Fate／Zero（1）第四次聖杯戦争秘話 [Dai Yonji Seihai Sensou Hiwa]

Fate/Zero (Seikaisha Bunko) #1

by Gen Urobuchi, 武内 崇

War of the Holy Grail - Pursuing the power of the "Holy Grail" which grants a miracle, this is a contest in which seven magi summon seven Heroic Spirits to compete for it. In that battle whose conclusion was postponed three times, now, the fourth war commenced again. Entrusting their dearest wish of victory, the magi joined the battleground called "Fuyuki", but amongst them, there was a man who was always alone, and could not find out the meaning behind his fights. His name was Kotomine Kirei. Not comprehending the guidance of fate, Kirei was lost, and had kept questioning. Why someone like his was given the Command Seals. However, the fate of his fights crossed Kirei's path with a nemesis by chance. That person is - Emiya Kiritsugu. A man who was sterner than anyone else, more merciless than anyone else, and who sought the miracle of the Holy Grail.

Merely recited in fragments in Fate/Stay Night, this is the Fourth War of the Holy Grail 10 years ago. The truth which unfolded behind the battle between Shirō's foster father, Rin's father, and the younger Kotomine Kirei, is finally revealed......

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Manga, Japanese Literature, Fiction, Action, Magic

225 pages, Paperback

First published January 11, 2011

About the author

Name in kanji: 虚淵玄

(虚淵玄 Urobuchi Gen) is a Japanese writer for visual novels, light novels, and anime. He is known for his dark style, nihilistic themes, and tragic plot twists, earning him the fan nickname "Urobutcher." Some of his more popular works include the 2003 visual novel Saya no Uta, the 2011 anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, the 2012 anime Psycho-Pass, the light novel and anime Fate/Zero, and the 2013–2014 Kamen Rider Series Kamen Rider Gaim. He currently works at Nitroplus.

Reviews

[usagi ☆ミ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Fate/Stay Night” is one of those tricky series because it comes from a visual novel – that is to say, it has three different possible endings, and each one is totally different from the last. So when I heard (very late in the game, mind you) that Type-Moon, the original game creators, were writing a set of prequel novels – I was overjoyed, to say the least, and had high expectations. And happily, they didn’t let me down.

So now we know a lot of answers already thanks to this first book in what was originally a tetrology (and is now up to six books as of later this year) – why Irisviel is tiny and albino, who Irisviel’s father really is, and why Kotomine Kirei decided to hang around after the end of the last Holy Grail War until the story of “Fate/Stay Night” started. There’s so much history here in these books that Type-Moon couldn’t even hope to squeeze into all three routes of the game/visual novel (which is really long, more than 50 hours of reading/playing time) even if they tried. But I’m really glad that they gave us this backstory since there are so many holes in the “F/SN” story that can’t really be explained without a proper prequel story of the previous Holy Grail War.

One of the really wonderful things about this story is how Type-Moon incorporates all of these old myths and legends and makes them all work together in harmony in a plausible modern-day fantasy story. I don’t think they get enough credit for that, to be completely honest. Yeah, the game/visual novel for “F/SN” has some adult elements in it, and that seems to stop people right away from reading the rest of the story. And it shouldn’t – which is why I think Pioneer/Geneon got the rights to make the “F/SN” anime in 2007 – to make the story available to an all-ages audience. And you know what? Cutting out the adult parts really didn’t make much of a difference. Yes, the story was truncated due to time (I mean, you can’t hope to squeeze in all three different endings in 26 episodes), and that’s the failing of the anime. Which is why it got a movie for its second route ending in 2010. Hopefully 2011 and 2012 will bring adaptations of that final route ending.

So without those adult elements, Type-Moon created this prequel tetrology and made it something totally amazing – epic fantasy where before it had just been a visual novel only known about in rather small circles, making it a cultural phenomenon. We know why the characters of “F/SN” act the way they do because they’re all around four or five years old in this story, and are thus influenced by this fourth Holy Grail War and what happens to their parents.

As I mentioned before, this was originally a tetrology that ended in 2009. But now that an anime (and manga) series has been greenlit, two more novels are being released later this year. I can’t wait until they are, and I can’t wait to read more.

