Category: Books & Writing

VIZ Media Announces the Release of “D.Gray-man Illustrations: Noche”

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, will delight manga (graphic novel) art fans with the release of D.Gray-man Illustrations: Noche on December 6th. The new art book arrives just in time for the holidays and will carry an MSRP of $21.99 U.S. / $25.99 CAN.

Enter the lavish fictional 19th century world of D.Gray-man in this new collection featuring nearly 100 pages of full-color character art, magazine covers, and other original compositions by series creator Katsura Hoshino. Also featured are insightful Q&A’s between Hoshino and two manga creators that inspire her: Takeshi Obata, the artist behind Hikaru no Go, Bakuman, and the smash hit Death Note (all published in North America by VIZ Media); and Osamu Akimoto, whose manga series, Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen Mae Hashutsujo, has been serialized in the best-selling boy’s manga magazine in the world, Weekly Shonen Jump, for 35 years and remains the magazine’s longest-running manga series. D.Gray-man Illustrations: Noche also includes an exclusive, double-sided full-color poster.

Set in a fictional version of 19th century England, D.Gray-man (published by VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump Advanced imprint; rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) is the story of Allen Walker, a 15-year-old boy who roams the earth in search of Innocence. Washed away to unknown parts of the world after The Great Flood, Innocence is the mysterious substance used to create weapons that obliterate demons known as akuma.

“D.Gray-man Illustrations: Noche is an ideal collection of the work of Katsura Hoshino, and shows off many of her most memorable characters from the hit series,” says Andy Nakatani, Editorial Director. “Fans can savor lush renderings of Allen Walker, Lenalee Lee, and the evil Millennium Earl and learn more about Hoshino’s background, influences and the evolution of D.Gray-man in an enlightening interview conducted by two of the biggest names in the manga world! This new release also makes a thoughtful gift for that special fan this holiday season.”

Born in 1980 in Japan’s Shiga Prefecture, Katsura Hoshino’s hit manga series D.Gray-man has been serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 2004. Her first series, Continue, debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2003.

For more information on D.Gray-man, or other Shonen Jump titles from VIZ Media, please visit ShonenJump.viz.com.

Alivan’s Cyber Monday Sale

from Alivan’s:

CYBER MONDAY is here so enjoy completely FREE shipping on any order, any size. Plus a very cool, FREE house scarf bookmark… read below for details.

Free Shipping and a FREE House Scarf bookmark ($4.99 value) with EVERY order over $20 (Monday and Tuesday only… good thru 11/29). YOU MUST visit alivans.com and use coupon code FREEBOOKMARK to get yours. If you don’t use the coupon code we cannot include your free gift!

Do something magical for Cyber Monday! Be sure and forward this email to all of your friends who may not have heard about Alivan’s… a free gift is a great way for them to find out about us.

Magically,
Finneas Alivan

P.S. Brand new house patches! Be sure and check out our embroidered house patches and pins here – they are available in all four houses and Hogwarts as well… and they look great on all sorts of Halloween costumes!

“Dragonriders of Pern” Author Anne McCaffrey Dies

Anne McCaffrey

News is just beginning to get out that one of my favorite authors, Anne McCaffrey has died. It is my personal belief that she played a massive role in creating the current fascination with, as well as the mythology for, dragons in contemporary literature. Even if you have never read her work, you have felt the impact of it, however unknowing.

I can remember reading the Dragonriders of Pern series when I was a child. Her writing played a large part in my falling in love with science fiction and fantasy novels. Because of authors like her and Piers Anthony, when other little girls were reading Sweet Valley High and Nancy Drew, I was poring over my dad’s collection of thousands of science fiction and fantasy novels, discovering classic authors like Edgar Rice Burroughs and H. Rider Haggard and contemporary authors such as Arthur C. Clark and L. Sprague DeCamp.

The literary world has suffered a great loss, but her influence will continue to live on for generations.

from Alpha Airlock:

The literary world has lost one of its greats. Anne McCaffrey, the author of nearly 100 science-fiction and fantasy books, died Nov. 21. She was 85.

