A Drunken Dream & Other Stories

Let me start off by saying that if you haven't picked up a Hagio Moto manga yet, this one is a GREAT one to start.Unfortunately, Moto Hagio has not had much exposure to America - which is really surprising because she is one of the most thought-provoking mangakas that I know.However, Hagio is one of the most well known authors of all time in Japan because she, and a few other brilliant artists, revolutionized the shoujo (girl's comics) genre. If that doesn't say anything, I don't know what does.So enough about how famous the author is - how is "A Drunken Dream?"I picked up the book knowing that it was a compilation of short stories (usually, short stories aren't my taste).Some of short stories in this book are truly wonderful and I can go back just to reread them.I would be lying if I said that I LOVED each and every one of them but I CAN say that they each gave me a lasting, if not a great, impression.Hagio's themes are deep, tragic, and sometimes very dark; it plays our mind and makes us think.Besides the actual content of the book, I'd like to add that this is one beautiful hardcover book to add to anyone's collection. Fantagraphics really went all out for this one and I can say that the quality is impeccable.The translation is very smooth and doesn't take away from the story either.There is even bonus content included; an interview with THE Hagio Moto herself!So if you care more for the plot of the stories and the quality of the book rather than the art style (personally, I think it's very beautiful and detailed), I would truly recommend purchasing a copy.

Not many Americans are aware of the great Mangaka Moto Hagio, let alone know her contributions to manga! If it weren't for her pioneering, women may not have as big a role in the manga world, "taboo" subjects such as homosexuality, abuse, and sex may not have been touched in manga and shojo manga may have continued to shield their readers from real-world issues. (If you'd like to read one of the worlds first and most influential yaoi's, you MUST read Moto Hagio's "The Heart of Thomas)As a comic appreciator, a comic addict, or a story lover, you need to own this beautiful, hard-cover book! This book actually showcases her early publications in the order in which they were published and you can actually see her development over the years and see how she challenged the norms and standards with each gripping, heart breaking, and suspenseful story!! This book also features a brief history about Moto Hagio.

I was already familiar with Moto Hagio's manga, so when I learned about this book being published I ordered it right away. If you are interested in shoujo or josei manga or in the subjects they approach, -love, loss, death, transformation, forgiveness, sexual identity, etc- this would be a wonderful way to approach one of its most beloved authors. Gorgeous book, lovingly put together, just about the right treatment for the work inside. Recommended!

One of the most beautiful graphic story collections of all time.

I'm glad that Moto's manga has english edition. I love her manga since I was 13! The quality of this book is great too! Hard cover and good quality paper...it's a great collection!

Not exactly the "Shojo" I'm used to. Kind of like separate episodes of "The Twilight Zone" or "Outer Limits" or something. Well-drawn and ultimately enjoyable.

I was first introduced to Moto Hagio's works last year, at the age of 15, by picking up theentire out-of-print Viz Comics run of They Were Eleven in my local comic shop. Within thefirst few pages, I was ensnared by the manga master's artistic prowess, as well as her storytellingability. After that chance run-in with the artist, I longed for more of her work, which was awish sadly unfulfilled. But leave it to Fantagraphics, publishers of the fantastic Complete Peanutsseries, among others, to pick up a collection of Miss Hagio's phenomenal short manga and compilethem into what could very well be in the top 5 manga released this year.I suppose it's obvious by now, but I loved this collection of simultaniously heart-wrenching andheartwarming tales. The titular story is very interesting, but in my opinion, the rest of thestories this collection is comprised are really what makes this book shine. Choice cuts includethe beautifully simplistic tale of a mother's loss in "The Willow Tree", a confusing yet distressingstory of the consequences of being "different" in "Girl on Porch With Puppy", and a story thatplays out like "Honey and Clover" written by Edgar Allen Poe in "Marie, Ten Years Later."Every story in this collection is wonderful, though, and each of them will stick with you fordays, if not weeks, after reading them. As a writer, I felt inspired to hit my word processorafter seeing the beautiful potential such seemingly simple stories can have.But, this being a manga, it wouldn't be the same without the absolutely gorgeous art withinthe two covers of this hardback (which are both stunning as well.) Hagio's art is like a moreteary-eyed version of Osamu Tezuka's simplistic, cartoon-y designs, and that lends itself tothe stories more splendidly than one could imagine. There are no overly-complicated lines toexamine while reading the story, nor do there need to be; Hagio is one of the greatest livingcomic artists, and even the smallest objects on the page (a cup, for example) ooze flawed perfectionand damaged beauty. This is a great example of how an manga-ka's art can match the tone of theplot PERFECTLY.There are no boundaries to who will enjoy this book. Art lovers, otaku, comic aficionado... allwill love this collection. Add in an in-depth interview with Moto Hagio herself, and this bookbecomes a steal at a mere 25 dollars. This book will be one that forever stands out amongyour collection, whether that collection be of manga or of novels or of art books. Hagio, likeTezuka, breaks down the barriers between novels and comics, giving us something we can all loveand cherish.And isn't that what art is all about?Stories: A+Art:A+Overall: A+

