not.
One of my main criticisms abuts the previous volume one was that it felt rather anti-climactic in its plot and didn't really give the protagonists the level of political or economical challenge that Log Horizon was always praised to have at its core, resulting in rather laughable final "showdown" fight between the overpowered Lvl. 90 players and some wannabe baddies that thought they could play by their own rules but miserably fail at being so much as a slight threat to the protagonists.
"The Knights of Camelot", however, approached the "stuck in an MMO" scenario from the very different angle that Log Horizon is by now known for: Politics, economics, negotiations. The aspects of the plot that you read about in the blurb - friends of Shiroe's being held hostage by a sinister guild - is just the pebble to bring the avalanche that Shiroe evolves into in this volume into motion. After this, the main focus of this volume is Shiroe trying to figure out how to bend the rules of "Elder Tales" he just has to deal with in his new life to his favours, him exploring the world of "Elder Tales" not in a geographical manner but in a manner of laws of craft, economics, and social interactions. What Shiroe did in this volume felt extremely clever; I think Touno comparatively seldom let characters comment on just how badass and awesome the things Shiroe does in this volume actually are, because this volume actually shows it all to you and trusts you that you are smart enough to understand just how cool all of it actually is.
I found myself often pausing to digest what I just read because of so many scenes that are basically the armchair/discovery/planning equivalent to shonen protagonist showing up with new transformations and - after having just mastered their awesome, flashy new technique - obliterating the baddie that no one else had a chance against with ease while not even looking at the explosion. Especially the finale was an awesome mix of negotiations, action, and plans kicking into action, that was easily on par with "Owari no Chronicle", which pretty much mastered this kind of sequence.
This second novel took everything that was great in the first novel - the tropey but lovable characters, the superb world-building, the smart decisions that characters make - and made it better with pretty shocking character development and a plot that involved high stakes, high competence on the side of the protagonists, and literally world-changing gambles, decisions, and discoveries. If you liked the first volume just a little bit but are unsure whether Log Horizon is for you, I highly recommend that you give this second volume a shot, as I think it almost perfectly embodies everything that Log Horizon is known for in the "stuck in an MMO" genre and will help you to form a based opinion regarding whether you might want to continue the series or not.
August 7, 2019
In many ways this feels like the second half of volume 1. Like they should have been together in a larger book to tell a complete story. I am not complaining so much as noting that the first, while I liked it was incomplete and this one completes it.
Continuing off after volume 1 and the rescue of Serara, the party arrives at Akiba after learning a pretty profound, though simple, discovery. A big celebration ensues.
Shiroe is uncomfortable with the way the town feels and how things have been going and decides to do something about it. It doesn't hurt that a couple of newer adventurers he played with before the Catastrophe are being exploited by a less than scrupulous guild.
I'll leave it to you to read to see what happens. I found it to be wholly interesting and will certainly be picking up more of them to find out where the story is going to go from here.
Oh yeah -- we finally learn where the title of the series comes from.
Verdict: Worth it! Pick up vol. 1 and 2 together. They make a more complete story together I think. I think it is a solid foundation for a very interesting story.
Continuing off after volume 1 and the rescue of Serara, the party arrives at Akiba after learning a pretty profound, though simple, discovery. A big celebration ensues.
Shiroe is uncomfortable with the way the town feels and how things have been going and decides to do something about it. It doesn't hurt that a couple of newer adventurers he played with before the Catastrophe are being exploited by a less than scrupulous guild.
I'll leave it to you to read to see what happens. I found it to be wholly interesting and will certainly be picking up more of them to find out where the story is going to go from here.
Oh yeah -- we finally learn where the title of the series comes from.
Verdict: Worth it! Pick up vol. 1 and 2 together. They make a more complete story together I think. I think it is a solid foundation for a very interesting story.
March 6, 2021
The second novel for Log Horizon still covers the material of the anime, but in a way that feels strong in its own right. After reading two of these, I have to say that the Log Horizon novels are among the strongest of all the anime/manga novelizations currently released in English. They're certainly better written than the Naruto novelizations, which I read a couple of years ago to make AR tests for them. These are strong enough to stand on their own without the parent material.
