- Guin Saga
nihongo|"Guin Saga"|グイン・サーガ|Guin Sāga is the title of a best-selling
heroic fantasy novel series byJapan ese authorKaoru Kurimoto , in continuous publication since1979 . A record 100 volumes were originally planned, [http://www.sfsite.com/09b/gs160.htm] but as of2008 the total stands at 121 volumes. [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B0%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AC] American publisher Vertical has released the first five volumes, translated into English by known game translatorAlexander O. Smith . The English editions have drawn praise comparing the series to "The Lord of the Rings " and "Conan the Barbarian ". [http://www.vertical-inc.com/guinsaga/praise.html]A series of
soundtrack CDs composed byGoro Ohmi have also been released in Japan. [http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/104-1995597-4799166?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=guin+saga&x=24&y=22]An animated series based on the novels is currently in production in Japan, with a premier scheduled for
Spring 2009 . [http://www.guinsaga.net/]"Berserk" creator
Kentaro Miura has stated that "Guin Saga" was a large influence on his work. [http://www.vertical-inc.com/guinsaga/praise.html]Plot Overview
The story centers around a mysterious
warrior named Guin, an amnesiac with aleopard mask magically affixed to his head. Remembering nothing but his fighting instincts and the word "Aurra", he confronts a world laden with danger, intrigue, and magic. Later volumes introduce elements of theyaoi genre. [http://www.sfsite.com/09b/gs160.htm]eries Artists
Painted covers and interior illustrations for volumes 1-19 (
1979 -1984 ) were done byNaoyuki Kato . Noted artistYoshitaka Amano then took the reins until vol. 57 (1997 ) [http://www.amanosworld.com/html/work/guin.html] , upon which time he was replaced byJun Suemi .Shinobu Tanno , whose style closely resembles Suemi's, has been the series artist since vol. 88 (2003 ). [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B0%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AC]External links
*Guin Saga, Book 1 (The Leopard Mask) (ISBN 1-932234-51-9)
* [http://www.vertical-inc.com/guinsaga/index.html Guin Saga Homepage at Vertical Publishing]
* [http://homepage1.nifty.com/roka/GUIN1.html Information and covers for volumes 1-118 (Japanese)]
* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B0%E3%82%A4%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AC Japanese-language Wikipedia entry (Japanese)]
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