L'uomo leopardo

The Guin Saga #1

by Kaoru Kurimoto, Chiara Salina (traduttore)

Nella Foresta di Rood vagano Rinda e Remus, gemelli e principi di Parros, scampati per miracolo alla distruzione del loro regno e obiettivo dei cavalieri di Gohra, che hanno l'ordine di arrestarli e di condurli nella fortezza di Stafolos. Lì li attende la prigionia e soprattutto l'ira di Vanon, il Conte Nero di Mongaul, tristemente noto per la sua crudeltà e per il morbo terribile che lo sta consumando. La cattura, però, è impedita dall'improvvisa apparizione di un essere inquietante, un poderoso guerriero con la testa da leopardo: Guin. Per i due giovani, l'uomo leopardo è l'unica speranza contro gli spietati cavalieri e le strane creature che popolano quel luogo di frontiera tra le Terre Centrali e i Confini. Ma quello scontro non sarà l'unico che i tre compagni dovranno affrontare, anche perchè il Conte Nero è deciso a atturare quell'essere enigmatico e senza passato...
Primo romanzo di una saga il cui gusto dell'avventura, del mistero e della magia si fonde con una sensibilità tipicamente giapponese, L'uomo leopardo è il fantastico trampolino di lancio verso un mondo sorprendente, vivacissimo e animato da una schiera di personaggi indimenticabili.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Light Novel, Manga, Japanese Literature, Sword and Sorcery, Epic Fantasy

237 pages, Hardcover

First published September 29, 1979

About the author

Kaoru Kurimoto ( 栗本 薫, Kurimoto Kaoru, February 13, 1953 – May 26, 2009) was the pen name of Sumiyo Imaoka (今岡 純代, Imaoka Sumiyo), a Japanese novelist. Imaoka also used the pen name Azusa Nakajima (中島 梓, Nakajima Azusa) to write criticism and music. She was known for her record-breaking 130-volume Guin Saga series, which has been translated into English, German, French, Italian and Russian. Her style has been described as being part of the New Wave science fiction movement.

Reviews

[Thibault Busschots · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chances are, you’ve never heard of The Guin Saga. Which is understandable, as only the first couple of books of the series have been translated to English. Though it’s a famous best-selling series in Japan. And it’s probably one of the longest book series ever written. The author continued to work on the series until the 130th volume, after which she became too ill to write. Though she did also write 22 side novels in the same series. And the series is still going strong after her death.


Prince Remus and his twin sister Linda are hiding in a forest because their country is under attack. When they are discovered by enemy troops, a mysterious warrior with a leopard head comes to their rescue. The man collapses from exhaustion after the battle. But with Linda's care, he soon regains his strength and decides to work together with them.


It’s an epic fantasy series that comes across as a mix of Lord of the Rings and Conan the Barbarian. It’s similar to Lord of the Rings in terms of the magic, the epic world building and even a little bit in the overarching plot with the twins. Though the dark, violent and intense settings, creatures and battle scenes with Guin in particular do feel more reminiscent of Conan. And it’s the latter that shines the most in this first book of the series.


While it’s the twins who carry the story in terms of the overarching main plot, it’s the mystery subplot of the leopard-headed warrior Guin that stands out the most in this first book of the series. He’s also the most interesting character so far. He has lost his memory except for a couple of words, which includes his own name. And he wears a leopard mask that he can’t take off, probably because of magic.


The one big thing that stops me from rating this one a bit higher is the prose. Maybe some subtleties got lost in the translation, but the prose does seem a little bit too much for my personal taste.


Overall, a strong introduction to the series that mostly focuses on introducing us to the world building and the characters. It gives us just enough plot and a strong antagonist to let this first book of the series stand on its own and to show the series’ potential for greatness.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I read this book in the original Japanese, so I can't speak to the quality of the English translation.)

