Anyway, I love the FMP anime. So I got all the available, translated, Light Novels that tell the story after the anime. I've read "End of Day by Days" (which is basically FMP The Second Raid with a few alterations), "A Very Dancing Merry Christmas" (which wasn't so merry and the only thing dancing were bullets
), "Continuing on my own" (which was hardcore, I'll talk about it in a second) and finished the last chapter of "Burning One Man Force" just yesterday (and it blew my mind basically).So, Fumoffu aside, the other 2 anime seasons were pretty lighthearted too. When there was action it was kind-of serious, as serious as the A-Team was I'd say. The school stories were always on the comedic side though. And it was good, it fitted, it was the charme of the series.
But the Second Raid already was much darker in tone. Grittier. More realistic one might say. And the books only continued on from there...
-- major spoilers from here on, so if you open those spoiler tags, you have been warned
--"Continuing on my own" started it all.
[spoiler]Sousuke and Kaname have to get away from school because it is to dangerous. When Amalgam strikes they are chased thoughout the whole Tokyo city. At the same time Amalgam uses all their force to strike down Mithril. The mithril land bases are bombarded at the same time, their communication jammed, and the base where the Tuatha de Danaan is refilling is carped bombed and attacked by land forces and 3 (!) Behemoths. Lots of people die, Kurz and Mao are heavily wounded, the Fate of Kalinin is unknown (although he once met Tessas Brother some time ago, why it unknown as of yet...).
Sousuke uses all his wit and might to somehow save Kaname and all the other school hostages. While he manages to save the hostages, he loses a fight against Leonards Armslave. The arbalest is torn to pieces. Only seconds before he is stomped to death, Kaname agrees to come with Leonard and Amalgam if they spare Sousukes life.
The book ends with Mithril destroyed, only the Tuatha de Danaan could escape with a bare minimum of people. Sousuke left the Arbalest behind and gone hiding. The whereabouts of Kaname and Kalinin are not known.[/spoiler]
"Burning One Man Force" was mindboggingly awesome:
[spoiler]This book is all Sousuke. All revenge. All Plot. And all Feelings. He comes to Namsak (China) in search of clues for Amalgam and therefore Kaname in an Armslave arena. He comes to like the teamowner of his armslave team (Nami, who closely resembles Kaname in spirit) and comes to like the life he lives there. But things soon change. Amalgam is there.
Nami is shot dead before his eyes by the same person (Kurama) that took Kaname away (well tried to before Leonard came to his aid). A huge battle. In the end Sousuke manages to get a few locations where Kaname might be out of Kurama before both of them collapse to the ground.[/spoiler]
Now here starts the awesome last part of the book, which was (while extremly rough translated) still awesome writing. I could feel, I could be Sousuke while I read this... (paraphrased
)[spoiler]Sousuke lies on the floor in his own blood. His left shoulder dislocated, his left arm broken multiple times. In his stomach here is a hole from rifle rounds. His feet took several shots too. All matter of explosives have come by. He is a wreck.
He awaits his death. Deliriously he mutters the 3 locations where Kaname might be. Someone has to hear it. Someone has to fight his fight. Who? Why?
The last thing on his mind is the girl (Kaname). Her smile. Her anger. Her compassion. Only being besides her now would be enough. He wants to meet her again.
Now what follows is really neat - a description of the delirum/dream Sousuke has of Kaname. Slowly but steadly the point of view shifts from Sousuke over to Kaname. And then she awakes.
Kaname is somewhere in an Amalgam facility, working for them! She appears brainwashed and doesn't know what that dream was about and who that person was.[/spoiler]
After that the book ends. I haven't read the 2 chapters that are already translated of the next book, "Come make my day" but from what I heard it will be a while until we see Sousuke and Kaname again. *thrill*
I really love all the FMP Anime, but the light novels are on a completely other level. The second raid already showed that Sousuke changed, and is still changing. And in the books he really transforms into a full blown character - whereas before he was basically a soldier following orders, not questioning anything.
So, just wanted to write about those things, maybe someone else read the novels too. If not, and you want to, I can upload the pdfs I have somewhere.
