The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Volume 9

by Nagaru Tanigawa, Gaku Tsugano (Artist), Noizi Ito (Artist)

Overview

Following the clues in the clubroom, Kyon travels back in time to a familiar place...the same time and place he came with Asahina last summer! Kyon again meets with the elder Asahina, but she has no idea what's caused the future to go awry - erm, to go normal. Stoic Nagato is not surprised to find future Kyon at her door (for the second time that night) and prepares a program that will repair the rift. But the decision to administer it or not lies with Kyon...

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316218672
Publisher:	Yen Press
Publication date:	12/12/2011
Series:	Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Series , #9
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
File size:	56 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	16 - 18 Years

About the Author

Nagaru Tanigawa is a Japanese author best known for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya for which he won the grand prize at the eighth annual Sneaker Awards. Tanigawa is currently working on the tenth novel about Haruhi Suzumiya and the S.O.S. Brigade.

Editorial Reviews

"Why was I dragged into this bizarre mess?" Kyon, a dry-witted sad sack of a high school student narrates this off-kilter but fun novel, published in Japan in 2003. The teenager's existence is thrown into turmoil when a new student, Haruhi, appears in his homeroom and makes a startling introduction: "I have no interest in ordinary humans. If there are any aliens, time travelers, sliders, or espers here, come join me." Though she initially rebuffs him (and the rest of the student body), Haruhi eventually decides that forming a club with Kyon-the SOS Brigade, dedicated to "searching for the mysteries of the world"-is the best way to break through the dullness that surrounds her. The story begins sluggishly, but takes off as the true identities of the other club members-an alien, a time traveler, an esper (psychic)-are revealed. Each is gravely concerned that Haruhi, unknowingly, has the power to destroy the world on a whim. Readers may be occasionally weirded out-Haruhi repeatedly force-strips a club member-but those who get into Kyon's woe-is-me narration will be entertained. Ages 15-up. (Apr.)

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Publishers Weekly

Gr 7 Up–Haruhi Suzumiya, who dislikes boredom and has cravings to meet aliens, time travelers, and espers, decides to liven up things in her high school. She starts a new club, the S.O.S. Brigade, and takes over a classroom, some computer equipment, and, because she forces them to join, a big part of the new members’ lives. Kyon is especially drawn in by Haruhi’s demanding nature and her cute face. It is hard to imagine why, as she bosses everyone around, is moody and abrupt, and is generally unlikable. Soon, Kyon discovers that the other club members are some sort of aliens with powers that intervene in human affairs for the Data Overmind when certain humans have thoughts and feelings that affect the configurations of space and time. For some reason, Haruhi is one of those humans, and the interfaces try to use Kyon to intercept and influence her reactions and deflect problematic results. This novel goes nowhere conclusive, serving only as an introduction to a series of 10 sequels popular in Japan. Characters are sketchy and at times the story drags. The writing style has a mangalike sensation, with several manga drawings included. Interestingly, there is an excerpt from a new graphic novel based on the same story appended at the end, announcing the upcoming publication of it in that format, for which the tone and style of the narrative seem much better suited.–Diane P. Tuccillo, Poudre River Public Library District, Fort Collins, CO

School Library Journal

The welcome trend of translating popular Japanese series into English continues with this first of ten in Tanigawa's popular series. Completely normal high schooler Kyon narrates as his boredom is smashed by a strange and beautiful girl. Haruhi Suzumiya isn't interested in anyone other than "aliens, time travelers, sliders, or espers." As "ordinary humans" don't interest her, Haruhi forms a school club, the S.O.S. Brigade, with a mission to find the extraordinary, conscripting Kyon and three other club members. But Kyon discovers that, unbeknownst to Haruhi, the S.O.S. Brigade is peopled with just the aliens, time travelers and espers it seeks. Kyon's narration is beautifully physical, effectively evoking a manga aesthetic of robot fights and giant monsters. The playfulness and visual joy of the genre, however, are accompanied by slapstick, dubious-consent sexuality. Manga and anime fans will find it familiar enough, but readers unfamiliar with the genre will be less comfortable with scenes-all played for laughs-of girls unwillingly dressed in sexy outfits and groped. (Science fiction. 14-16)

Kirkus Reviews