Ai No Kusabi The Space Between Volume 1: Stranger (Yaoi Novel) Paperback – December 11, 2007

This is, without a doubt, the best DMP novel localization they have yet released. God bless, and long life to, Kelly Quine (previously of, The Man Who Doesn't Take Off His Clothes) for her superb translation. In some small way I would like to believe my constant rantings about the low quality of DMP's English edits have actually resulted in a stiffening of their standards (though I'm sure it was a collective laying into of the publisher for the sub-par offerings thus far). There are still some simple typographical errors to be found in this volume, but gone is the awkward English form (though decidedly British flavor to the language), bad use of punctuation and several typos on each page. The language is smooth, artful and draws you right into the story. My only real complaint is in the decision to capitalize some words in reference to proper nouns that are not, in fact, proper nouns. It's clearly a publishing or editing decision and easily looked past. I can only assume this particular translation takes some liberties with the original script, but who cares? It is a fantastic read all around, really. I hope Ms. Quine continues to do the job for the rest of what appears to be a five volume yaoi novel series.My only other complaint with the localization is about the illustrations. Firstly, they are far too few and far between (and the three maps of Tanagura at the beginning are repetitive; they could have had just the one most detailed one). The actual illustrations (by Katsumi Michihara, an artist I am not familiar with) are nice enough a distraction from time to time, but I didn't feel any attachments to them, as if the novel didn't need them to fill the imagination of the reader. Secondly, they are not spaced appropriately. Some images come a chapter behind the moment they are depicting. The picture of Iason Mink, of a scene that occurs in chapter 4, but is found in chapter 5, comes to mind. DMP has done this before, in just about every novel localization I have seen as of yet. I don't see how difficult it is to rearrange the illustrations to better pace the difference between English and Japanese in print. They need to take better note of this in the future.Now, a lot of people will notice that this volume is particularly slim. The original hardbound release of this novel in the 1980s was rereleased in Japan, broken into smaller paperback editions and re-edited by the author a number of years later (2001). This is the release that we are receiving in English localization, which Yoshihara-sensei explains in the afterward. It took me a few, partially distracted, hours to get all the way through, and the end of the volume makes it clear that this is only the beginning of what will be a wide-scoping story.If you aren't familiar with Ai no Kusabi, it is often touted as one of the pinnacle early yaoi stories ever told. Popularized in America by the hard-to-find anime release (it has never been officially released here, but I would not be surprised to see Media Blasters or Kitty Media or Central Park Media pick up the license in a bid to capitalize on the book's release in the next year or so). Set in the backdrop of a faraway star-system ruled by an arrogant, totalitarian sentient computer who has imposed a rigid caste system involving "breeds" of people by hair color (blonde being at the top), Ai no Kusabi tells the tragic story (yes, there will be a sad ending) of a "mongrel" (non-engineered, lowest of the low, caste) gang leader of the Ceres slums, Riki, and the Blondy who becomes obsessed with him, Iason Mink.In the city-state of Tanagura, it is trendy for the high caste (and supposedly sterile) to take "pets," usually bio-engineered young boys, as symbols of their prowess; the low female birth-rate (hinted at having something to do with the Jupiter computer system's meddling), affecting the nature of human society down to the way people pick sexual and life partners. Riki's "pairing partner" was Guy, until his fateful encounter with Iason Mink, who steals Riki away to be his pet, an action that is quite taboo in the society because not only is Riki a "mongrel," but also several years older than the average pet (he is 20 years old at the beginning of the novel, which is three years after Riki's first encounter with Mink).Yoshihara has written a masterpiece with Ai no Kusabi, not falling into the more recent pitfalls of yaoi titles: favoring the pairings and graphic sex scenes over the development of plot and background. A very real and very detailed picture is painted of the universe of this novel. Even in the first six short chapters of the story found in this first volume we get a real sense for what it is like to live in Tanagura on the planet Amoy, in the rigid society for both the upper caste forced to live by a computer's law and for the lower caste, all but completely abandoned to the slums.Those who are looking for graphic scenes are going to be fairly disappointed. Aside from a heated, however vague, piece in the first chapter, there is virtually nothing of note in this book. They certainly make reference to male pairings all over the place, but no one is actually "getting it on," so to speak. I get the impression most of the book will be this way, so if you're looking to this story to quench any of those types of desires, you are best served elsewhere.In the end, I would go so far as to argue that any BL or yaoi genre fan worth his salt has to read this novel. It is a seminal work in the genre and will appeal to just about any taste (unless the eventual tragic end is going to turn you off, but even so, you should grin and bear it to experience this master work). DMP has done a fine job this time, so I really have nothing to say against it that would change anyone's mind about giving it a try.