One more thing – I have to give it to the Baka-Tsuki fan translating group – they did a REALLY good job with this. I remember trying to read the original in a bookstore in Tokyo when the first book came out, and it was hard to read for me. I’ve gotten better since then, but it’s still a pretty long book, and I have to commend them with sticking with this project. I really hope that Fate/Zero gets licensed here so we can all enjoy it instead of just having to rely on fan translators. But without them, we wouldn’t have access to this awesome work. So if you get a chance, go and google them and check out their translation of this series. I think you’ll be surprised at how great it really is.

(crossposted to librarything, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)

[Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really don't know that much about the Fate/Stay Night mytho, for I'd only read part of the anime series years ago, but with this sequel series: Fate/Zero, I am glad to learn more about the 4th Holy Grail War (which took place years before the War in the Fate/Stay Night storyline came up). It's so exciting, plus the author/scriptwriter Gen Urobuchi is really a freaking genius!

The main characters are quite charming, and the plot twists are fine, but as far as I know, it has to be noted that Gen Urobuchi doesn't own those characters, he developed the plots and the stories based on the mytho and characters created by Type-Moon, a video game developer. Anyway, this series is still pop culture entertainment at its finest quality, plus it really puts a lot of English mainstream YA bestsellers into total shame. Hahaha.

[Kenchiin · Rating 4 out of 5]

For not being an official translation this was really good. I guess the story makes more sense if you've read or watched Fate/Stay Night, but it's a good read anyway.

[PlayboiFartiGooningChampion DatBoiBeFartin800EliteGoonerRadiantN1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

PLEASE WATCH THE ANIME OR READ THE MANGA THIS IS SO GOOD BRO

[Delano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read whole series

[Yasiru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curiously, I find it difficult to imagine what it might be like to begin here with the Fate universe. Not that it's going to be tough to follow; I just think it would be peculiar and I can't decide whether it would improve Fate/Stay Night or not. Whatever the sequence, Saber and Shirou (via Kiritsugu) are more compelling for this story. The same might be said for Kirei, though he's a subdued danger (fittingly given his servant) except where the resonance with Kiritsugu is made stark.

Ideally I would have everyone read the visual novel first, but Fate/Zero is not to be missed in any case. This is such a tight and intricately detailed prequel that I regret not coming to the novels prior to the anime adaptation. But the anime is surely excellent, with some truly beautiful battle sequences and a generally encouraging crispness.

Baka-Tsuki offers very serviceable online translations, and there's an unofficial torrent for stand-alone files if you prefer.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this light novel. The volume one is an epilogue of the serie.



I was little shock at first because this is really what I was expecting, and with a first volume like that this serie have a good chance to go on the right direction.

I am really expecting a lot from this series, let's hope it will maintain the greatness of the original light novel.

[Juushika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review stands for the series entire. A war for possession of the wish-granting grail draws seven competing teams to Japan. This is my second time reading the books and my fourth-and-a-half time with the story, and that certainly says something about me but I hope it also says something about Fate/Zero. This is a story where, against all the odds, the serial killer self-actualizing with the help of his monsterbuddy isn't my favorite bit; my favorite is the complex, fractal web of motives and relationships that grows around the dichotomy between the central characters--it reaches deep into the plot and as distant as minor supporting characters, it's complicated and provoking and offers me more with each revisit.

The joy of the books in particular is that this medium allows for interior glimpses which aren't possible in the anime. I love Ryuunosuke's final scene, but even more distinctive is that Kirei is framed more as protagonist than antagonist, despite that Kiritsugu ostensibly occupies that role. His early characterization is surprising vulnerable, his relationship with Gilgamesh more intimate, his moments of revelation dynamic and central both to the climax and the setup for Fate/stay night.

All this despite that I'm so familiar now with the narrative that the amount of space given to worldbuilding and game rules is oppressive and slows the first half of the story, and despite that there's no official translation and the existing English fan translation is incredibly clunky. This isn't a perfect story and for non-Japanese readers this isn't the perfect way to access it, but I love it anyway--I love it profoundly.