Random House, her longtime publisher, confirmed her death to Media Bistro on Tuesday.

Reports are that McCaffrey suffered a stroke, and died peacefully in Ireland, which has been her home since 1970.

Born April 1, 1926 in Massachusetts, and began her writing career with the publishing of Restoree by Ballantine Books in 1967. However, she is best known for her Dragonriders of Pern series, which now counts 22 novels and several short stories. Some included her son Todd McCaffrey as an author as well.

Check out the full article published by Alpha Airlock.

New Novel from VIZ Media’s Haikasoru Imprint Called the Greatest Japanese Science Fiction Novel of All Time

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced the availability of the acclaimed novel, Ten Billion Days and One Hundred Billion Nights, by author Ryu Mitsuse. The hardcover book is published by the company’s Haikasoru imprint and carries an MSRP of $25.99 U.S. / $29.99 CAN. The eBook edition is also available on the Amazon Kindle, the Nook, and Apple’s iBooks Store for $9.99.

Haikasoru publishes some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy stories for English-speaking audiences, and is the first imprint based in the U.S. dedicated to Japanese science fiction and fantasy in translation.

In Ten Billion Days and One Hundred Billion Nights, the philosopher Plato, in his exploration of the ruins of the fabled city of Atlantis, travels through time and space to determine the secret history of the human race, encountering Christ, the Buddha, and other iconic religious figures on the way. This celebrated novel of philosophy and the future has been named the greatest Japanese science fiction novel of all time.

“Ten Billion Days and One Hundred Billion Nights won the title of the greatest Japanese science fiction title ever written in a 2006 poll by Science Fiction magazine,” says Nick Mamatas, Haikasoru’s Editor. “The novel, which comes with a striking glow-in-the-dark dust jacket, delivers a cosmic adventure in the style of Arthur C. Clarke, covering the evolution of humanity, the lives of some of history’s most iconic religious figures, a future techno-dystopia, and the very death of the universe itself. Originally published in 1967, author Ryu Mitsuse revised the novel in later years and republished it in 1973. We’re truly honored to finally release this masterpiece to North American readers.”

Born in Tokyo in 1928, Ryu Mitsuse graduated from Tokyo University of Education with a degree in the sciences, after which he took up the study of philosophy. He debuted with “Sunny Sea 1979” in 1962, and his work – which often combines Eastern philosophy and hard science fiction – includes Tasogare ni kaeru (Returns in the Twilight) and Ushinawareta toshi no kiroku (The Chronicle of a Lost City). Mitsuse made SF history when his short story “The Sunset, 2217 A.D.” was translated into English for inclusion in Best Science Fiction for 1972. With artist Keiko Takemiya, he created the manga Andromeda Stories. Ryu Mitsuse died in 1999.

For more information on Ten Billion Days and One Hundred Billion Nights and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit haikasoru.com.

VIZ Media Announces the Release of “Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black”

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced the release of the latest Bleach feature film – Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black. The movie is available on DVD and Blu-ray, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and carries an MSRP of $19.98 for DVD (U.S. / CAN) and $24.98 for Blu-ray (U.S / CAN). Bleach the Movie: Fade to Black offers both English and Japanese dialogue options as well as bonus features including production art and the original theatrical trailers.

The film is also available for Download-to-Own (DTO) for only $9.99 and for Download-to-Rent (DTR) for only $4.99 from digital partners including on iTunes (iTunes.com), Amazon Instant Video, and ZuneR on Xbox LiveR. DTO and DTR availability for PlaystationRNetwork is forthcoming.

In this newest supernatural adventure, a strange disturbance in the World of the Living sends Ichigo and Kon to the Soul Society, where the Seireitei has been devastated by an explosion of reishi and Rukia is missing. Stranger still, none of the Soul Reapers remember Ichigo, and they think he’s the one responsible for the destruction. Now on the run, Ichigo is forced into a lonely battle in order to find Rukia and stop the real culprits!