"I finally realized that the place where I belong can't exist until I make a place for other people to belong."
There's not a ton of action in this particular volume. The tension comes from the characters, especially from the plight of two young twins that Shiro, the main character, mentored before they were all sucked into the game. Now they've been essentially enslaved by a production guild due to their low player levels and Shiro has to decide if this world requires the ethics of his former world. Is it his responsibility to make this game world (their home for who knows how long?) a better place?
"I finally realized that the place where I belong can't exist until I make a place for other people to belong."
There's not a ton of action in this particular volume. The tension comes from the characters, especially from the plight of two young twins that Shiro, the main character, mentored before they were all sucked into the game. Now they've been essentially enslaved by a production guild due to their low player levels and Shiro has to decide if this world requires the ethics of his former world. Is it his responsibility to make this game world (their home for who knows how long?) a better place?
March 30, 2018
I REALLY liked this novel. This was supposed to be a two part book along with the previous one, where they set up all the necessary information about this new world, its mechanics and how Shiroe and his friends managed to adapt. But it got separated into 2 different ones, I'm guessing for plot purposes, since the first one dwells in their relation with the Crescent Moon Guild and shows that they are good guys who want to help out by saving a low level player from predators in another city.
The second novel, Knights of Camelot is focused on a very different plot, and it is making life in the town of Akiba better, for everyone, guild members, newbies and "NPCs".
What surprised me of this light novel was its depth in certain subjects. I was NOT expecting to find a plot that made us question topics like freedom, capitalism, the contrast between morality and legality. And it's not something subtle, but pretty straightforward.
A nice introduction to this world, I'll be reading the next novels soon probably =D
The second novel, Knights of Camelot is focused on a very different plot, and it is making life in the town of Akiba better, for everyone, guild members, newbies and "NPCs".
What surprised me of this light novel was its depth in certain subjects. I was NOT expecting to find a plot that made us question topics like freedom, capitalism, the contrast between morality and legality. And it's not something subtle, but pretty straightforward.
A nice introduction to this world, I'll be reading the next novels soon probably =D
May 22, 2023
I'm only slightly familiar with the Log Horizon anime, but I found this at a Little Free Library in Sugar Hill, GA, and decided to read it.
The novels (and anime) are about people sucked into an MMORPG and this becomes their new reality, and the world building is really quite good. This volume covers up to episode 10 of the first season of the anime, which isn't bad. Shiroe is trying to bring about peace to Akiba and has to deal with various conflicts among the guilds.
The novels (and anime) are about people sucked into an MMORPG and this becomes their new reality, and the world building is really quite good. This volume covers up to episode 10 of the first season of the anime, which isn't bad. Shiroe is trying to bring about peace to Akiba and has to deal with various conflicts among the guilds.
June 5, 2022
The characters trapped in the game are starting to get things figured out. It's starting to sink in that they are not going to be going hoe soon, and that they need to figure out how to run a society and economy and government. The Villian with glasses decides to try to make the main town, work beter for everyone. Cooking is introduced, and a Crooked guild is disposed of.
May 15, 2018
Politics and agendas, Log Horizon, The Knights of Camelot was interesting but brief. I didn't think this book was overly amazing, it was pretty much average. That being said, I'd like to see where the story goes.
September 14, 2020
Possibly my favourite part of the whole series expressed in the written medium, which is even better suited for it than the show was. That being said, it is surprising how faithfully adapted the show was to it's written material, with only minor changes being noticeable.
July 17, 2021
Loved to see the plan of the Villain-in-glasses/ Machiavelli-with-glasses play out. This book was definitely a bit slower but the pay off was definitely worth it. My only question is why didn’t they use a return home spell instead of running?
March 3, 2020
I so love watching Shiroe work his machinations.... mwahahahaaaaa.
February 7, 2021
A solid continuation from the first book. More into politics than action, but this is something that this series does and explains very well.