[Cole Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel was overall solid and genuinely impressive. Having watched Fate/Zero a few years ago, finally getting my hands on the original source material, the actual script, was a pleasant surprise. What stood out most was the depth of detail, especially in exploring the psychological states and mindsets of the participants in the Holy Grail War.

In the anime, you get the general impression that each character has their own motives. While not all of them are morally sound or justifiable, you can at least understand where they’re coming from, even if their stories end tragically. However, the novel goes much deeper. It allows you to directly access the characters’ inner thoughts, beliefs, and expectations regarding the war. This added insight shifts your perception of the conflict and even alters how you interpret the characters' actions and decisions.

It also clarifies why certain characters behave the way they do, something that wasn’t always fully explained in the anime. The first volume covers roughly the first three to four episodes of the series, and Gen Urobuchi does a remarkable job delivering intense and vivid battle scenes using only prose. The fact that he can create such a strong visual and emotional impact through words alone is, to me, quite impressive.

[Patrick Idiare · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR review: 4/5 - Urobuchi absolutely ate with this one lfggg!!!!

Although I think the animated adaptation is still better at this point, this is nonetheless a brilliant "prologue" entry into the Fate/Zero series. Dialogue's a bit clunky at times (perhaps due to this being am unofficial translation), but there are certain sections - especially toward the end - where it's used perfectly to crystallise the philosophical/ideological conflicts between characters in a way that feels organic. In any case, super impressive that in a little over 200 pages Urobuchi could convey with such clarity most of the 15+ characters' motivations and personalities. (The ones he did not - Kirei, Caster, and Berserker - are because they are left intentionally ambiguous in what is clearly intended to be a slowly unveiling mystery). Super excited to see how he uses the novel medium to reveal why some of the characters are the way they are (e.g. I CAN'T WAIT to experience all the feels for Kiritsugu and Saber's backstories, the further revelation of Rider's philosophy of kinghood, and the evolution of Waver's resolve catalysed by Rider's larger-than-life personality).

[York Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tarde mucho en leerlo porque como había visto el anime, pues era muy repetitivo para mí algo que ya sabía cómo se desarrollaba. Sin embargo aunque muchos detesten a Gen Urobochi por su uso de drama, sangre y problemas existenciales: yo simplemente lo amo por eso.
Es que aunque a veces sus personajes pecan de superficiales, algunos son increíbles y con matices interesantes.
Así que ahora leer lo que sus personajes sentían o sus pensamientos y datos quedan más esclarecidos. A mí me ha gustado darle otra oportunidad a retomar la lectura.

[Bartosz Gawlik · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the Fate franchise. Fate/stay night is one of my favorite video games of all time. Because of that, of course, I was familiar with Fate/Zero from the anime series by Ufotable. However, I am one of the people who think that Zero is a bit overrated and too serious for its own good. And reading the light novel did not change that. I still think that and also I realised how boring the beginning parts of the series are. The afterword from Gen Urobuchi was a treat but this first volume was still quite boring.

[Sally Yuen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I'll be honest, I've already watched the TV adaption of it, and I basically know the end of this story; but there are some fine details that you do miss out on if you don't read the original novel. I couldn't put it down- it still surprises me plot wise.
Kudos to the guys who translated the Japanese to English version, it was really professionally done, and I would have thought it was a real official translation from a publishing company.

[Tiffany Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, this was my first venture into reading Manga and this was recommended to me. At first, I didn't get it and it was "meh" but, about halfway through, I realized I had started really liking Kiritsugu and by the end, I was liking Saber a lot. Can't wait to continue this series. It is a great first venture into Manga! I certainly recommend it.

[Jane Marga · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my standard mage type of read. Maybe it's one of the reason why that after reading this, I'm reluctant to dive deeply into other works of latter animes/lightnovels in the present. It's been years since I've read this but the gripping eloquence, depth of storyline, and the complexity of characters of Gen Urobochi would always be my all-time favorite.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

gen urobuchi is the only man capable of hurting my feelings with a goddamn afterword, i adore him in the most pathetic way possible.