This is the first volume in a 130+ volume series of Japanese heroic fantasy. The series began in 1979, ending prematurely with the author's death of pancreatic cancer in 2009. Although Kurimoto herself was influenced by classic English-language sword & sorcery writers (Robert E. Howard, Henry Kuttner, and Clark Ashton Smith are some of the mentioned in the book's afterword), her own long-running series went on to have a considerable impact on Japan's fantasy fiction. The creator of the "Berserk" manga, Miura Kentarou, cites The Guin Saga as a primary source of inspiration, for example.

I'm a dedicated fan of English sword & sorcery, and I picked up this book because I wanted to see what the Japanese variety was like. Heroic fantasy (as opposed to Tolkien-style epic or high fantasy) gained popularity in Japan in the 70s and early 80s, just as the US was undergoing its own sword & sorcery revival with paperback Conan pastiches, Karl Edward Wagner's Kane series, etc. Although it seems like there were a number of Japanese writers active in the field at the time (mainly established SF writers trying their hand at S&S, apparently), to my knowledge The Guin Saga was the only one with any sort of long-term longevity. Unlike its contemporaries, The Guin Saga remains in print. Even with the death of its creator, it continues to grow, with new Guin Saga World anthologies released seasonally.

Reading through the first volume, I found it to be a bit of a mixed bag. True to the sword & sorcery genre it features an exciting main character, an intriguing villain, and a fair amount of violent action (there's even an arena fight with a giant gray ape). However, the story is hindered by some pacing problems, weak supporting characters, and prose that tends towards the bland side of things.

The main character is a leopard-headed man named Guin. He wakes up half-dead in a haunted forest with no memories other than his name and the word "Aula", which could refer to either a person or a place. He's powerfully built, and discovers that he's an expert fighter. He doesn't seem to be from any of the neighboring countries, and nobody has seen a creature like him. He's not a leopard-man--he doesn't have a furry body, claws, etc.--he's just a human with a bestial head. There are suggestions that he didn't always used to be this way, and that it may be the result of some curse. Rock on. Guin captured my interest right away. We don't learn any more about his past through the course of this book, that's likely hinted at in subsequent books, but we know enough.

In the other corner we have the Black Count Varnon. He rules a small keep in the wilderness, leading a group of knights who are both loyal and terrified of their lord. Varnon is afflicted with a rotting disease--a curse resulting from previous misdeeds--and must always wear bandages and a completely sealed suit of black armor. He's ominous, reclusive, and--should his armor be breached--very contagious.

Unfortunately, the book's other characters are less appealing. No sooner has Guin woken up in the forest when he's immediately saddled with Rinda and Remus, twin siblings and the fleeing teenage heirs to a recently conquered country. Sister Rinda is haughty and overbearing, while secretly insecure. Her brother Remus is a weak, simpering waste of skin. Both characters seem to exist to cower behind Guin, shrieking in fear whenever something spooky occurs. They're a burden, both on Guin and the plot. Throughout the book I hoped Guin would resolve their problems and send them on their way, but alas, it seems that the Wonder Twins are to be recurring characters and a major part of subsequent volumes. (Incidentally, useless child companions have become a regrettably big part of the Berserk manga, too.)

The pacing of the book has issues as well. There are large portions of the book where the focus is taken away from both Guin's derring-do and the Black Count's villainy, instead dwelling on Rinda (acting imperious) or Remus (crying and/or being afraid). These are the parts of the story that drag.

Despite a meandering second act, however, the climax recovers every bit of the excitement found in the first part of the story. While I can't recommend it unreservedly, I saw enough potential in the series that I've gone ahead and purchased the second and third volumes. I'm not sure I'll want to stick with it for all 130 volumes (and the additional 22 "gaiden" side-stories and anthologies), but we'll see how it goes. Lots of great series have shaky first installments, and (judging from its place of honor in Japan's fantasy fiction canon) I suspect the Guin Saga may be one of them.