The Bleach animated film and TV series are based on a smash hit manga (graphic novel) series created by Tite Kubo, and follows the adventures of Ichigo, a 15-year old student with the ability to see ghosts. When his family is attacked by a Hollow – a malevolent lost soul – Ichigo encounters Rukia, a Soul Reaper, and inadvertently absorbs her powers. Now, he’s dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping tortured souls find peace.

Bleach is a tremendously successful multimedia property internationally. The manga has been licensed to more than a dozen countries and has sold over 50 million copies in Japan alone. In North America, the manga has been a sales hit and the popular animated series (both rated ‘T’ for Teens) is viewed weekly by millions in the United States and Canada. This success has further spawned an array of related video games, apparel, action figures, trading cards and other merchandise.

For more information on Bleach please visit bleach.viz.com.

VIZ Manga Announces “Bleach” Manga Digital ‘Jump Ahead’ to Latest Story Arc

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media expands its November digital manga update even more with the latest announcement of a Bleach ‘Jump Ahead’ that will deliver 3 new volumes of the hit supernatural action saga throughout the month to users on VIZManga.com and for digital download on the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. This is part of a Shonen Jump Digital Warp, a speed-up of selected titles to bring U.S. readers up-to-date with Japanese releases and prepare for the launch of VIZ Media’s Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha on January 30, 2012. The new outlet will be North America’s only near-simultaneous digital manga magazine.

Bleach volumes available include (print editions forthcoming):

Bleach, Vol. 49 – available now!
Bleach, Vol. 50 – available November 21st
Bleach, Vol. 51 – available November 28th

Bleach Volume 49 jumps ahead to the latest story arc in Japan for the Bleach series. After the big battle, Ichigo finds himself without his Soul Reaper powers. Free from the rigors of defeating Hollows, he tries to settle back into a normal and peaceful life as a high school student. But inside Ichigo still burns with the desire to protect his friends, and when new enemies appear, Ichigo is powerless. However, he is soon approached by a mysterious man who offers to help Ichigo regain his lost powers…

The popular Bleach animated and manga series, created by Tite Kubo, follow the adventures of Ichigo, a 15-year old student with the ability to see ghosts. When his family is attacked by a Hollow – a malevolent lost soul – Ichigo encounters Rukia, a Soul Reaper, and inadvertently absorbs her powers. Now, he’s dedicating his life to protecting the innocent and helping tortured souls find peace.

Bleach is a tremendously successful multimedia property internationally. The manga has been licensed to more than a dozen countries and has sold over 50 million copies in Japan alone. In North America, the manga has been a sales hit and the popular animated series (both rated ‘T’ for Teens) is viewed weekly by millions in the United States and Canada. This success has further spawned an array of related video games, apparel, action figures, trading cards and other merchandise.

VIZ Media’s digital manga platforms allow for universal access to read manga from an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and now, VIZManga.com for desktop/laptop computers and Android-powered devices with built-in web browsers. With one account, registered users may access their purchases across even more devices than ever.

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top app for reading manga on iOS devices and features a rapidly growing library of the most popular manga series in the world, currently offering over 45 series and almost 500 volumes, with new additions and free Chapter 1 previews added weekly.

For more information on Bleach please visit Bleach.viz.com.

For more information on VIZ Media digital manga, please visit VIZManga.com or VIZ.com/apps/.

For more information on the forthcoming Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha, please visit ShonenJump.viz.com.

Alivan’s Does It Again – Quidditch World Cup Coming Back to NYC

from Alivan’s:

In this edition of The Clairvoyant: We are helping make the Quidditch World Cup possible… again… come see us in NYC for the 2011 event! Oh and save big with $2.99 shipping to help get ready.

