The Leaning Tower of Damocles

Now (again) in English! (GB2)

January 18, 2007 on 7:23 pm | In Novels |

There had been word at cons (I’m told) and about the ‘Net that this was coming, and now we have a (probable) release date.

The first book in the Dirty Pair series, Daatipea no Daibouken [Great Adventures of the Dirty Pair], published in Japan by Hayakawa Shobo, will be available again in English translation from Dark Horse on 28 June. Long-time fans know about the Kodansha English Library edition of the first short story; the Library was a series of small books intended for Japanese students of English. This new book will (hopefully) contain both of the stories in the original Japanese book, since it is indicated that this edition will have 250 pages. (The very first novella was entitled Daatipea no Daibouken; since Japanese does not use plural forms, the original book, which included Takachiho’s second DP story, did not need to change its title.) It will also contain 20 illustrations by Yasuhiko Yoshikazu, who has illustrated all of the novels; judging from the number, these may include all of the drawings he did for the stories, in both editions of the book from Hayakawa and the edition in 1983 from Kadokawa and also perhaps from SF Magajin (there are some pix Yas. published there that have not been in the books).

[update (2/17): this book is now listed at Dark Horse’s site. The page count is now given as 280 pages and the publication date is currently given as 13 June.]