I caught the Ai no Kusabi anime on Veoh.com just a few weeks ago and thought it must have been a really old movie since it was obviously a Japanese anime originally on VHS that someone had put onto their computer and subtitled in English. And since most animes are originally mangas or serialized in mangazines in Japan, I did a little digging and found out I was correct by hitting up Wikipedia for a more thorough understanding of what I'd watched. And then to find out that it had finally been released in book form with all the back story--I had to have it!I'm really not disappointed in anything except the price to quantity ratio. Sure there are the occasional errors, but if you buy yaoi and BL books on a regular basis that just seems the norm right now. So until yaoi and BL become mainstream areas of publishing, I'm willing to give a tiny bit of slack. Still, I have a feeling that someone thinks this is a "cash cow" and I'm not saying that it's only the publisher holding out their hand for the funds.Unlike many BL and yaoi stories, this isn't just a bunch of sex scenes or a heterosexual story made into a homosexual story. This is an old story that was liked well enough that it was made into a well drawn, quality produced anime for it's fan base. And like old stories that stand the test of time (the anime still stands as a decent piece of work 15 years later), this story will be one that you will return to time and again in the future.Buy it.UPDATE: I've received up to book four now and I'm greatly anticipating book five. Our writer has tinkered with the book slightly so although we have MUCH more insight into the characters and these changes have definitely made it different from the anime movie of old, the basics remain the same.Now, I was wrong about the price to quantity ratio after having read most of the series. The artwork is the same and yet new. After a few rereads (yes, I had to read them again because they're that good), there are fewer typos than I thought throughout the four books and it was a welcome surprise.Now for those of you wondering (and for clarification), this is a NOVEL with a few page size images of the characters in alignment with action to the story NOT a graphic novel with all drawn panels and some dialogue as if it was copied from stills of the movie or vice versa. I've had a few friends (to whom I loaned the first few books) tell me they were surprised it was a book and not a comic. These same friends had seen the movie and routinely buy Yaoi graphic novels just like I do. I've since told them to stop bending the corners and getting chocolate on my pages and get their own danged books. They're well worth it!!NOW, GO BUY IT!!!!

Like many others, I first took notice after watching the OVAs - I bought this book expecting it to be a manga and was completely disappointed - even this first novel left me a little sad. But I stuck with it and continued onto the second novel, determined for it to answer and explain more scenes of the OVAs in detail. I have now purchased and read all six novels and I'm infuriated that there isn't a seventh as of yet.I first thought this was a simple pornographic flick but after reading the novels and such, I really don't think it should be placed in that category. The story has been thought out and brought to life with such intricate detail - not one inch of the Ai no Kusabi world is left unanswered and that includes the fantastic characters. Reiko's way with words is astounding and simply blows my mind - although I must admit that at first, I thought she went on a bit (she can turn a five second moment into an entire chapter) but this is what I love about it. You shouldn't buy this book expecting it to be PWP and straight to the 'good stuff', although there are some excellently detailed illustrations for those who are devastated that this isn't a manga. Every intimate scene has a deep impact on the plot, every word spoken has a meaning... to put it bluntly, this book - or rather, the entire story - is one you shouldn't miss.If you're debating whether to read this on your experience of the OVAs, I would say that this has a load more 'extra scenes' and answers the questions the OVAs put forth. It also puts right a lot of myths that have been going on about AnK - for example, the correct laws of their world (which does not include heavy BDSM) and so on.I cannot recommend this novel highly enough.

Futuristic sci-fi yaoi novel that takes you away to a sensual and erotic place and a love between a powerful man and man that comes from a lower class.

Ich finde man benötigt gute English Kentnisse für das Buch. Aber das ist natürlich je nach Empfinden anders. Wer den Anime mag wird das Buch ebenso mögen. Es ist gut geschrieben und bringt die Story sowie die Charas dem Leser viel näher als der Anime dazu in der Lage ist. (Und ich liebe den Anime :) )Zum Preis. Ich habe bemerkt das der erste Band für Wucherpreise angeboten wird. Ich persönlich hatte Glück und hab ihn für "nur" 25 Euro bekommen und mehr würde ich auch nicht bezahlen. Fan sein oder nicht, man kann es übertreiben und die Preise von 70 - 170 Euro sind meines erachtens unverschämt. Mein Warten wurde belohnt, wenngleich ich bei 25 Euro schon lange überlegen musste.

Ich kannte erst den Anime und bin durch Zufall auf die Novellen gestossen und war sehr positiv überrascht. Ich kann jedem die Bücher nur empfehlen, der mehr über die einzelnen Charakter erfahren möchte.

I'm french, i'ts impossible for us to find this novel ;_;The price is very expenssif for me ( but I see now, It is cheaper ! è_é )But I'm very happy after all, I very appreciate the novel.I'm going to buy the Vol. 2 !!!