[Nicoletta Furnari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kaoru Kurimoto era lo pseudonimo di Sumiyo Imaoka, una scrittrice giapponese divenuta celebre per la Guin Saga, una serie di romanzi di genere fantasy epico iniziata nel 1979 e terminata trent’anni dopo con la morte dell’autrice, arrivando a contare ben 130 volumi!
Il primo libro della saga, “L’UOMO LEOPARDO” introduce i personaggi principali e l’ambientazione, presentando un formidabile guerriero dalla testa di leopardo che soffre di amnesia e ricorda unicamente il proprio nome (Guin) e di aver appreso l’arte della spada, solo perché riesce a praticarla con naturalezza.
In un’epoca oscura, segnata da sanguinose guerre per la conquista dei regni migliori nei Territori Centrali, sulla strada di Guin si imbattono due gemelli misteriosi, Rinda e Remus, eredi del reame ormai distrutto di Parros: i due bambini stanno fuggendo dagli usurpatori che li vogliono catturare. Si ritrovano a vagare in una foresta infestata da demoni, zombie e mostri e si renderanno presto conto che il male minore, purtroppo, sarà quello di essere scortati come prigionieri nella fortezza di Stafolos, anche se appare colpita da una terribile maledizione.
Si tratta chiaramente di un fantasy per ragazzi, ma la lettura è stata comunque piacevole, lo stile incalzante e coinvolgente mi ha spronato ad accelerare il ritmo per vedere come si sviluppava la vicenda.
Sarebbe interessante anche proseguire la serie, ma non credo che riuscirei ad essere così motivata e fedele per arrivare a leggere tutti e centotrenta i volumi…

[Edward Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you read only one book this year about a man who wakes up in the middle of a forest with amnesia and a leopard mask magically fused to his head which gives him the senses and fighting prowess of the animal, this ought to be the one!

[Vicente Ribes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una novela que tenía mucha curiosidad de leer. "La mascara de Leopardo" es una novela de fantasía heroica con un estilo deudor del Conan de Robert Howard.
La historia se inicia con un reino atacado del cual huyen dos niños gemelos, el príncipe y la princesa del reino. Acaban en un bosque tenebroso y cuando los malos estan a punto de cogerles un curioso héroe con amnesia que tiene una gran fuerza y una máscara de leopardo pegada a la cabeza los rescatara.
A partir de aquí este curioso tio tendrá que vencer las dificultades que se le ponen delante para averiguar el pasado de Guin y como acabo con esa máscara y para recuperar el reino para los gemelos.
Es una novelita para pasar el rato que tiene una buena trama de aventuras pero el estilo de Howard era ya un poco demasiado pulp para mí así que este libro no me ha acabado de llenar del todo aunque me ha dejado con curiosidad por saber como evoluciona la saga.
Cabe resaltar que es una saga larguísima que en Japón tiene más de 100 volumenes publicados. si alguna vez has tenido curiosidad por saber como son las novelas de fantasía japonesas este libro te puede resultar interesante.

[Ανδρέας Μιχαηλίδης · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I love the Guin universe (what little we have access to in a language other than Japanese), and this is the first volume in the great saga penned by Kurimoto up until her death, I must say the novel form, or possibly its translation, make it a somewhat tedious read.

Although the story (even more so as adapted in the anime) is epic fantasy of the highest order, combining themes from multiple cultures and genres, I find something lacking in the written word of the printed version.

I would say it is an acquired taste, but I would be a liar if I said I have not acquired it.

[Tanabrus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inizialmente non sapevo nemmeno che qualche volume dell’immensa saga della Kurimoto fosse stato tradotto in Italia. La saga di Guin. 126 libri, più 21 storie collegate. Tutto dallo stesso autore. Un record difficilmente superabile, direi.
E quando ho saputo che si, qualcosa era stato tradotto in Italia, avevo pensato che fosse impossibile recuperarlo. Senza nemmeno tentare, a dire il vero.

Poi ho trovato due dei tre volumi disponibili come reminders su ibs, e ne ho approfittato.

