Planet of the Orcs (Light Novel) Vol. 1

Planet of the Orcs (Light Novel) #1

by Himataro Zukunashi

A high octane portal fantasy set in a world at war between orcs, armed with guns, and magic-wielding humans.

He was fifteen when he first became a hero, blasted to another world by an unknown entity. At the end of his harsh and hapless journey, the hero defeated the Demon King. Over the next ten years, he was sent off to different worlds, and every time, he saved them. Now, on his thirteenth world, the enemy is the orc race whose highly advanced civilization has forced humanity into a desperate struggle for survival. What’s more, the orcs seem to have banded under a cunning leader. Has our hero finally met his match?

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2021

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up because Zukanashi really honestly tries to do something different with the isekai formula - and it works. Our unnamed Hero is in the business of being summoned to other words and saving them, getting to return home in between gigs, and that's definitely not as awesome as it sounded in the light novels he read. In fact, he has nightmares about the first time he returned home to Japan after his first heroing job. Now on his fourteenth world, there's definitely something a little odd about everything. He's fighting gun-toting orcs, for one thing, but there's also just something off about the way the humans talk about the orcs that he can't quite put his finger on. As the book goes on, we slowly start to get the feeling that maybe the hero hasn't been summoned by the "good" side this time around...

It's darker and heavier than a lot of light novels, but it's really trying to set itself apart, and I give it a lot of credit on that front.

[Brittney Perry · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

My biggest complaint is that it is was no where near what I was expecting and, I believe, what I was led to think was going to happen. Just look at that pretty front! The orc is holding a gun. The back talks about the war that's going on. So tell me why 90% is just pointless narration? It's very slow-paced and left me thinking, "Excuse me? Where are the explosions?!"

I definitely liked that the beginning was when the dragons were gone for their breeding season. This added in a conflict that didn't feel forced, stakes that felt real (them having to fight without them), and was genuinely funny to have him be like, "of couuuuuurse they're gone for their breeding season in the middle of this war." Additionally, I liked the dual POV from both the orcs and humans. It was a nice touch of both sides thinking they are the good guy.

Maybe it comes up it book two, but I'm not really sure why any scene with Meg happened. I didn't really see a point to any of that and it seemed kinda out of place when those pages could have been filled with relevant action instead.

Also, I cannot fathom why fan service was added in. 3 times comes to mind, including Meg, the SIXTEEN-year-old that he commented on the breasts of. Gross! The other times were him thinking back to the first world he was in where the who person summoned him was naked (emphasized) and thinking back to another world where he got some harlot (his words) that snuck poison in her private parts. This was extra frustrating to me because there was no reason for any of those things. He didn't use this information in any relevant way, need it for the situation at hand, or transfer anything he learned from those previous worlds. It really felt like nonsense was tossed in just so fan service could be shoed in somehow. I realize I should have been expecting something like that, given that this is a light novel, not a regular book, and that type of thing is very prevalent in anime and manga, but I just thought I was safe given the premise and all.

[Pablo García · Rating 3 out of 5]

This new light novel series, Planet of the Orcs, has humanity as a minority in a majority of Orcs and other monsters and humanoids. While Light novel series like Overlord, Re: Monster and others, the main character is the antagonist, in this Light Novel series, the main character, seems to be the hero, that has been sent to 13 previous planets (alternate reality worlds) to free humanity from Monster Oppression. Light novel series that have multiple planets (or multiple alternate reality worlds) are like March of a Parallel World Rhapsody, Shield Hero, Monster Paradise and Mechanical God Emperor.
I imagine that author chose current title from the Planet of the Apes (1968) franchise series of books, movies, tv series and comics.
The first volume of this new series has 160 pages (on the short side) and 7 chapters with a bonus story. Currently only 2 volumes have been published in English. The main character is a hero that has been sent to 13 worlds before he was summoned to this the 14th. world. Hero does not have any money, weapons and information about this 14th (Orc Planet). No one has even told him that here, Humans, are a minority.
While this series focuses on the human minority, the point of view of the Monster or Humanoid Orcs is portrayed by an Orc called Black Dog.
The controversy, treachery, depravity and corruption of humanity are described by the author in this first volume. It's as if, the human minority would prefer to be conquered, enslaved and annihilated by the Orc majority. Humanity presents a divided front (worrying more about the control of power within the humans than to end the oppression of the Orc humanoid majority.
Author writes a lot about the power struggles of the minority. If this is the 14th. world that the hero has gone to, in 10 years, I do not understand why, the author explains so much about people that are not only not relevant, but unable to rise from the tyranny of the Orc majority.

[Romey Lion · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read, but I am admittedly left wanting. Perhaps that is the idea? I am certainly hoping so and that more will be revealed in Volume 2. The book gave me the feeling that I was reading a Warhammer book. The premise, though, screams Manga and I can most certainly appreciate that. Where else have you heard of a hero that gets summoned to Thirteen different worlds to be eachs saviour. One thing that does admittedly annoy me though is that the main antagonists are described as "Orcs" but their artwork and descriptions are clearly more aligned to Gnolls. But perhaps that is just a nerd's nitpick.

Overall, I would recommend giving this a read as it does definitely entertain.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Things begins with more promise here than they ends with… Anne McCaffrey did dragon riders better, IMO, so pass on this one and its lackluster manifestation of orcs. And, go read Dragonflight instead! If it’s orcs you want, reach for The Grey Bastards then.