Read or Die

Infobox animanga/Header
name =


caption =
ja_name = リード・オア・ダイ
ja_name_trans = Rīdo oa Dai
genre = Spy, Supernatural, Science fantasyInfobox animanga/Novel
light = yes
title =
author = Hideyuki Kurata
illustrator = Taraku Uon
publisher = flagicon|Japan Shueisha
publisher_other = flagicon|South Korea Daiwon C.I.
demographic = Male
first = 2000
last = ongoing
volumes = 11Infobox animanga/Manga
title =
author = Hideyuki Kurata
illustrator = Shutaro Yamada
publisher = flagicon|Japan Shueisha
publisher_en = flagicon|United States Viz Media
publisher_other = flagicon|South Korea Haksan Publishing
demographic = Seinen
magazine = Ultra Jump
first = 18 July 2003
last = 19 August 2005
volumes = 4

nihongo|"R.O.D: Read or Die"|リード・オア・ダイ|Rīdo oa Dai is a series of light novels authored by Hideyuki Kurata, published under Shueisha's "Super Dash" imprint. "Read or Die" follows Yomiko Readman, codename "The Paper", an agent for the Special Operations Division of the British Library. There are currently 11 "Read or Die" novels. In volume 11, a note stated that the series would end with the upcoming volume 12. In 2007, the official website posted an apology for the delay in volume 12's publication, stating that the author is trying his best to finish the story.

Along with the novels, Kurata scripted the "R.O.D" manga illustrated by Shutaro Yamada, which was originally published in "Ultra Jump" magazine and later printed into four paperback volumes.

Kurata also wrote another manga, "Read or Dream", illustrated by Ran Ayanaga, which takes place in the same universe as "Read or Die," but features completely new characters (apart from a brief cameo from a "Die" character in volume 4).

The popularity of the "Read or Die" novels and manga resulted in the production of the "Read or Die" Original Video Animation (OVA) in 2001, which was directed by Koji Masunari and produced by Aniplex. In 2003, Aniplex produced "R.O.D the TV", a 26-episode animated television series, which served as a sequel to the OVA and introduced "Read or Dream"'s characters to those from "Read or Die". (See Read or Die (OVA) and R.O.D the TV for more information.)

The "Read or Die" manga series is licensed for North American distribution by Viz Communications, first released in March 2006. The novels have not been officially translated into English.

Plot

"Read or Die" takes place in an alternate history world where the British Empire has remained a major superpower. The Empire's continued existence is guaranteed by the nihongo|British Library|大英図書館|Daiei-toshokan, an external intelligence agency working within the actual British Library, and its Special Operations Division.

The series follows Yomiko Readman, also known as "The Paper", a superhuman agent of the Library's Special Operations. In both the novels and manga, her adventures alternate between doing missions for the British Library and helping young novelist Nenene Sumiregawa.

Only the first novel and first manga have similar stories, involving rescuing Nenene Sumiregawa from a vicious kidnapper. Otherwise, the novels, manga, and animated versions of the stories have divergent plotlines. While characterizations are usually consistent even when storylines are not, some characters have different origins in different versions of the story, or do not appear at all.

Parody of James Bond series

The novel contains two parodies of the James Bond series. The main character, Yomiko Readman, is described in the story as possessing a "double 0" certification, which in the Bond universe denotes a "License to kill" (although in fact she rarely invokes it). The British Secret Intelligence Service (more widely known as MI6) are also often mentioned. Kurata was confused when his editors (erroneously) told him that MI6 no longer existed, but decided to retain the parallels anyway, since he feels that the emphasis should be on fun rather than factual accuracy. [R.O.D volume 5, Hideyuki Kurata, Shueisha Super Dash bunko, ISBN4-08-630062] The reason for the editors' confusion is unclear.

Characters

British Library

The British Library is an institution devoted to the promotion of literacy and the greater glory of the British Empire. More than a mere library, the British Library is a powerful political organization with branches all over the world. The organization is led by nihongo|Gentleman|ジェントルマン|Jentoruman, an old man of extreme longevity and the power behind the throne of the British Empire.

The nihongo|British Library Special Operations Division|大英図書館 特殊工作部|Daiei-toshokan Tokushu-kousakubu is the secret enforcement branch of the British Library. Based in a giant underground complex concealed beneath the Great Court at the British Museum, the Special Operations Division employs a number of agents with special powers and runs operations all over the world to fight book-related crime and terrorism, and to acquire rare works for the Library. Their slogan is "Peace to the books of the world, an iron hammer to those who would abuse them, and glory and wisdom to the British Empire!"

*nihongo|Yomiko Readman|読子・リードマン|Yomiko Rīdoman is a half-Japanese, half-English nihongo|papermaster|紙使い|"kamitsukai", an individual with the ability to control and influence paper. A substitute teacher in her spare time, she is 19th British Library agent to earn the codename nihongo|"The Paper"|ザ・ペーパー|Za Pēpā. Her name is a play on her nature as a bibliophile -- the verb "to read" in Japanese is pronounced yomu.