REAL, LIVE Quidditch is coming back to New York City… the 2011 World Cup takes place the weekend of November 12th and Alivan’s is proud to be a huge part of making it happen! The Quidditch World Cup will be held on Randall’s Island in NYC this year and there will be more than 200 International teams competing and playing real Quidditch… everyone of them on Alivans’ broomsticks (Alivan’s makes the Official Broomstick of International Quidditch)! Please, please come out and join us – there will be plenty of Alivan’s giveaways all day as well. To find out more visit internationalquidditch.org.

$2.99 – 2.99 – 2.99… $2.99 Shipping is ongoing and there are no restrictions at all – every order, every size ships for just $2.99 – visit alivans.com now and start shopping.

Magically,
Finneas Alivan

P.S. We will be on hand at the IQA booth selling Alivan’s merchandise during the World Cup weekend… please stop by and say Hi!

VIZ Media Debuts Two Latest “Naruto” Volumes Ahead of Print Counterparts on VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media continues to lead the digital manga (graphic novel) revolution with a variety of new titles just announced for November that are available to read online on VIZManga.com and also for digital download on the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

Among the notable new releases will be the two latest editions of Naruto – Volumes 54 and 55 – which will be made available on VIZ Media’s digital platforms several months in advance of their print counterparts. This is part of the Shonen Jump Digital Warp, a speed-up of selection titles to bring North American readers up-to-date with Japanese releases to prepare fans for the debut of the digital Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha in January 2012.

Naruto Vol. 54 . Rated ‘T’ for Teens . Available Today!

Viaduct to Peace: Naruto and his team engage in an intense battle with the Akatsuki organization as both sides seek the power to determine the future of their land. Internecine fighting weakens the Akatsuki, but will their dark forces sideline Naruto?! Print edition debuts on January 3rd, 2012.

Naruto Vol. 55 . Rated ‘T’ for Teens . Available November 21st

The Great War Begins: Evil masterminds Kabuto and Madara instigate a skirmish with Naruto and friends on Turtle Island. The Allied Shinobi Forces prepare to attack, but are they ready for Kabuto’s horde of reanimated dead ninja?! Print edition debuts on March 6th, 2012.

November also sees the debut of two titles from the critically acclaimed Natsume Ono. Ristorante Paradiso weaves a story around the lives of the staff of a restaurant in Rome, and in the follow-up manga, Gente, continues to follow the character’s romances, heartaches, hopes and dreams.

Ristorante Paradiso . Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens . Available Now!

At the age of 21, Nicoletta travels to Rome to find her mother, Olga, who abandoned her long ago. Nicoletta finds her at Casetta dell’Orso, a charming little restaurant owned by Olga’s husband. The staff of bespectacled gentlemen welcomes Nicoletta warmly, but Olga’s reception is not so pleasant. Olga has never told her husband that she ever had children — and he must never know.

Gente Vol. 1 . Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens . Available November 14th

Buona sera! Welcome to Casetta dell’Orso, a quaint little restaurant in the heart of Rome. The food’s delicious, but the handsome staff of bespectacled gentlemen is the real draw. Follow these dashing men home and witness their romances, heartaches, hopes and dreams in this delightfully whimsical continuation of Natsume Ono’s beloved Ristorante Paradiso.

Additions to 17 popular VIZ Media series are scheduled for November, with over 30 new manga volumes scheduled to make their digital debut. Updates include the rock-and-roll romantic drama of Ai Ore and the courtly royal intrigue of The Story of Saiunkoku, as well as the supernatural adventure of Bleach, the ongoing high seas pirate fun of One Piece, and the kinetic sci-fi action depicted in new weekly chapters of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

New VIZ Media manga volumes launching include:

November 7th:

Bleach Vol. 32
Dengeki Daisy Vol. 6
Naruto Vol. 54
Neon Genesis Evangelion Chapter 14
Oishinbo Vol. 4
One Piece Vols. 54 & Vol. 55
Ouran High School Host Club Vol. 12
Ristorante Paradiso Vol. 1

November 14th:

