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獅見朋成雄 #2
SPEEDBOY!
友人、家族、世界、愛―すべてを置き去りにして、鬣の生えた少年スプリンター・成雄は、速さの果てを追う!!そこに何があった？何が見えた？？―誰がいた。
208 pages, Tankobon Softcover
First published November 1, 2006
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27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
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July 24, 2024I think I liked it.....??
November 26, 2022
Run boy run! The sun will be guiding you
Run boy run! They're dying to stop you
Run boy run! This race is a prophecy
Run boy run! Break out from society
Yeah, that was fast indeed.
I went into this without any specific expectations, but what I got was very, very good. It made me feel sorry for a rock. Also made me realize that I miss running. I should start again.
So far I've liked Maijo's short(er) works better than the one long novel I've read by him. Curious if that'll stay this way.
Many thanks to Sway translations!
January 7, 2024
My name is Barry Allen and I'm the fastest man alive.
March 3, 2025
My first light novel! I feel like this would be a very weird genre for someone who's never watched anime. It's not like fantasy or science fiction. It really does have that absurdist element that defines anime. The main character has a mane in his back (why? does it serve a function as a literary or plot device?). There is a mysterious big white ball (couldn't the story have done away with it?) which for some reason houses a girl (again, why? it doesn't even serve a metaphoric or symbolic purpose?).
One thing you have to understand about manga and anime (and it seems to apply to light novels as well) is that the authors need to REALLY stand out from the pack, and for that reason a lot of these works of literature tend to be very... weird. Or perhaps the right word is "unique". In manga, for instance, characters will often have a signature pose or gesture (think Ginyu Special Forces from Dragon Ball Z), or a signature silhouette for their body or hair (again, Dragon Ball). But when everything else has been done, you really need to push and stretch the limits of what is considered acceptable, so manga artists come up with bizarre and cartoonish imagery for their characters. This seems to be the case for this work, too, and it's probably the case for light novels in general (from what I gather), though this is only my first light novel. In the case of this light novel, the main character has a mane on his back. This fact doesn't really add much to the story. It's kind of random, and it's never explained why, how, or for what, but it does make the main character more memorable.
The obvious comparison here is The Flash, but The Flash's speed almost feels like teleportation. The Flash also doesn't respect the laws of physics the way SPEEDBOY! tries to account for them, exploring the dire consequences of crossing the sound barrier willy-nilly. SPEEDBOY! also shows us the psychological effects on the runner's sanity of trying to constantly go faster and faster without regard to anything else that might be happening around them. It's a bit intense at times. It's also on the shorter side, so it's a perfect introduction to the genre that doesn't involve too much commitment. I've been wanting to read something by Maijo Otaro ever since I watched Id: Invaded. I definitely made a good choice!
One thing you have to understand about manga and anime (and it seems to apply to light novels as well) is that the authors need to REALLY stand out from the pack, and for that reason a lot of these works of literature tend to be very... weird. Or perhaps the right word is "unique". In manga, for instance, characters will often have a signature pose or gesture (think Ginyu Special Forces from Dragon Ball Z), or a signature silhouette for their body or hair (again, Dragon Ball). But when everything else has been done, you really need to push and stretch the limits of what is considered acceptable, so manga artists come up with bizarre and cartoonish imagery for their characters. This seems to be the case for this work, too, and it's probably the case for light novels in general (from what I gather), though this is only my first light novel. In the case of this light novel, the main character has a mane on his back. This fact doesn't really add much to the story. It's kind of random, and it's never explained why, how, or for what, but it does make the main character more memorable.
The obvious comparison here is The Flash, but The Flash's speed almost feels like teleportation. The Flash also doesn't respect the laws of physics the way SPEEDBOY! tries to account for them, exploring the dire consequences of crossing the sound barrier willy-nilly. SPEEDBOY! also shows us the psychological effects on the runner's sanity of trying to constantly go faster and faster without regard to anything else that might be happening around them. It's a bit intense at times. It's also on the shorter side, so it's a perfect introduction to the genre that doesn't involve too much commitment. I've been wanting to read something by Maijo Otaro ever since I watched Id: Invaded. I definitely made a good choice!
January 26, 2023
I am really glad I enjoyed this as much as I did, especially after knowing how good Disco could be at its best.
With all of Otaros work I’ve engaged with before there’s always a “But” along with why I liked it. But this has no buts, it’s a really good story that shows off the best aspects of his writing without my usual criticisms. I would earnestly recommend this as a starting point for anyone looking to get into Otaro Maijos work, its a short engaging read that’s consistently excellent.
With all of Otaros work I’ve engaged with before there’s always a “But” along with why I liked it. But this has no buts, it’s a really good story that shows off the best aspects of his writing without my usual criticisms. I would earnestly recommend this as a starting point for anyone looking to get into Otaro Maijos work, its a short engaging read that’s consistently excellent.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews