Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch

The anime is like mainlining D&D.

Karla, the Grey Witch, 30 years later, is still one of the most legendary anime characters of all time.

We'll see how the novel does.

Update:

The Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch

I just wanted to shout, how old school D&D. Man this is RPG come to life - which is exactly right. That's were ROLW was first born and developed, in the mid 80ies, around the gaming tables of RPG players.

A Hero, A Priest, A Mage, A Dwarf, An Elf, and a Thief. And, of course, the legendary Karla, the Grey Witch of Lodoss.

It's had not to gush. It's like this is so foundational. It's a perfect reflection of that section of the fantasy book shelves at that time. And now, 30 years on, there is a sense of nostalgia about the whole thing as well.

I'm sure to an audience long vested in the tropes of Fantasy, Lodoss War is simple. A group of heroes going out into the chaotic island as a war starts, getting embroiled in various adventures that ends up putting them smack dab in the middle of things. But that's part of it's charm. The simplicity of it, makes it foundational to the whole genre.

And behind it all lurks Karla, the Grey witch. She, as the prime mover behind the scenes of Lodoss, still shines brightly. Karla is the ultimate reflection of conscious control over the seemingly chaotic happenings in life. Whether you talk of Bilderburgers or the Illuminati, Karla is the fictional equivalent to the idea of shadowy groups controlling things from behind the curtains of the world. She can even be analogized to the idea of Gods Plan some religions hold. That it all makes sense; we simply don't know the overarching plan. But Karla does. She knows. It's her plan after all; Lodoss is her home. She will protect it in her own way, long after her mortal body has crumbled to dust. Ah, the rules of Magical Fantasy.

And I love the fact that with this book, which does play a pivotal role in the evolution of the light novel, manga and anime industry in Japan, has been graced with an upgraded release in English. Not the normal trade paperback for this one: hardback, gold printing, sturdy and well made. It's something to give as a gift to young readers. Something for them to devour repeatedly and treasure for years. Something that they might look back upon in later life with that sweet sense of nostalgia. Adventures, Budding Romance, the Horrors of War, Questing to find ones place, the Bitterness of losing time, and the hand of the Witch behind it all.

It's a must read.