Il libro in sé non mi ha entusismato più di tanto, ma immagino che questo sia dovuto al fatto che sto leggendo l’adattamento manga pubblicato dalla Panini, che posso confermare essere fedelissimo alla storia. Quindi più che una lettura, questa è stata una sorta di rilettura.

E’ un fantasy.
Abbiamo Remus e Rinda, gemelli, poco più che bambini, eredi al trono di Parros. Un regno pacifico, acculturato, governato da una saggia dinastia di sovrani dotati della vista. Veggenti. I gemelli però sono in fuga, lontanissimi dal loro regno: la loro patria è infatti stata distrutta dall’improvvisa invasione dal vicino regno di Gohra, e solo loro due sono riusciti a salvarsi di tutta la famiglia reale.
Sono nascosti nella temibile foresta di Rood, vicina al confine oltre il quale vivono creature inimmaginabili. E la foresta stessa è popolata di spiriti malvagi, ma l’alternativa è rappresentata solo dalla minacciosa fortezza di Stafolos, roccaforte nemica piena di soldati alla loro ricerca e governata dal malvagio Conte Nero, un individuo misterioso affetto da un morbo mortale che potrebbe liberarsi in ogni istante, se la sua pelle finisse a contatto con l’aria.
I gemelli si imbattono in Guin, un misterioso e possente uomo la cui testa è quella di un gigantesco leopardo. Non sa chi sia, non sa da dove provenga, non sa perchè abbia quella maschera da leopardo fusa con la sua pelle. Ma è davvero una maschera? E’ la vendetta di qualche malvagio stregone, o lo scherzo beffardo di un Dio? E Guin, cosa è? Un guerriero, sembrerebbe… ma da dove viene? E’ più forte di qualunque uomo, e a volte la sua mente pare diventare quella del leopardo di cui indossa la maschera. Al suo risveglio ricordava solo due parole: Guin e Aurra.

Il primo si intuisce essere il suo nome, mentre il secondo rimane un mistero. Una donna? Una città? Una nazione? Nessuno pare saperne niente… e intanto il fato di Guin si intreccia con quello dei gemelli, così come il fato del mercenario cremisi, Istavan, guerriero noto per il suo sesto senso nel captare i rovesci della fortuna e i pericoli imminenti, e riuscire sempre a scamparvi, e quello della piccola Sami, una Sem, una sorta di umanoide scimmiesco che vive in tribù oltre il misterioso Confine.

In questo primo libro cominciamo a conoscere l’ambientazione e i personaggi. L’unica differenza rispetto al manga Guin saga è che i gemelli vengono descritti come fossero creature fatate, bellissimi e splendenti.
Di certo il libro è piccolo, non so come siano gli standard librari in Giappone ma se tutti i libri della saga sono così direi che i 126 libri possono anche considerarsi solo una cinquantina di libri, in realtà… mi sembra di vedere gli spezzatini Mondadori, con lo sprone a tagliare i romanzi in libri più brevi. Che comunque sono più lunghi di questo.
Capisco perchè ha potuto scriverne 126, in una quarantina di anni…

[Nathan Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

What compelled me to read the first installment of the Guin Saga was its apparent influence on Berserk and Dark Souls. First chapters in, I could confirm that influence without a doubt. This led me to believe that it'd be this dark, somewhat nihilistic story, perhaps more layered than it initially lets on, but it loses this tone pretty quickly and largely just becomes a very pulpy, standard heroic fantasy novel, despite having its fair share of violence and gruesome moments.

Pros: It's VERY fast-paced, which allowed me to read it easily in about a week, reading a chapter or two every night. It's also got some creative imagery as far as fantasy and horror tropes are concerned.

Cons: It might be the translation, or just a product of Japanese fantasy-writing tendencies, but the dialogue is distractingly corny and flat. The characterization of the main players is clear, but also pretty cut and dry/simplistic. Too much of the book is devoted to scenes upon scenes of our hero Guin just effortlessly cutting his way through every battle. It gets pretty repetitive by often describing the same moments or feelings multiple times over the course of a couple pages... making it feel padded and like it could've been even shorter than it already is.

