サイコロジカル〈上〉兎吊木垓輔の戯言殺し

Zaregoto #4

by NisiOisiN, Ｔａｋｅ

死線の蒼（玖渚友）、――絶体絶命！

「きみは玖渚友（くさなぎとも）のことが本当は嫌いなんじゃないのかな？」
天才工学師・玖渚友のかつての「仲間（チーム）」、兎吊木垓輔（うつりぎがいすけ）が囚われる謎めいた研究所――堕落三昧（マッドデモン）斜道卿壱郎研究施設。友に引き連れられ、兎吊木を救出に向かう「ぼく」こと“戯言遣い・いーちゃん”の眼前に広げられる戦慄の“情景”。しかしその「終わり」は、さらなる「始まり」の前触れに過ぎなかった――！
絶好調、西尾維新の＜戯言シリーズ＞。こんな新青春エンタを待っていた！！

Genres: Light Novel, Mystery, Manga, Japanese Literature

242 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2002

About the author

Nisio Isin (西尾維新 Nishio Ishin), frequently written as NisiOisiN to emphasize that his pen name is a palindrome, is a Japanese novelist and manga writer. He attended and left Ritsumeikan University without graduating. In 2002, he debuted with the novel Kubikiri Cycle, which earned him the 23rd Mephisto Award at twenty years of age.

He currently works with Kodansha on Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine, and Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher.

In February, 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases was released in English by Viz Media. Del Rey Manga has already released the first volume in his Zaregoto series. His Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari and Katanagatari novels have been adapted into anime series. Nekomonogatari (Kuro) has been adapted into an anime TV movie, and Kizumonogatari will be release in theaters this year. Monogatari Series: Second Season, adapted from 6 books in Monogatari Series will air in July 2013. Another of his works, Medaka Box (manga), has been adapted into a two-season anime series.

Reviews

[Lanmreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ủa thật sự là không định rate 5 sao đâu vì cả tập đọc hơi đau đầu và nhàn nhạt, dù kích thích trí tưởng tượng vđ. Nhưng chỉ vài trang cuối cùng đã khiến mình hào hứng hơn rất rất nhiều. Mỗi tội đây-chỉ-là-phần-1. Rồi bao giờ ra phần 2 chắc phải đọc lại mới hiểu. Mà nghĩ đến tần suất 1-2 năm được 1 tập hoặc nguy cơ bị drop cmnl là thấy đau đầu hơn cả lúc đọc rồi đó 😀😀😀

[Kakuzō Akutagawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn after how much of a letdown volume 3 was, I'm happy to say volume 4 an incredible book.

"Being smart is itself an unfortunate thing. You end up seeing what you do not need to see. You end up hearing what you do not need to hear. You end up learning of tastes you do not need to know, and you end up smelling odors you do not need to smell."


My thoughts after reading "Psycho Logical:(part one) Gaisuke Utsurugi's nonsense killer"
Written by NisiOisiN
Illustrated by Take
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Translation:
I read the Fan-translation made by Suiminchuudoku and it's very good, with the exception of some clarity errors I found while reading it I can say that that overall its a very enjoyable reading experience. I'll be rereading this book two more times in the future(when vertical releases it and when I read them in Japanese) so maybe I'll update my thoughts on translations when I read them.
↓
The story:
After the events of volume 3, Ii and Kunagisa finally, go on the trip they mentioned at the end of volume 2. These two accompanied by Neon Suzunashi go to visit Kuganisa's long time friend (?) Gaisuke Utsurugui on a research facility he is working at deep in the mountains.
↓
Enjoyment:
Damn, this book is incredible. For starters, it has a lot of new characters, those characters are very fascinating people. Unlike volume 3 that was completely focused on action and was incredibly fast-paced this volume was completely the opposite, it takes its sweet time to develop the new characters as deep as possible, it's not shy to spend some time in world-building, it gives some insights in some of the characters' pasts, it develops and clarifies more the relationships between new and old characters, and the best thing of all its that there is an overflow of incredibly good dialogue and monologues. That's probably the reason I liked this book so much, all the characters had at least one fascinating conversation. Personally speaking, I really like it when books have a lot of conversations but when they are executed so greatly it's an incredible joy to read them.
This volume was a blast to read, very enjoyable, and very damn good at what it tries to do.
↓
The verdict:
Being the first half of the story, this book felt more like a prologue for the volume that's to come, there aren't any major developments, there is no "big mystery" there is no action, but even without that it managed to left me dumbfounded at how good it was, even without action, without a mystery it managed to have my heart beating like crazy and had me at the edge of my seat for the majority of it. The conversations between characters are top-notch, the monologues of Ii are very interesting, seeing more sides of Tomo we haven't before, the real-like feeling the description of the environment gives off, and to top it all of one of the most interesting and crazy cliffhanger endings I've ever seen on a book.
Can't wait to finish reading volume 5 and giving my thoughts on these two volumes as a whole, Psycho Logical (part one) could very well be a 9/10 (and it is)

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this one ended at a super cliff hanger. I'm glad that NisiOisiN seems to be keeping to the locked room mystery genre, but also moving away from the classic trappings and adding more of that quirkiness that he's known for. Lots of psychological (I mean, it was the title after all) conversations here as well (one of which was called out by Ikkun as a fake-deep train of thought called for by the scene, even if he was the one carrying on that monologue).

The first bit, which was a conversation with Green Green Green was pretty hard to read to be honest simply because it's one character projecting his assumptions to another, but still some good character analysis I guess. But after that it's pretty much smooth sailing as we get to know what Ikkun is up to with Tomo.

I do hope Vertical chooses to translate and publish the rest of this series because it's A+.

[Lemon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one focuses more on Tomo and I's view and relationship with her.

[Dani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Puede que me hubiese gustado más con una traducción oficial. Gran parte de lo que me hacía desconectar es lo obvia y repetitiva que es la estructura de cada párrafo.

[Lybraa · Rating 4 out of 5]

9.18/10

[Crolux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great volume, didn't take me as long to read as I thought. I definitely prefer this volume to the 3rd, but because it's only the first half I'd rank it under the 2nd. Can't wait to read the second half of this arc in volume 5!

8/10