The Mystic Archives of Dantalian | |
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Cover of the first volume | |
Written by |
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Illustrated by |
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Original run |
Serialized: |
Genre |
Mystery, Fantasy, Gothic fiction, Magic, Adventure, Supernatural |
Volumes |
8 |
Chapters |
35 (+ 15 special chapters) |
- For the first adaptation, see Manga.
- For the second adaptation, see Anime.
- For the titular library of the franchise, where Phantom Books are sealed, see Dantalian's Bookshelf.
The Mystic Archives of Dantalian (ダンタリアンの書架 Dantalian no Shoka) or Bibliotheca Mystica de Dantalian is a light novel written by Gakuto Mikumo and illustrated by G-Yuusuke with 8 volumes and 35 story arcs, excluding special chapters.
It was serialized by Kadokawa Shoten from April 2008 to April 2011 in The Sneaker (ザ・スニーカー Za Sunīkā), a Japanese light novel magazine. The complete volumes were released by the same company between November 2008 and July 2011.
The light novel was adapted into manga and anime. It also spawned a spin-off manga and a yonkama manga. A 9th volume was planned as a special issue in January 2012, but it was cancelled, as announced in September 2011. It would be released as a regular edition and as a limited edition which included the OVA.[1][2]
Initially, the author planned to write only twelve stories, one per month during one year, but he got carried away. Another plan was to release only three volumes. Due to the success of his work, he changed his mind and decided to write a total of seven volumes. However, his editorial department needed more stories for the last issue of The Sneaker, so he also wrote the chapters included in volume 8. Later, they asked for a new extension of the series, but the author told them that he couldn't handle it. Kadokawa Shoten ultimately accepted the author's decision and suspended the series. There are no plans about publishing new chapters.[3][4]
Summary[]
Hugh Anthony Disward inherited the old mansion of his late grandfather with one condition: he must take over the Dantalian's Bookshelf, a depository of forbidden knowledge sealed inside an apparently young girl called Dalian. Hugh must act as her key-keeper and solve the cases involving Phantom Books, artifacts that provide its readers with the power of demons.
Overview[]
In The Mystic Archives of Dantalian universe, there are books containing forbidden knowledge. These Phantom Books can bless its users, but also curse the unworthy readers and corrupt their souls. There's also depositories of Phantom Books sealed inside women known as Biblioprincesses. The guardians of these Biblioprincesses have the keys which grant access to these libraries, so these men are referred as "key-keepers".
The light novel shows moments of mystery and suspense, with occasional comical situations caused by the exchange between the dual protagonists. According to the author, it's a dark fantasy with occasional violent endings. In general, the stories can be read in any order. Elements of fantasy happen especially when the characters interact with the Phantom Books. However, the world of The Mystic Archives of Dantalian also has fantastic creatures, magicians, witches and other magical features unrelated to Phantom Books. Most of the stories take place in England, right after World War I, although the main characters Dalian and Hugh also visit Iceland, Africa and other locations. The setting is heavily inspired by British society and history, but Japanese culture is noticeable nonetheless. Although the work is written in Japanese, the characters speak in English. The chapters present references to authors, history, fairy tales, religion, scientists and others.
Usually, there is at least one illustration per chapter. The chapters are divided into parts. The introductory part often shows the point of view of the culprit or the victim. The other parts usually show the point of view of Dalian and Hugh. The chapters are labelled with an episode number, indicating its position in the series chronology. Unnumbered short-stories are referred as "fragments". Extra episodes, which the author refers as "gaiden", are stories centered around other Biblioprincesses and key-keepers other than Dalian and Hugh. Each volume has 280 pages, on average. The last pages of every volume have the author's afterword. The volumes have revised and improved chapters, and original stories never released in The Sneaker magazine.
Volumes[]
Volume 1 | Release date: November 1, 2008 | ||
Cover | Chapters | ||
Chapter 1 | Gastronomy Worship | 美食礼賛 | |
Chapter 2 | Pedigree | 血統書 | |
Chapter 3 | Book of Wisdom | 叡智の書 | |
Special Chapter 1 | The Dictator's Book | 独裁者の書 | |
Chapter 4 | Turn-Up Book | 仕掛け絵本 | |
Special Chapter 2 | Book of Lifetime | 天寿の書 | |
Chapter 5 | Libricide | 焚書官 |
Volume 2 | Release date: January 1, 2009 | ||
Cover | Chapters | ||
Chapter 1 | The Briar Princess | 茨姫 | |
Chapter 2 | Queen of the Night | 月下美人 | |
Special Chapter 1 | The Lovers | 恋人たち | |
Chapter 3 | Book of Equivalence | 等価の書 | |
Chapter 4 | Book of Fetus | 胎児の書 | |
Special Chapter 2 | Winning Strategy | 必勝法 | |
Chapter 5 | The Mystic Archives of Rasiel | ラジエルの書架 |
Volume 3 | Release date: May 1, 2009 | ||
Cover | Chapters | ||
Chapter 1 | Book of Soul Exchange | 換魂の書 | |
Chapter 2 | Book of Oblivion | 忘却の書 | |
Chapter 3 | Book of Twilight | 黄昏の書 | |
Special Chapter 1 | Book of Sleep | 眠りの書 | |
Chapter 4 | The Magician's Daughter | 魔術師の娘 | |
Special Chapter 2 | The Beautiful Woman's World | 美女の世界 | |
Chapter 5 | Book of Atonement | 償いの書 |
Volume 4 | Release date: January 1, 2010 | ||
Cover | Chapters | ||
Chapter 1 | Book of Gap | 間隙の書 | |
Chapter 2 | Phantom Score | 幻曲 | |