Overall, it's fine. I enjoyed it well enough, and it was a casual read I didn't have to think about much. However, I'll admit my expectations might've been a bit too high.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un buon inizio per questa saga, getta delle interessanti premesse.
Il libro è scorrevole, ma alcune volte è un tantino retorico, specialmente quando Rinda (una dei protagonisti) rimprovera il fratello Remus. Ecco, in questo caso i dialoghi hanno il sapore dello "spiegone". Che senso ha che parlino come se non sapessero le cose, quando ovviamente le sanno, solo per trasmetterle al lettore? Avrei apprezzato un modo più naturale di descrivere l'ambientazione, senza frasi del tipo "Ma non ricordi dove siamo? Siamo qui! Il posto così e cosà, dominato da tizio e caio, pericoloso per queste ragioni!".
Nonostante questo, è appassionante, soprattutto la questione di Guin. Ed è per lui che continuerò la saga... Perché i gemelli Rinda e Remus sono davvero insopportabili, specialmente lei.

La cosa che mi ha fatto più dire "ma cosa sta succedendo?!" è la comparsa degli zombie. Zombie? Non me l'aspettavo e non so cosa pensare. Non che avessi delle aspettative particolari, ma parlavano di magia e preveggenza, di guerrieri... Quindi mi aspettavo un mondo magico di quel genere. Quando Rinda ha urlato "zombie!" nella foresta, sono rimasta perplessa. Voglio capirne di più continuando la saga.

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely horrible. I wish I could give this zero stars in order to illustrate how awful it is. Paper dolls have more depth than the characters in this novel, and are generally less annoying, show motivation, and are more interesting. I wanted everyone to die, quickly, so that the torture of reading this thing would be over sooner, but no such kindness was given to the reader. Instead, the damned thing ends on a cliffhanger. Maybe I'd angry about that if the author hadn't made damned sure I wouldn't give a fried rat's tail about any of the characters or what they were up to by the non-end of this awful, pointless, thrill- and interest-free book.

I read this novel after hearing its praises sung in a shining recommendation, and consequently bore some low-level resentment towards the persons who recommended this dried turd of a book for some time after I'd finished it. I no longer have any respect for their taste in things in print.

For the love of all things written, DON'T READ THIS BOOK.

[deilann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Keep in mind that 1) I don't really like heroic fantasy and 2) I think a lot of my issues might have been with this translation.

I can handle the plot being... kind of meh and repetitive and boring and a chance for Guin to flex his muscles. What drove me up the wall was the purple prose. And I guess heroic fantasy has to have a little purple prose, but this just was too much, piled too high. To make matters worse, the dialogue was full of purple prose, meaning it was all stilted and awkward and... yeah.

No one had a voice of their own, except the one dude who spoke in a weird typed out accent-thing. Oh, and it's always monologue time because this book is 100% tell and not show. And I have no idea. But I did finish it.

[Mario Ebbwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't a terrible read by any means and the author is indeed talented. But what really annoys me about a lot of books is "length for the sake of length". Now I know this book isn't very long but the problem is its story could have been told in 50 pages. Not enough happens in this book and I was really annoyed when I read the ending. I understand why people like it but I just couldn't get past how slow paced it was.

[Simon Blomberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this series through Kentaro Miura's recommendation.
For all that don't know Kentaro Miura is the author of Berserk, which is one of my favourite stories of all time. When I went in I was pretty excited. Would it live up to such huge expectations?
Now having read the first Volume I can say...

