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The Light Novels of Haruhi Suzumiya

Topic started by RedRoses on Dec. 7, 2008. Last post by gleowine 2 years, 11 months ago.
Post by RedRoses (1,437 posts) See mini bio Level 14
Has anyone read the light novels?

I've read the translations online and I thought that they were better than the anime. I think that's why I enjoyed re-watching the anime because I got more detailed accounts of what was happening within the scenes in the anime (especially the indie movie episode).
The writing has made me love Kyon as a character because of his intellectual, sometimes cynical commentary. My favorite one is volume four: The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya.

I can't wait for the official American release of the light novels. I've already preordered it on Amazon.
Posted 3 years, 5 months ago
Post by Desisashi (1,801 posts) See mini bio Level 7
i never read them but they sound interesting
Posted 3 years, 5 months ago
Post by Knil (18 posts) See mini bio Level 2
I've only read the first one, mostly because I don't want to spoil anything until the second season eventually comes out, although the story on the indie movie does pique my interest, now that you mention it. What I read did add a lot detail  to the story that the just anime doesn't have time to fully explore, which made me appreciate the series even more.
Posted 3 years, 5 months ago
Post by Resonate (625 posts) See mini bio Level 7
RedRoses said:
"Has anyone read the light novels?

I've read the translations online and I thought that they were better than the anime. I think that's why I enjoyed re-watching the anime because I got more detailed accounts of what was happening within the scenes in the anime (especially the indie movie episode).
The writing has made me love Kyon as a character because of his intellectual, sometimes cynical commentary. My favorite one is volume four: The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya.

I can't wait for the official American release of the light novels. I've already preordered it on Amazon."
You think they;re better than the anime? Well, I'll trust your judgment and buy them now, I loved the anime :D
Posted 3 years, 5 months ago
Post by RedRoses (1,437 posts) See mini bio Level 14
Knil said:
"I've only read the first one, mostly because I don't want to spoil anything until the second season eventually comes out, although the story on the indie movie does pique my interest, now that you mention it. What I read did add a lot detail  to the story that the just anime doesn't have time to fully explore, which made me appreciate the series even more."
If you want, I can tell you which light novels correspond to the anime so you don't get spoiled and just read stuff that was part of the anime. There will be some jumping around though because some episodes are only a chapter long while others are almost a whole light novel itself.


Resonate said:
You think they;re better than the anime? Well, I'll trust your judgment and buy them now, I loved the anime :D"
I wouldn't trust just one person's opinion though. XD And I only said I read the translations online (forgot to mention its fan translated) so we don't really know how the officially released translation will be like. Well there was a preview of it in the officially released manga but it wasn't long enough to judge on.
Posted 3 years, 5 months ago
Post by hazelnutman (142 posts) See mini bio Level 2
I've read every single light novel and loved them all. However, it was just as I got into the Haruhi franchise that the fanbase just happened to be waiting for the first concluding light novel to the (two) cliffhanger(s) in the ninth novel. Great timing I suppose =P

An advantage to the light novels is the detailed explainations. I mean, how the hell was I supposed to know about how the cat was talking just by watching the anime? How about the Mikuru beam and Yuki suddenly attacking Mikuru during shooting? None of those were explained in the anime, yet were all explored in depth in the light novels.

My favorite novel overall is also the fourth (disappearance). However, there are tons of amazing stories within the other novels which I hope KyoAni adapts along with the entire story of disappearance, much like how they centered the first season around the first novel and took bits and pieces from the others.

I really enjoyed the snow mountain syndrome story out of them all due to the heavy mystery around the entire house (different times in different place, WTF?) although I didn't get that math equation to opening the door part one bit - I still enjoyed it a lot. It creeped me out and thought the atmosphere was done really well.

I can't wait for the official translated light novels as well. I'll have to pre-order them on Amazon sometime.
Posted 3 years, 5 months ago
Post by gia (3,032 posts) See mini bio Level 13
I've read several of the light novels and really enjoyed them-- the plot gets really, really complicated to keep track of later on though @.o Definitely buying the official translations and I hope they do well.