Hagio illuminates the human condition as well as anybody. I'd put her work up there -- not just with Tezuka -- but with Kurosawa and Ozu. These stories are complex and heartfelt. You want to immerse yourself in them and read them slowly. I have to admit, I knew little of her before, so the in depth interview at the beginning really enhances the book. Speaking of which, it is beautifully made -- hard cover with thick, heavy-weight pages. Hope this is only the beginning of her works being translated.

It is just so nice and the binding is really beautiful however there has some print mistakes.....but it is still really nice!

Ce livre est un recueil de plusieurs histoires, tenant chacune en un seul chapitre, de la mangaka Moto Hagio. Ces histoires couvrent une très large période et couvrent pratiquement toute la carrière de l'auteur. Cette dernière est un des piliers fondateurs du "shoujo manga", ou manga pour jeunes filles. Néanmoins, réduire la portée de son oeuvre à ce seul public serait fortement réducteur, l'auteur se "bornant" à simplement écrire les protagonistes féminins et masculins avec le même talent. Au cours de sa carrière, elle s'est frottée à pratiquement tous les genres, de la Science Fiction (l'excellent "They were eleven", introuvable actuellement en version anglaise sans vendre un rein) au drame. Ici, c'est la dimension plus réaliste de son oeuvre qui est présentée, même si quelques une des histoires sont clairement teintées de fantasy.Chaque histoire a sa propre spécificité et soulèvera des émotions intenses, quelle que soit l'histoire personnelle de chacun, tant le talent de narratrice de l'auteur est grand. Chaque histoire est une pépite, et mériterait à elle seule l'achat de ce livre. Regroupez-les et voici ce qui est sans doute le manga le plus émouvant que je connaisse.Certains esprits chagrins trouveront le dessin daté et stéréotypé, personnellement il ne me gêne pas, tant il s'accorde à l'histoire. Ce qu'il perd en "beauté", il le gagne largement en émotion. L'édition est superbe, couverture cartonnée, papier épais de très bonne qualité, quelques pages couleurs, longue interview de l'auteur avec le directeur de la collection et pape du retro-shoujo aux US, Matt Thorn,...Pour ceux qui veulent découvrir cet auteur mais ne peuvent pas lire l'anglais, il y a aussi Le Coeur de Thomas, une histoire longue, éditée en un seul tome chez Kaze dans leur collection de classiques. À noter aussi une future anthologie de l'auteur aux éditions Glénat en novembre, dont le contenu nous est encore inconnu (simple version française du recueil dont il est ici question, ou compilation d'histoires de Science Fiction qui ont fait sa réputation comme "They were eleven" et "A,A'").

翻訳をされているマット・ソーン氏は22才の頃に萩尾氏の『トーマの心臓』に出会い、その後の人生を変えるほどの影響を受けたと述べられています。萩尾氏の漫画を熟知された訳者なので嬉しい限りです。本書は1977〜2008年までの短編が年代順に収録されています。右開きが漫画で、左開きにインタビュー等が記載されています。以下、収録作品です。・ビアンカ・ポーチで少女が子犬と・秋の旅・十年目の毬絵・酔夢・半神・天使の擬態・イグアナの娘・帰ってくる子・柳の木『半神』のタイトルは英訳されると意味合いが軽くなっちゃうのがちょっと残念です。豪華な上製本なのでお友達へのプレゼントにも良いかもしれません。

英訳されるということでほんの好奇心で購入しましたが、想像以上に豪華な装丁としっかりした紙質にびっくり。収録作品は、ほとんど持っているものだったのですが、漫画雑誌サイズでハードカバー・・・。しっかり萩尾さんの作品を紹介しようとする訳者と出版社の熱意を感じました。為替レートに関係なく（？）三千円以上で売られていたりするところもあるなか、この価格でこの内容は本当におススメです。