February 2, 2024
I like all the money and socialism talk
November 28, 2024
Wielki i przebiegły plan Shiroe to coś na co czekałam i się nie zawiodłam. Dużo lepsza niż pierwsza część. Chce więcej takich przebiegłych planów! ;)
November 4, 2024
Una reseña de una continuación siempre es difícil, especialmente en un medio que se siente tan continuo como el de la novela ligera. Ya en mis comentarios acerca del primer volumen de Log Horizon ya contaba muchas cosas que creo que siguen siendo verdad, así que creo que me centraré en la parte que creo que hace especial a esta saga frente a muchas otras que toman un setting similar: el autor está realmente enamorado del mundo del MMO y logra trasladar las pecularidades del género y sus mundos a la palabra escrita.
Log Horizon, a pesar de lo que pueda parecer desde fuera, es una serie en la que la acción toma un segundo plano y deja brillar el resto de las interacciones humanas ante el evento isekai. Un caos como el que causa acabar colectivamente en otro mundo lleva a una suerte de anarquía regida por poco más que mecánicas lúdicas y, una vez han sabido poner los pies en la tierra tras el tomo introductorio, intentan hacer un esfuerzo tanto por entender el funcionamiento del lugar en el que han acabado como da darle un poco de orden. Al fin y al cabo, sin saber cómo regresar, la prioridad número uno debería ser vivir de forma más o menos cómoda y sin depender de la ley del más fuerte, ¿no?
Con esa premisa, y gracias al hilo conductor de un gremio corrupto que hace todo lo posible por danzar en torno a los límites del juego y aumentar su fuerza de cara a su incierto futuro, esta entrega consigue establecer, poco a poco, pilares fundamentales para entender cómo funciona. Es curioso cómo algo así, que suena tanto a arco transitorio, acaba logrando una estructura sólida y una serie de puntos álgidos satisfactorios. La obra consigue convertir la burocracia y el politiqueo en algo emocionante.
También empiezan a trazarse de una forma algo más fina las relaciones entre personajes, el lore de Elder Tale, en esencia, cómo encajan las pequeñas piezas en un entramado que promete ir contando relatos para largo.
Log Horizon, a pesar de lo que pueda parecer desde fuera, es una serie en la que la acción toma un segundo plano y deja brillar el resto de las interacciones humanas ante el evento isekai. Un caos como el que causa acabar colectivamente en otro mundo lleva a una suerte de anarquía regida por poco más que mecánicas lúdicas y, una vez han sabido poner los pies en la tierra tras el tomo introductorio, intentan hacer un esfuerzo tanto por entender el funcionamiento del lugar en el que han acabado como da darle un poco de orden. Al fin y al cabo, sin saber cómo regresar, la prioridad número uno debería ser vivir de forma más o menos cómoda y sin depender de la ley del más fuerte, ¿no?
Con esa premisa, y gracias al hilo conductor de un gremio corrupto que hace todo lo posible por danzar en torno a los límites del juego y aumentar su fuerza de cara a su incierto futuro, esta entrega consigue establecer, poco a poco, pilares fundamentales para entender cómo funciona. Es curioso cómo algo así, que suena tanto a arco transitorio, acaba logrando una estructura sólida y una serie de puntos álgidos satisfactorios. La obra consigue convertir la burocracia y el politiqueo en algo emocionante.
También empiezan a trazarse de una forma algo más fina las relaciones entre personajes, el lore de Elder Tale, en esencia, cómo encajan las pequeñas piezas en un entramado que promete ir contando relatos para largo.
February 14, 2016
Much like the first book Mamare Touno really thought out the world of Log Horizon. There's so much information, and while I admire that and appreciate how put together this world is, it's so so boring to read.
But thankfully this book wasn't as boring as book one!
Unlike book one this has more of a direction. It's not just people trapped inside a game with no real purpose, now they are adapting and deciding to live in this new world while dealing with the consequences of that decision.
I really enjoyed how Shiro and his friends went about bringing order to Akiba and thinking about the future.
Mari and Henrietta really step up and we get to see their povs, as well as twins Touya and Minoru (who made me tear up, they’re just such good kids).