[big man awesome i am so awesome guys · Rating 5 out of 5]

I prefer the anime but its still great.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In fact I felt a little disappointed when reading Fate/ Stay Night, after putting maybe too much expectation on it for such a awesome setting. The plot of F/SN did not depict the Holy Grail War I imagined - which can be dark, anxious and filled with hope, desires, as well as desperation and curses - but merely one side of a high school student who could hardly raise any of my interests. Perhaps this is because its origin was a visual game, but I must say that F/Z did far more better than F/SN. It created so many complicated and lovable characters, perfect schemes and emotional changes. F/Z definitely worths thinking and re-reading.
I really want to comment on the characters one by one because I greatly like and appreciate the special personalities of them all (well, maybe not for Caster and Ryunosuke - I failed trying to accept their views of life) and also want to express my own understanding of them. But that will need several thousand words and a fine, warm afternoon.
Every group makes a perfect match. Saber and Kirisugu share similar dreams to protect everyone by carrying all the sins or responsibilities on their own shoulders. Berserker and Kariya are the same kindhearted and determined, being tormented by their miserable fate. Rider and Waver have alike arrogant in some way. Their contrasts sometimes show special parts of humanity to us. It seemed every contestant of the Holy Grail War hold a splendid wish (again, except for Caster and Ryunosuke), but it's those wishes what drove them to endless craziness - only caring about how to fulfill one's own desire, regardless of what it can cause, this is not an act of mankind.

All in all, I will recommend F/Z to all my friends above 16 - the story may be dark, but it does indicate something.

[Sean O'Hara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a novel that tries to answer that age old question -- who would win a fight between King Arthur, Alexander the Great and Gilgamesh? I say "tries to answer" because it takes three more books to resolve the question. But, hey, this isn't the sort of thing that should be rushed.

/Zero is a prequel to the TypeMoon visual novels /Stay Night and /Hollow Ataraxia, set about a decade earlier and telling of the great cluster-fuck of the Fourth Holy Grail War. The Grail Wars are contests held every half century where seven mages from around the world battle for possession of the Holy Grail. Well, they don't battle. Mages would never stoop so low. Instead, each one is allowed to summon an Heroic Spirit -- one of the great heroes of history and legend -- as his Servant.

And so we end up with a lineup of the greatest badasses from history -- not just Arthur, Alexander and Gilgamesh, but Hassan i Sabbah, Gilles de Rais and Diarmuid Ua Duibhne -- fighting for an assortment of bastards ranging from the callow youth Waver Velvet, to the urbane Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, to the psychopathic Ryuunosuke Uryuu.

Should be totally awesome, right?

Unfortunately Gen Urobuchi, despite his immense talents as a script writer, isn't much of a novelist. While the plot is every bit as brilliant as his Madoka Magica, the writing is like trudging through quicksand. And I don't mean the translation is bad. No, it's Urobuchi's overindulgence in description that drags the story to a halt. There's one point where he pauses to describe Emiya Kiritsugu's arsenal, going into details on each and every gun from caliber to scope. Sorry, if I wanted that, I'd be reading Tom Clancy.

[Kel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This abandonment is long overdue; I just can't keep going with this, even for a franchise I love. Urobuchi is, well, Urobuchi, there's barely a likable character among the overwhelming number of men in the cast, the few female characters (unsurprisingly) revolve around men in contrast to the complex and compelling heroines we had in Fate/stay night, and this Saber feels like one of the original's many clones. Nasu's hardly an astounding writer, but two-thirds of Fate/stay night's Holy Grail Wars are preferable to this.

If you really want the background for the flagship title of the Fate franchise, watch the Fate/zero anime instead. It pares away a lot of the worst bits of the light novel, thankfully.

[Peacefulbookery · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the strongest stories in the Fate franchise, but that being said, it's strong because it efficiently builds on what came before.

The anime adaptation was incredible but the light novels hold up well on their own.

[Jill Jacob-Cabrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. It was much darker than Fate/Stay. I especially liked the clashing of ideals of the term "king" or "ruler." I would definitely recommend this. Oh, for anime fans who have netflix... yeah, this is there.

[Eve Lumerto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even more depressing than Fate/Stay Night, but it's worth it.

[Ella]

Currently watching the anime. And loving it. So therefore, I must find some way to read the novel.

[Ｆｒａｎｋｈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW TO FOLLOW

[Iara]

dnf. will try again one day.

idk man light novels just aren't my thing.