This series is fantastic. When I read it I was constantly in awe. It just feels like the author is a master of her craft. All the relationsships between the characters were so fascinating and interesting to read. Every character had their thing going on and was fascinating on their own. Even some charactertypes that in other properties are normally relegated to being canon-fodder. If you know the stormtroopers from Star Wars, there is a group in this series that at first one might think - as I did - would basically be that... I don't want to spoil so I'll just say they did not get the same treatment at all. (Not to say that the way Star Wars treats Stormtroopers doesn't have it's own advantages. That's just not what you're getting here.)In short, the characters are amazing. Much more than I really feel capable of conveiying here. So....
I'll recommend you just read it instead (;

It's pretty much the same for wordbuilding and plotting.
The worldbuilding in only the first chapter conveyed a more intricate and well fleshed out world than some entire books i've read. The only thing that I feel may put some people of is that every now and then the omniscient perspective will be used to just tell the reader about certain things that exist and are going on. It didn't personally bother me. In fact, I think the way it was done here mostly just enhanced the reading experience, but I think this may depend on preference.

So how about the plotting. Rarely has plotting been such an outstanding part of reading a book to me. What do I mean by that? Well, most books that I read, I'll read without ever consciously thinking about "the Plot" layed out by the author. I'll just read it and then once I'm finished I'll go "Yeah, that was good" or "Meh, that plot was pretty weird" or something like that. That did not happen in this book.
I often thought I knew the vague direction that the plot would move towards, only to be knocked of my feet. I often had to pause in my mind just to quickly gush about how cleverly my expectations would be subverted. Often with a surprising amount of realism that made me feel kind of silly for how corny my expectations for the plot were in comparison to what it ended up being. Never once did the plot feel like it just bended for whatever was needed.

If you like a good fantasy-story that ocassionally gets really dark, has fantastic characters, an outstanding plot and incredible worldbuilding this one is for you.

(Also, on a sidenote. On the back of my version of the book it's described as japan's answer to "The Lord of the Rings". Even though it's been on my shelf for forever at this point I haven't actually read "The Lord of the Rings" yet. My expectations however, after reading this, went up significantly.)

I planned to just read the first Volume now and then go to some other books. I'd get back to it in like two or three months. Make that a few days instead. I want to continue and see what else this author (Kaoru Kurimoto) can do. She has definitely earned my trust with this one.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd first heard of The Guin Saga through its anime adaptation, which by and large, got positive reviews. But most of them also came with the caveat that it was only a tiny snippet of a series that even then was about 100 books long; I never did watch it, because I knew if I did, I'd be left wanting more. That's why, when I stumbled across the first actual book in a used bookstore--in English!--I was a little beside myself at the idea that somebody was actually undertaking the translation of this series. I picked it up without hesitation.

The end product is...a little mixed, but over all, engaging. As the focus is on Guin, an amnesiac warrior with a leopard mask on his head that he can't remove, and a pair of exiled, royal twins (Rinda and Remus), who are running for their lives from invading forces, the world at large is generally painted in broad strokes. The included map at the front of the book also doesn't show a lot of the places that people mention in conversation, so that doesn't help matters. Still, I can see the potential for it all getting fleshed out, as our heroes continue their journey.

Speaking of conversations though, my biggest gripe is that so much of the information we're given is via (often quite lengthy) exposition, like everybody's from the Midwest, and just can't wait to tell you their life's story. Like, imagine asking someone where they were going, and having them tell you their destination, the history of their destination, how they never wanted to have the job that necessitates them going to that destination, but their brother went missing, and... Yeah, you get the point. This happens at least three times, if memory serves, and I'd like to chalk it up to an iffy translation, but all that dialog had to be in there somewhere, in the original Japanese.

On that note, there are occasional parts that feel a bit wooden, or oddly-worded, and those bits, I think I can attribute to the translation. It's never anything horrible, but it does seem a little dry at times.

In the end, I found myself really enjoying the start of this series, despite its flaws. It's no Lord of the Rings yet, but it's certainly better-written than Moorcock's Corum books...which brings me to an unfortunate discovery I made, in looking for the next volume.

Only the first five books have been translated. I don't know if the licensing rights got complicated after the author passed away in 2009 or something, but it's been awhile since the last translated book was released. I still intend to read what's available, but I really don't like the prospect that I might come to love this series...only to not be able to read 90% of it--the little bit of digging I've done hasn't yielded any reliable sources for the Japanese printings, if I wanted to go to the extreme of learning to read it in its original language. I'm sure I'm putting the cart before the horse, and I should see how much I enjoy the rest of the translated books, but part of me is worried that's all I'll ever get a chance to read.