Ai Ore Vol. 3
Black Bird Vol. 11
Bleach Vol. 33
Claymore Vol. 19
D.Gray-man Vol. 21
Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden Vol. 8
Gente Vol. 1
Kekkaishi Vol. 17
Neon Genesis Evangelion Chapter 15
One Piece Vol. 56
Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 26

November 21st:

Bleach Vol. 34
Gente Vol. 2
Naruto Vol. 55
One Piece Vol. 57
Natsume’s Book of Friends Vol. 9
Neon Genesis Evangelion Chapter 16
Saturn Apartments Vol. 4
The Story of Saiunkoku Vol. 5

November 28th:

Bleach Vol. 35
Gente Vol. 3 – Final Volume!
InuYasha VIZ Big Vol. 6 – Exclusive to the VIZ Manga App for iPad!
Kekkaishi Vol. 18
Neon Genesis Evangelion Chapter 17
One Piece Vol. 58
Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 27

VIZ Media’s digital manga platform allows for universal access for fans for reading manga from their iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and now, VIZManga.com for desktop/laptop computers and Android-powered devices with built-in web browsers. With one account, registered users are able to view their purchases across even more devices than ever.

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top app for reading manga on iOS devices and features a rapidly growing library of the most popular manga series in the world, currently offering over 45 series and nearly 500 volumes, with new additions and free Chapter 1 previews added weekly.

For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or VIZ.com/apps.

ThinkGeek Bites Into Zombie Bon Bons

from ThinkGeek:

Greetings, walking dead!

How’s your sugar coma coming along? We hope you’ve recovered from Halloween candy and cosplay because it’s time to churn through 50,000 words.

Yes, it’s time to salute the NaNoWriMo writing geeks burning both ends of the candle in November! You can always tell who’s a Wrimoer at ThinkGeek HQ by how they trail off mid-sentence like they’re about to pass out from exhaustion — but they run off to their computers to bang out another inspired, caffeine-induced chapter. Happy wordsmithing!

Chocolate Zombie Head Bon Bons
An undead delight for survivors only! Chocolate Zombie Head Bon Bons arrive in a stylish candy box, suitable for gifting to your favorite guy or ghoul. Each box contains six bon bons in rich dark chocolate. Bite into one and taste the sweet cherry cordial-style brains, but be careful! Eating brains is addicting and you may find yourself at the business end of a shotgun. Munch responsibly.

$1,000 ThinkGeek Shopping Spree – Have a backup plan
That most magical time of year is upon us again! You’ve made a list, doubled its value twice, and you’re pretty sure you’ve been more naughty than nice. Can you really trust friends and family to come through on that lightsaber or laser keyboard you’ve got on your wishlist? Or you could be a dear and share the spoils. Either way, increase your odds of holiday awesomefication by entering our $1,000 Shopping Spree!

Take $10 Off – Step away from the candy
Early November is all about eating Halloween candy. Your kid’s candy, leftover candy, 50% off candy. Om nom nom! Either way, your “nutrition” for the next week is all set, right? Perhaps you should busy your fingers with a new toy or gadget from ThinkGeek instead. Use the code C6H12O6 for $5 off $25+ orders or $10 off $50+ orders, good through 11:59pm ET 11/4/11. And no, the subscript isn’t necessary to get the savings.

Find more What’s New items at ThinkGeek!

VIZ Media Releases Collector’s Edition of Apocalyptic Manga Series, “X”

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced the upcoming release of a deluxe collector’s edition for X, the apocalyptic action epic from the internationally renowned manga (graphic novel) creative team of CLAMP. X 3-in-1 Edition, Volume 1, debuts on November 8th, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN.

Each of VIZ Media’s X releases bundles three complete manga volumes and features 24 pages of gorgeous, full-color illustrations never before published outside Japan! The pages are also printed in their original right-to-left reading order and presented in the highest quality.