I can't help but wonder about the future of the franchise though; the tenth novel and the second anime season are both in limbo, which is weird for a series that's so huge. I've even wondered if there might be something going on with the creator, Nagaru Tanigawa, although I haven't heard anything that makes me think there is...just the lack of any move forward seems odd.
Posted 3 years, 5 months ago
Post by Knil (18 posts) See mini bio Level 2
RedRoses said:
"Knil said:
"I've only read the first one, mostly because I don't want to spoil anything until the second season eventually comes out, although the story on the indie movie does pique my interest, now that you mention it. What I read did add a lot detail  to the story that the just anime doesn't have time to fully explore, which made me appreciate the series even more."
If you want, I can tell you which light novels correspond to the anime so you don't get spoiled and just read stuff that was part of the anime. There will be some jumping around though because some episodes are only a chapter long while others are almost a whole light novel itself.
That's alright, I'll probably just break down and read through the whole thing once the official translations start coming out.
Posted 3 years, 5 months ago
Post by Death_Flame (318 posts) See mini bio Level 1
I just started watching the anime and i really like it. I think i might get the Light Novels....
Posted 3 years, 5 months ago
Post by gleowine (9 posts) See mini bio Level 2
I've read all nine novels that Baka-Tsuki translated and enjoyed every one of them, except maybe the one entitled "The Adventures of Mikuru Asahina." The anime version (Episode 00) was fun to watch, but the novel version was rather dull. There were two or three time travel stories that were awesome. I couldn't put them down. Looking forward to getting the published version of #1 coming out this year.
Posted 3 years, 4 months ago
Post by gleowine (9 posts) See mini bio Level 2
I'm halfway into Yen Press' English translation of Haruhi #1. Obviously, it's a different read from the Baka Suki translation, but still a good read. Interestingly, even though it's rated "Age 15 and up," they didn't censor her line about the Computer Club guys and Asahina, like was done in the anime. Also, I couldn't say if it's a good translation or not, since my Japanese is next to none. But I love the story and the characters, so it doesn't really matter to me.
Posted 3 years ago
Post by Eelcire (74 posts) See mini bio Level 14
I just finished reading the first light novel from Yen Press and greatly enjoyed it. I'm hoping it does well here so that the rest of the series is translated and brought over (I even bought both the paperback and hardback versions). A while back I had downloaded the fan-translated versions of the Haruhi novels; do they differ from the Yen Press translation by much? Would it be worth reading as well?

I've also been getting into the manga as well, what a great series :)
Posted 3 years ago
Post by lordhaseo (2,509 posts) See mini bio Level 7
i want to start watching it, but were ya go to see the hole thing in english!?
Posted 3 years ago
Post by Eelcire (74 posts) See mini bio Level 14
lordhaseo said:
i want to start watching it, but were ya go to see the hole thing in english!?

Probably not exactly what you were wanting, but:
Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya DVD Complete Collection @ Rightstuf
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya: Complete Collection @ Amazon

The whole collection is now out in one set (and at the same cost that just volume 1 special edition had cost me).
Posted 3 years ago
Post by Sigue (860 posts) See mini bio Level 8
I read the translations online awhile ago. I remember not having any internet that summer - the same one Haruhi aired during, actually - so when I went to the library to pick up a bunch of books I'd check for new chapters and read them. Episode 00 of the anime was much more enjoyable when I understood what was going on.
Posted 3 years ago
Post by gleowine (9 posts) See mini bio Level 2
Actually, instead of "Yen Press" I should have said "Little & Brown."

There are considerable differences between the Baka-Suki translations and the Little & Brown one. In some cases I liked the Baka-Suki version, while in others L&B did a better job IMHO. Overall, Baka-Suki seemed to be aiming more to the fans, while L&B targeted the non-fans, people new to the Haruhi series, in particular English-speaking teenagers (is that a contradiction in terms or what?).

Anyway, a big Haruhi "yahoo" for Little & Brown. (i.e. "hey, hey!" according to L&B).
Posted 2 years, 11 months ago
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