[Rubén L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

No soy un consumidor habitual del género de la fantasía medieval. De hecho nunca me ha gustado.
Por otra parte siempre he considerado las light novel un quiero y no puedo de la novela tradicional. Con una narrativa simple, plana y sin gracia propia de un amateur que se agarra a lo más popular y rancio del mundo otaku.
Es esta mezcla explosiva llamada Guin Saga la que llegó de casualidad a mi manos. Conocía al personaje de haberlo visto en algún sitito, un hombre musculoso con cabeza de tigre, y sabía que la historia había influenciado a Miura para crear Berserk, algo cuanto menos interesante.
Lo que no sabía era que la historia estaba aún abierta (¡mas de 130 volúmenes y contando!), que solo 5 fueron traducidos al ingles y que la autora original había fallecido sin dar respuesta a todos los interrogantes acerca de Guin.
¡Maravilloso! La formula perfecta que, sumado a todo lo anterior, me hizo estar a punto de olvidarme de esta saga. Pero algo había picado mi curiosidad. La novela es un clásico moderno que ha influenciado a muchos autores de renombre y que, a día de hoy, se mantiene vigente. Eso fuficiente para que mi curiosidad innata me picara, algo a lo que pocas veces puedo resistirme.
Felizmente tengo que reconocer que este primer tomo es competente. No estará a la altura de otros autores japoneses anteriores y cohetaneos a Kurimoto (Banana Yoshimoto, Yoshikawa o el mismo Murakami) pero la narrativa es funcional y lo suficientemente interesante para llegar hasta el final y quedar con ganas de más.
Los personajes son sencillos pero resultones, los hermanos tienen suficiente agencia en la historia para aportar a su manera y sentir que, con suerte, en próximos tomos puedan desarrollarse correctamente. Pero seamos sinceros, Guin es quien acaba se roba el cenro de atención.
¿Qué oculta en su pasado? ¿Qué o quien es Aurra? ¿Por qué tiene una máscara de tigre? Kurimoto construye su historia de forma que, regularmene, se nos presente algún elemento nuevo que nos conduce de nuevo a la pregunta ¿Quién es Guin?.
Pocos detalles negativos puedo resaltar, la primera parte de la novela es un poco lenta y, al menos yo, tardé un poco en situarme, aunque cuando llegamos al fuerte la historia mejora sustancialmente. La mitológica es interesante pero me hubiese gustado que la autora incluyese un pequeño apéndice explicando un poco la misma, creo que la daría mas complejidad al mundo de Guin Saga.
Acabo ese primer libro con un buen sabor de boca, quizas no todas las light novel sean un pozo seco de creatividad e interés, pero por ahora mantengo mis reservas. Veremos a ver que puede ofrecer Guin Saga en las siguientes novelas.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an interesting thing, picking up the first book in a series while knowing you unquestionably will never finish that series. This is the first novel of a series that runs to more than 130 novels, and was still never finished. It opens with a lot of mysteries — how did the warrior Guin end up with a leopard mask permanently affixed to his face? How did the magically gifted twin children of Parros escape the massacre that claimed their familes? How many times will the author remind us that Guin's glistening physique and rippling perfect muscles make him look like a god? How many colorful metaphors can she find for the two little twins, who are apparently like pearls, tiny flowers, and gentle animals?

I'm never going to know the answers to any of these questions, but this was an entertaining read all the same, a brisk heroic fantasy set in a lushly complicated dark world that reminded me a lot of Vampire Hunter D — same tortured, mysterious, just-about-all-powerful hero, same awful-beyond-belief dark forces looking to slaughter or devour the people he's trying to protect, same drippingly lavish translated prose. It's all very over-the-top and not to all tastes, but people who are into the Conan books or the fantasy games of Epidiah Ravachol will probably be in pulp sword-and-sorcery heaven. Wonder if Guin ever got that leopard mask off?