I’m pretty excited to see where this is going. In some ways Log Horizon reminds me of Spice & Wolf, there’s no real dramatic storyline with an ultimate boss, its more slice of life driven by characters’ motivations and relationships. I’ve always preferred stories like that, especially since I can’t predict what will happen next.
Oh and the reason behind the name Log Horizon is explained.
I'm concerned I can't preorder book three, but I can book four on Amazon...
Final Thoughts: I liked this book, it has more direction and we learn about other characters as well as read povs outside of Shiro and his trio. I love the twins and would read on just for them. It’s just the world building is so detailed, which is great, but it’s so boring to read. I feel like I’m in school again learning about history or something.
But thankfully this book wasn't as boring as book one!
Unlike book one this has more of a direction. It's not just people trapped inside a game with no real purpose, now they are adapting and deciding to live in this new world while dealing with the consequences of that decision.
I really enjoyed how Shiro and his friends went about bringing order to Akiba and thinking about the future.
Mari and Henrietta really step up and we get to see their povs, as well as twins Touya and Minoru (who made me tear up, they’re just such good kids).
I’m pretty excited to see where this is going. In some ways Log Horizon reminds me of Spice & Wolf, there’s no real dramatic storyline with an ultimate boss, its more slice of life driven by characters’ motivations and relationships. I’ve always preferred stories like that, especially since I can’t predict what will happen next.
Oh and the reason behind the name Log Horizon is explained.
I'm concerned I can't preorder book three, but I can book four on Amazon...
Final Thoughts: I liked this book, it has more direction and we learn about other characters as well as read povs outside of Shiro and his trio. I love the twins and would read on just for them. It’s just the world building is so detailed, which is great, but it’s so boring to read. I feel like I’m in school again learning about history or something.
June 1, 2020
This second volume perfectly builds on the world crafted in the first book. Many of the problems people were previously facing are pushed to their limits, and the solutions are all wildly unorthodox but still believable and engaging. People are depressed with nothing to do? The economy is stagnant? Food tastes like stale crackers? Let's knock out all three of those with an overly complicated supply chain to make overpriced burgers that actually have flavour. Every move Shiroe makes in this book is like that; with one fell swoop he makes things better for as many people he can manage at a time.
The climax is fantastic, with action and political intrigue playing off each other as the plan progresses. Extremely well done.
The climax is fantastic, with action and political intrigue playing off each other as the plan progresses. Extremely well done.
June 9, 2020
I am sad to say I am very disappointed with this volume.
I have nothing against a slow paced or plot heavy story as long as its interesting and this was not that. It wasn't the plot itself, but rather its execution. Like the first volume, it is HEAVY with explanation and exposition but at least in the first volume it served a purpose: to explain basic MMO tropes(the way "Elder Tales" works, the game world in which the characters are trapped in) to people who may not be in the know or maybe need a refresher. There was so much of it in the first volume to where I worried about how much would be in the future installments. Here, it is twice as much and it serves no purpose other than to insult one's intelligence. Instead of explaining tropes and rules(there's some), most of this is just over explanations of events that just transpired. IMHO, nothing that transpires in this book would go over someone's head to where you need explanations of a single event that goes on for pages. It's like needless padding. I kept thinking maybe the author was self-conscious and worried he wasn't detailed enough. This is what most of the book is.
What also got on my nerves was a revelation revealed in this volume which felt like the biggest slap to my face.
I really liked the first volume and was prepare to go all in on this series but I'm afraid I will just get more of the same of what I just read and it just doesn't feel worth it.
I have nothing against a slow paced or plot heavy story as long as its interesting and this was not that. It wasn't the plot itself, but rather its execution. Like the first volume, it is HEAVY with explanation and exposition but at least in the first volume it served a purpose: to explain basic MMO tropes(the way "Elder Tales" works, the game world in which the characters are trapped in) to people who may not be in the know or maybe need a refresher. There was so much of it in the first volume to where I worried about how much would be in the future installments. Here, it is twice as much and it serves no purpose other than to insult one's intelligence. Instead of explaining tropes and rules(there's some), most of this is just over explanations of events that just transpired. IMHO, nothing that transpires in this book would go over someone's head to where you need explanations of a single event that goes on for pages. It's like needless padding. I kept thinking maybe the author was self-conscious and worried he wasn't detailed enough. This is what most of the book is.
