Psycho Busters: The Novel Book Three

サイコバスターズ / Psycho Busters (Novel) #3

by Yuya Aoki, Rando Ayamine (Illustrator)

The stunning conclusion to the exciting supernatural fantasy series inspired by the smash hit manga thriller!

Back when Kakeru was a hopelessly ordinary fourteen-year-old, he used to dream about being a hero. Then he met Ayano and her friends, all amazing psychics on the run from an organization that exploited their talents. Explosive life-and-death battles to recapture the psychic teens followed, and somehow Kakeru was always there . . . always just in time to save the day. Coincidence, he told everyone.

Kakeru refused to believe the truth, until he could no longer escape it. For not only is Kakeru a psychic, he’s the most powerful psychic of a time rewinder, able to return to the past and change it. But this dream come true is a nightmare, because Kakeru’s powers violate the space-time continuum–and will destroy it. The deadly process has already begun, and no one knows how to stop it. The time for heroes is now. Kakeru and his friends can either save the world–or be snuffed out along with it.

176 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

青樹佑夜
Real Name: Shin Kibayashi
Pseudonym of Tadashi Agi, Yuma Ando, Joji Arimori, Hiroaki Igano, Ryo Ryumon

Blood Type: O

亜樹 直 Agi Tadashi is a Japanese manga storywriter, novelist and screenwriter. His original name is Shin Kibayashi (樹林 伸 Kibayashi Shin). He was born in 1962 in Tokyo, and graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Musashi Senior High School and Waseda University School of Economics & Political Science. The penname "Tadashi Agi" is shared with his sister. Under the name Yuma Ando, he received the 2003 Kodansha Manga Award for shōnen for writing Kunimitsu no Matsuri.

Reviews

[Maverynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending of this book made the whole series not worth it. With the ending being one big fight scene where the bad guys just drag in randos that have no name.
COuld have been better if the story actually concluded properly.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not really think that Psycho Busters is a good light novel series, and, in fact, it often seems to me like it's a bit of a train wreck. This final volume in particular is problematic. Characters fly out of nowhere to solve problems that have been standing for the whole series, adults have wild crushes on the students they've been hired to protect, emotional reunions last for a large print page and a half, and the ending is a fantastically bizarre cop out. On the other hand, it is insanely entertaining. As badly written, plotted, and sloppy in terms of perspective as Psycho Busters has been, it's difficult for me not to admire a series where the final volume seems torn between discussing the role of God in creation and using spacecraft as a weapon in a psychic battle between junior high kids.

I don't recommend Psycho Busters, particularly after finishing this volume. The writing is bad, the perspective shifts are poorly done and bizarre, and the illustrations border on hideous. Still, no other light novel series that I've read captures the insanity of an early to mid 90s OAV like this one does. If you've read this review and thought, "Wow, I've got to read Psycho Busters!" then I doubt that you will be disappointed. Just prepare yourself for the pain that comes when you realize the Jesus plotline that was getting hinted at in the first two books is totally dropped by the third.

[Mazie Kho · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was different than the manga on some points, and that actually made it a lot better for me. I really liked the ending; it actually confused me whether I was sad or happy about the turn of events. Not for the ones who don't like mushy endings though.. :p