[Galder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I watched an interview of Kentaro Miura the creator of Berserk saying he took inspiration from this series. I just finished the first book and can definitely see the relation of the main Character Guin and Guts.

This book is a fun read. It is translated so their are some repetitive words used but overall the book is great. I really enjoyed the characters and the dark ominous villain. The book really gives off dark medieval fantasy. I found that the way its written is simple but really paints a picture of the setting and characters. The book really pulls you into the environment and kind of give you the creeps in a suspenseful fun way. I definitely recommend it and can't wait to read the second book.

[Boots LookingLand · Rating 4 out of 5]

was curious about this, one of the longest-running novel series of all time with over 130 books. and the leopard-guy appealed to me because of course he did. actually enjoyed this book more than i expected and immediately started book two. it's pulpy for sure, and whether because of the translation or the original text, it's got some odd clunky moments now and then, but the story is definitely a page-turner.

we'll see how it holds up. i dislike a couple of the characters already, so how much they factor into the story may make or break this series for me. for the moment though, i am lamenting that only the first five books have even been translated.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband watched the anime based on these books, and some time later I found book 1 at a sale. Even later than that I found out it's maybe the longest-running series of Japanese light novels, with something like 150 volumes, and only 5 have been translated into English.

So I don't think I'll ever be finishing this series, but the first book was interesting. I'm off to Wikipedia to find out what happens!

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out a bit slow, though most books do. The prose is nothing special, though that may just be the translation. It does have a certain charm to it in being able to clearly picture some scenes. The story picks up in the second chapter of the book, which still takes a little while, but it does impress me and intrigue me, and I will be picking up the next volume to continue the journey. I hope it will continue to get better.

[JoeG · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good fantasy series beginning book. As usual, it begins 'in media res' and quickly moves on from there. The characterization is not deep, but neither is that required for adult fantasy. The author is supposedly a 'prolific author and composer' and the name is a Nomme de plume. More I do not know.But the series seems perfect for pre-sleep reading and I have purchased all five volumes!

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Surprisingly mediocre. This story feels like a leopard tensing to jump, but everytime the beast jumps, he moves only slightly forward making no big difference at all. The story is non-stop action with diminishing meaning, interspersed with the shouts and whinings of two brats who don't add anything.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2

I really great start to a fantasy series. A good mix of pulp and epic fantasy. The characters could easily be stock characters but there is a spark to each that lets them stand out. I will be checking out the rest of the series for sure.

[Antonio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primo della lunghissima serie. E quindi ora inizierà la rincorsa a recuperare tutto. Libro che si legge una meraviglia, avventuroso, misterioso, fantasy e praticamente con tutti i punti lasciati aperti!

[Ashley Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

quite an interesting read. got the first 5 books of this in a bundle and started to read them. I find the world the author created intriguing. If you like dark fantasy then give it a try.

[Harue Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 130-book series was a phenomenon in Japan in the mid-1980s, I am told. And I have just gotten started.

It is a wonderful fantasy tale - and the main characters are many.

[Mary Wyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to read more!!!
Enjoy :)

[Luca Morandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

il trash scorre prepotente in questo libro.
devo dire che ho preferito i manga, hanno una resa visiva migliore

[Mario Carić · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Japanese answer to the western-created subgenre of Sword and Sorcery and Heroic Fantasy hits every note it should for it to be classified as such. Powerful, emotional, clear and crisp in form, it is obvious why this awesome pulpy work has been deemed such an inspirational piece to the great Japanese artists of today and their own works of art such as Berserk by the now sadly late, great Kentaro Miura. Kaoru Kurimoto, who had also left us too soon, is a must-read for all S&S aficionados.

[Ollie Z Book Minx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definite potential but a few annoying things, especially making such a big deal about the twins' age and being on the cusp of adulthood at the beginning and then referring to them as little children for the rest of the story.