What also got on my nerves was a revelation revealed in this volume which felt like the biggest slap to my face.
I really liked the first volume and was prepare to go all in on this series but I'm afraid I will just get more of the same of what I just read and it just doesn't feel worth it.
February 17, 2017
I enjoyed the anime but am enjoying the series even more when reading through it.
Already got the 3rd book and starting that today :D
Already got the 3rd book and starting that today :D
January 10, 2020
This book was amazing, being the second one in the Log Horizon series, I feel it shows great developement from the first one, by this mean it continues what was happening in the last one well. Shiroe is so far my favorite character, I like how Shiroe how comes up with a plan to save 2 of the people he met while Elder Tales was still a game, and not the world in which they live. I just generally love this book.
*SPOILER AHEAD*
My summary of this book. It starts where the previous one left off, they had won a battle against some villainous players and rescued someone for Marielle's guild, since The Catastrophe had caught her (Serara) in Susukino where some rather unsavory players, as I mentioned before had been cruel towards her. Anyways now Shiroe and his group were going back to Akiba, where Shiroe eventually decides to check up on 2 people he met before The Catastrophe. And he comes up with a plan to save them.
Anyways I love this book, Shiroe and his plan to save not only the twins/the 2 I previously talked about but it was also to in a way revive Akiba, since after The Catastrophe and everyone getting stuck there, they all sorta fell into a gloomy mood.
*SPOILER AHEAD*
My summary of this book. It starts where the previous one left off, they had won a battle against some villainous players and rescued someone for Marielle's guild, since The Catastrophe had caught her (Serara) in Susukino where some rather unsavory players, as I mentioned before had been cruel towards her. Anyways now Shiroe and his group were going back to Akiba, where Shiroe eventually decides to check up on 2 people he met before The Catastrophe. And he comes up with a plan to save them.
Anyways I love this book, Shiroe and his plan to save not only the twins/the 2 I previously talked about but it was also to in a way revive Akiba, since after The Catastrophe and everyone getting stuck there, they all sorta fell into a gloomy mood.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2013
Finally we get to see more of the potentially Incredible Tactician "Dark Heart Glasses"
This is the First Volume I read of this series since I watched the anime up to certain points in the second Volume.
Even if a little jumpy the action and drama are portrayed in an interesting way, and it's fun to see what happens next.
Most of the characters (since there are relatively many) are not enough fleshed out but the author circumvents the problem through some relatively powerful moments and some cleverly placed informations and pictures.
I'm excited to see what Shiroe will do next
This is the First Volume I read of this series since I watched the anime up to certain points in the second Volume.
Even if a little jumpy the action and drama are portrayed in an interesting way, and it's fun to see what happens next.
Most of the characters (since there are relatively many) are not enough fleshed out but the author circumvents the problem through some relatively powerful moments and some cleverly placed informations and pictures.
I'm excited to see what Shiroe will do next
March 29, 2014
Exciting and well worth the read! I particularly enjoyed how Chessmaster Shiroe did his research and executed his plans brilliantly, and that he wasn't afraid to ask for help unlike his earlier self. Go character development!
(On a side-note, I personally could do without the romance, but grudgingly admit the spice it adds to the plot)
(On a side-note, I personally could do without the romance, but grudgingly admit the spice it adds to the plot)
July 27, 2015
What this world needs is more fantasy novels where the climax involves sitting around a conference table talking. I'm serious -- people putting aside their differences to come up with a workable solution to their problems is so much better than the bloody hack-and-slash that so many fantasy authors fall back upon because they have no imagination beyond fighting.
January 11, 2017
I'm quite enjoying this series, unsurprising perhaps, since I enjoyed watching the anime first. The only thing I could have asked for is more time with my favourite assassin, Akatsuki. In that, I'm just like Henrietta.
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