As X (previously released in the United States as X/1999) opens, Kamui Shiro is a young man followed by mystery. He was taken from Tokyo by his mother while still a child and had to leave behind his dearest friends, including the gentle Kotori and her brother Fuma, following a terrible incident that claimed their mother’s life. Returning to Tokyo following his mother’s death, Kamui is a changed young man – moody and distant to his old friends, yet determined to protect them from the dark forces that swirl around him. It turns out that he is the nexus of a great cataclysm to come, and the inheritor to a strange destiny that could decide the fate of the entire world.

“X is the newest series to join our library of deluxe collector’s edition manga titles, and its gripping story will resonate with a wide array of readers,” says Andy Nakatani, Editorial Director. “The manga creators of CLAMP forged new ground by blending the intricate artwork characteristic of the shojo, or girls, manga genre with the graphic action more often found in ‘seinen,’ or manga aimed at older male readers. This edition is a great way for fans to revisit the series in a new way, and is also an entry point for new readers to discover the riveting and sometimes controversial manga works created by CLAMP!”

CLAMP is an artistic team composed of four women – Satsuki Igarashi, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi, and Nanase Ohkawa – whose works are loved my millions of fans worldwide. They debuted with the manga series RG Veda in 1989 and went on to create such internationally bestselling series as X/1999, Magic Knight Rayearth, Cardcaptor Sakura, Angelic Layer, Chobits, xxxHolic and Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, all of which have been adapted into popular TV anime series. In addition to manga, CLAMP also produces illustrations, book designs, screenplays, and essays.

For more information on X and other VIZ Media manga titles, please visit viz.com/manga.

VIZ Media Announces “The Legend of Zelda” Manga Box Set

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, will delight gamers and manga (graphic novel) fans nationwide with the release of The Legend of Zelda Manga Box Set, just in time to celebrate the series’ 25th Anniversary. The set, available in stores now, is rated ‘A’ for All Ages, includes all 10 volumes of the fantasy action adventure series as well as a full color poster, and carries an MSRP of $69.99 U.S. / $80.99 CAN.

The Legend of Zelda celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year, and is the best selling role-playing, puzzle-solving, action title for Nintendo video game platforms. More information on the history of The Legend of Zelda and its anniversary is available at: zelda.com/25th.

The Legend of Zelda manga series takes place in the mystical land of Hyrule, where three spiritual stones hold the key to the Triforce. Whoever holds them will control the world. A boy named Link sets out on a quest to deliver the Emerald, the spiritual stone of the forest, to Zelda, Princess of the land of Hyrule. The journey will be long and perilous, and Link will need all his skill and courage to defeat evil. The battle for Hyrule and the Sacred Realm has begun!

“The Legend of Zelda Manga Box Set bundles Link’s entire magical quest into a single collection that is a must-read for any true fan of the classic video game,” says Beth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director, Children’s Publishing. “The series wonderfully transforms the game’s fast-paced action into a linear storyline, and has been a consistent bestseller since VIZ Media published the first volume in 2008. This new box set is an eye-catching way to revisit the entire series and commemorate the 25th Anniversary of this groundbreaking game title.”

The Legend of Zelda manga series was created by Akira Himekawa, which is the pen name of two women known simply as A. Honda and S. Nagano. The pair have created nine manga adventures featuring Link and the popular video game world of The Legend of Zelda, including Ocarina of Time, Oracle of Seasons and Four Swords. Their most recent work, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, was serialized in Japan in the kid’s magazine Shogaku Rokunensei, published by Shogakukan.

For more information on the The Legend of Zelda manga series, please visit: viz.com/the-legend-of-zelda.

J!NX: Get $10 Off Your Next Order

from J!NX:

Get $10 off when you spend $35 or more
Use Promotion Code: ARKHAM
This offer expires Monday, October 31, 2011 at 11:59PM PDT, so don’t wait!
*can’t be combined with any other offers, sale prices, or discounts

Fresh Products:
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Steampunk Zombie Women’s Tee
Z Day Men’s Tee
Zombie Love Women’s Tee
In His House Men’s Tee
Buffy Staked Edward Women’s Tee