Chapter 3 | Book of Relationship | 連理の書 | |
Special Chapter 1 | Book of Hypnosis | 催眠の書 | |
Chapter 4 | The Perfumer | 調香師 | |
Special Chapter 2 | The House-Elf's Rough Time | 屋敷妖精の受難 | |
Chapter 5 | Phantom Book Thief | 幻書泥棒 |
Volume 5 | Release date: May 1, 2010 | ||
Cover | Chapters | ||
Chapter 1 | Timetable | 時刻表 | |
Special Chapter 1 | Waterside Flower | 水辺の花 | |
Chapter 2 | The Cat and the Biblioprincess | 猫と読姫 | |
Special Chapter 2 | Book of Fools | 愚者の書 | |
Chapter 3 | The Logbook | 航海日誌 | |
Special Chapter 3 | The Observer | 観測者 | |
Chapter 4 | Book of Connection | つながりの書 |
Volume 6 | Release date: December 1, 2010 | ||
Cover | Chapters | ||
Chapter 1 | The Template Book | 雛形の書 | |
Special Chapter 1 | The Working Man | 働く男 | |
Chapter 2 | Book of Coffin | 柩の書 | |
Special Chapter 2 | The Real Me | 本当の私 | |
Chapter 3 | Book of Humanization | 人化の書 | |
Chapter 4 | Paradise | 楽園 |
Volume 7 | Release date: April 1, 2011 | ||
Cover | Chapters | ||
Chapter 1 | Disaster and Temptation | 災厄と誘惑 | |
Special Chapter 1 | Catalogue | 型録 | |
Chapter 2 | Book of Wisdom II | 叡智の書II | |
Chapter 3 | The Girls' Long Night | 少女たちの長い夜 | |
Special Chapter 2 | Book of Imitation | 模倣の書 | |
Chapter 4 | The Key-Keeper | 鍵守 |
Volume 8 | Release date: July 1, 2011 | ||
Cover | Chapters | ||
Chapter 1 | Phantom Book of the King | 王の幻書 | |
Chapter 2 | The Last Book | 最後の書 | |
Chapter 3 | Vignette of Eternal Twilight | 永き黄昏のヴィネット |
Featured covers[]
During its publication, The Mystic Archives of Dantalian was featured three times in the cover of The Sneaker magazine, always with an illustration of Dalian. The first time occurred in 2009, during the chapters corresponding to volume 4. After that, the series was featured in the August 2010 issue cover, with chapters that later would be part of volume 6. This time, Flamberge and Rasiel were also shown, next to Dalian. The Black Biblioprincess appeared in the cover of the second to last issue of The Sneaker, before the magazine ceased publication in April 2011. The last chapter of volume 7 was released on that occasion.
Trivia[]
- The moon is often mentioned in the series, including the blood moon. The reddish color of the moon is seen during a lunar eclipse. Several cultures have myths related to lunar eclipses or allude to the lunar eclipse as being a good or bad omen.[5]
- Illusion is a common element in the series. Examples are the town maintained by Mabel Nash, the New York image shown by the Fata Morgana, the fake landscapes created by Deep Green Book, the disguises of Mithril, etc.
- Dolls are also a common theme. The Biblioprincesses are compared to dolls, Mabel Nash controls wooden dolls, Christabel Sistine is an automaton, Estella Lilburn is protected by a golem, etc.
- The cover of volume 1 shows Dalian holding the libretto by German writer Friedrich Kind for the Der Freischütz, an opera by German composer Carl Maria von Weber, premiered in 1821.[4][6]
- The books seen on the cover of volume 4 are titles of tragedies and comedies by English poet William Shakespeare such as The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, The Taming of the Shrew, Titus Andronicus, etc.[4]
- To promote the anime, volumes 1 to 7 of the light novel were released with new covers depicting the character designs from the adaptation.[7]
- The Mystic Archives of Dantalian is compared with the Gosick series, also published by Kadokawa Shoten. Both are set in Europe after World War I and have dual protagonists, including a rude girl with a doll-like appearance that spend her days reading difficult books and that eventually shows a warmer side.
- An artbook by illustrator CHANxCO was published in May 2018. It includes illustrations of popular characters, including those from The Mystic Archives of Dantalian.[8]
- As part of the afterword, the author always affirms that the work is a fiction with nothing to do with real individuals, organization and historical facts.[4]
- In the winter of 2010-2011, a lottery was held for the readers who bought the first volume of Dalian Days, the first volume of the manga by Chako Abeno or the volumes 1 to 5 of the light novel. The prizes included illustrations by G-Yuusuke.[9]
- According to the author, the light novel was released in at least eight countries. He received the Vietnamese version in September 2020.[10]
- The author refers to Dantalian no Shoka as "DS".[11]
- The author continued to work on Asura Cryin' while writing The Mystic Archives of Dantalian. His subsequent work is Strike the Blood.[12]
- G-Yuusuke is also the illustrator of the Shinza Bansho series.[13]
- In the afterword of the last volume of Asura Cryin', the author mentions his work in The Mystic Archives of Dantalian, although the novels are from different publishers.[14]
- In February and June, 2012, modern art museum parabolica-bis in Tokyo, Japan presented the music theatre Labyrinthine cage, composed and conducted by Ken Namba. The performance was based on Dantalian no Shoka and included vocals and players of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, sheng and serpent. In this tribute, performers used costumes provided by Japanese Lolita fashion boutique chain Baby, the Stars Shine Bright, the same company who contributed with the anime costume designs.[15][16]
See also[]
- The Mystic Archives of Dantalian (anime)
- The Mystic Archives of Dantalian (manga)
- Phantom Books
- Dantalian's Bookshelf
- Dalian
- Hugh Anthony Disward
References[]
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Franchise | ||||||||
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Characters | ||||||||||||||
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Phantom Books | |||
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Phantom Book Eggs | |||
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