*nihongo|Joker|ジョーカー|Jōkā is the acting head of the Special Operations Division. A stereotypical Englishman, his cool head and skill with words are his primary weapons. He secretly wants to become the actual head of the Division and gain control of the whole country.

*nihongo|Wendy Earhart|ウェンディ・イアハート|Wendi Iahāto is a half-Indian, half-English girl. She joined the Special Operations Division at 19 years old, and soon became Joker's personal secretary. She is earnest and devoted, but clumsy and still an "in training" assistant.

*nihongo|Jiggy Stardust|ジギー・スターダスト|Jigī Sutādasuto is the Special Operations Division's resident scientist, an aging man whose knowledge of paper is unrivaled. He developed the nihongo|combat-use paper|戦闘用紙|sentōyōgami Yomiko uses.

*nihongo|Nancy Makuhari|ナンシー・幕張|Nanshī Makuhari is a 26 year-old agent; in the novels, Joker recruits her in China. Codenamed nihongo|"Miss Deep"|ミス・ディープ|Misu Dīpu, her special power is called "diving", the ability to become intangible and pass through solid objects. "Diving" can be suppressed through the use of nihongo|paper charms|御札|ofuda. Nancy does not appear in the manga, and has a different origin in the anime.

*nihongo|Drake Anderson|ドレイク・アンダーソン|Doreiku Andāson is a veteran of the American special forces, employed by the Special Operations Division as a field support operative mercenary for their agents. Drake is a hardened, no-nonsense soldier. Though he has no super-powers, he is incredibly strong, and a highly-skilled soldier with considerable combat experience. Anderson has a young daughter named Maggie, whom he cares for deeply (Maggie Anderson is not to be confused with Maggie Mui from Read or Dream). He is also kind hearted and will not harm children, even if it goes against the mission.

Dokusensha

nihongo|Dokusensha|読仙社 is the series' main antagonist, a secret organization based in Sichuan devoted to Chinese supremacy and led by nihongo|China|チャイナ|Chaina. Known as nihongo|Grandma|おばあさん|Obaa-san to Dokusensha's high ranked agents, China is a "little girl" who, like Gentleman, has lived for a long enough time to know the hidden history of humankind.

upporting characters

*nihongo|Nenene Sumiregawa|菫川 ねねね|"Sumiregawa Nenene" is a Japanese schoolgirl and world-famous author. Her debut novel nihongo|"Kimi ga boku wo shitteru"|君が僕を知ってる was written when she was just 13. Nenene became acquainted with Yomiko when she worked briefly as a substitute teacher at Nenene's school. After Nenene is abducted by a crazy fan and subsequently rescued by Yomiko, the two become friends.

*nihongo|Donnie Nakajima|ドニー・ナカジマ|Donī Nakajima is Yomiko's deceased mentor and lover. The agent known as "The Paper" before Yomiko, he died at her hands under mysterious circumstances, yet Yomiko recalls that she killed him with her power. She now wears his glasses in his memory, and believes that reading through them enables him to continue reading as well.

*nihongo|Faust|ファウスト|Fausuto is a prisoner of the British Library. Like Gentleman and China, he has lived for hundreds of years and, because of it, Gentleman trapped him to hide the secret.

Media

Light novels

Manga

The "Read or Die" manga series was written by Hideyuki Kurata, illustrated by Shutaro Yamada, and published in Ultra Jump from 2003 to 2005. It was later collected into four bound volumes by Shueisha. All four volumes feature Yomiko Readman on the cover, and chapters are called "episode"s and are recounted from one in each volume.

Viz Media licensed the series for translation and release in North America, and has released all four volumes, with the first released on March 21 2006 and the last released on September 19 2006.

Volume list

Graphic novel list/header
Language = JapaneseGraphic novel list
VolumeNumber = 1
RelDate =
ISBN =
LicensedRelDate = March 21 2006
LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-0248-9
ChapterList =
* Episodes 1-8
* Postscript
VolumeExtras =
Summary = Graphic novel list
VolumeNumber = 2
RelDate =
ISBN =
LicensedRelDate = May 16 2006
LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-0257-1
ChapterList =
* Episodes 9-15
* Episode 16: Bonus Chapter
* Postscript
VolumeExtras =
Summary = Graphic novel list
VolumeNumber = 3
RelDate =
ISBN =
LicensedRelDate = July 18 2006
LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-0508-4
ChapterList =
* Episodes 17-23
* Author's Note
VolumeExtras =
Summary = Graphic novel list
VolumeNumber = 4
RelDate =
ISBN =
LicensedRelDate = September 19 2006
LicensedISBN = 978-1-4215-0509-1
ChapterList =
* Episodes 24-30
* Postscript
VolumeExtras =
Summary =

References

External links

*ann manga|id=1808|title="Read or Die"
* [http://readordie.wikia.com/ Read or Die Wiki] : a fan-wiki designed to cover all aspects of the "R.O.D" universe
* [http://dash.shueisha.co.jp/-rod] : Shueisha's information page on the novels (in Japanese).