It is an era of artificial superintelligences, interstellar travel, gene medicine, and virtual reality worlds. Far into Earth's future, 15-year-old Gu Ding is a student... more>> of Cerulean Military Academy by day, and tavern waiter by night. His ambition: Become the space pirate with the highest bounty offered by the Universal Federation Government. With the help of Neptune, a neonate super-intelligence, Gu Ding finds himself thrust into a galaxy of shadowy organizations, political underdealings, and otherworldly forces that lie beyond human comprehension… <<less

After living in a post-apocalyptic world for three years, Lou Xiaoluo is torn apart and devoured by a group of zombies. She is reborn and... more>> goes back four years, a year before the apocalypse. Since she has the chance to do it again, she starts to get well prepared for what's coming. She had to bounce between different men to survive during the apocalypse in her previous life. So now, she will make herself more robust for the apocalypse, and if she needs support, she will find the most powerful man. <<less

It was the bond between humans and humanoids that changed the world.
The Non-fiction Novel "No Collar: Part One" won a literary award. What is... more>> the thought behind the Afterword? <<less

A Kancolle fanfic

At the end of 2017, the shockwave of an atomic explosion swept the globe in the form of ice and snow hurricanes.... more>>

Zhao Qing was led by Chen Yang down an unknown path amidst the wind and snow. A group of imperfect individuals formed a family and, through trials and tribulations, grew into the most important guardians of the surviving world with the help of transcendent artifacts.

Piece by piece, all clues are unraveled, revealing that the "end of the world" is the result of a century-old conspiracy and the prelude to humanity's absorption of transcendent energy to develop specialization.

Life itself is shrouded in mystery, and until its conclusion becomes history, no one can fully comprehend the events encountered along the way. <<less

The heroine is blind, but has a special vision; the male protagonist is a turbid person, powerful but mentally unstable.... more>>

This is a story of a long evolutionary journey of the male protagonist and the female protagonist. <<less

The series begins in U.C. 0001, at the very beginning of human space colonization, when a space colony called Laplace is destroyed. The main story takes place in UC 0096, three years after the events of Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack and 27 years before Gundam F91.... more>>

The story revolves around Banagher Links, a seemingly normal boy living and going to school in the space colonies. His life changes one day when he meets a girl named Audrey Burne, as the encounter brings him into contact with a new Gundam and its connections to an item called "Laplace's Box." <<less

Frozen Teardrop is set during the Mars Century, the era that has succeeded the After Colony era, on the terraformed Mars. Since the formation of the young Mars Colony and its government, trouble has been brewing within it with the assassination of its President, Milliardo Peacecraft. In the present day, ESUN President Dorothy T. Catalonia authorizes the beginning of "Operation Mythos" to resolve the problems on Mars - which primarily involves the assassination of Relena Peacecraft.... more>>

Concurrent to the events of Mars Century are flashbacks during After Colony, told through Preventer agent Kathy Po, the daughter of Sally Po. The flashbacks detail events in After Colony leading up to the events of the series, including the origins and backgrounds of OZ Leader Treize Khushrenada and Gundam pilot Heero Yuy. <<less

The series takes place in an indeterminate time in the future, 500 years after an apocalyptic war between all of Earth’s nations destroyed civilization, when humanity has reestablished itself. ... more>>

In this future world, the Roman Catholic Church has become a major military power, whose goals include the protection of humanity against the vampiric Methuselahs, who war upon humankind (or “Terrans,” as they call humans). Their seat of power is the Vatican, an attractive place with traditional European architecture; it is likely the same Vatican city in the real world (albeit perhaps rebuilt following the previous war).

The Methuselahs are themselves another major political and military force. Their capital of Byzantium (presumably built on the site of the real world’s Byzantium, now Istanbul) appears as an elegant metropolis, surrounded by a field of particles which filters out UV radiation, thus protecting the Methuselah population. <<less

Universal Century 0093. Char Aznable, who had gone missing, revives the Neo Zeon Forces and wages war against the Earth Federation government. To change the climatic conditions he’ll drop a meteoroid onto Earth, carried out in order to create an artificial ice age. Many innocent people would be purged at the hand of Char… Amuro Ray, a former rival, stands in the way of Char’s ambitions once again! The original version of the anime’s spectacular masterpiece, Char’s Counterattack!... more>>

The original modified Hi Streamer storyline proposed by Tomino for the Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack movie was rejected and released instead as a novel. While both Beltorchika's Children and the Char's Counterattack movie are based on the same reference material, an Animage novel serial called Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack - Hi Streamer (April 1987 - May 1988), there are notable differences. <<less

In the year 1989, the Japanese government passed the Media Betterment Act, allowing a group of soldiers known as the Media Betterment Committee (MBC) to destroy and censor any "problematic" media under the guise of protecting public morals. As a response, regional governments established the Library Defense Force (LDF), whose members take up arms and put their lives on the line to protect freedom of expression. At the top of the Kanto branch of the LDF stands the Library Task Force (LTF): an elite squad consisting of only the most exceptional fighters.... more>>

As a high schooler, Iku Kasahara experienced the terror of censorship first-hand when she refused to surrender the newest volume of her favorite series to MBC agents. She only came out unscathed thanks to a lone member of the LDF, who protected her and her beloved book. Now in her 20s and still unable to forget the man who saved her, Kasahara joins the LDF in the hope of becoming just like her prince.

But LDF training turns out to be far more rigorous than she could have imagined, and her instructor, LTF member Atsushi Doujou, seems fixated on making her life a living hell. Given her struggles, Kasahara is shocked when she is selected as one of the two new LTF recruits as a result of Doujou's recommendation. As Kasahara does all she can to become worthy of the LTF and unravel her enigmatic superior's motivations, she wages war—both on the battlefield and in her personal life.

Vol 1 – Toshokan Sensou (図書館戦争) (Library War)
Vol 2 – Toshokan Nairan (図書館内乱) (Library Infighting)
Vol 3 – Toshokan Kiki (図書館危機) (Library Crisis)
Vol 4 – Toshokan Kakumei (図書館革命) (Library Revolution) <<less

Earth is the human civilization’s cradle, but humans cannot possibly live within its cradle for eternity. ... more>>

In 2264, the first deep-space colonization spaceship of human civilization leaves the solar system and enters the boundless darkness…

Zhang Yuan, son of the man behind the spaceship’s main control system, is one of the half a million volunteers to embark on the 20 light-year journey to a new planet.

Follow Zhang Yuan on his journey of gaining new knowledge, exploring the unknown, and finding out what's the secret behind the intelligence enhancer his father left him. <<less

On the outskirts of the Pleasure City of Midas lies the Ceres special autonomous area, commonly known as the slums. Gang leader Riki, looking for an easy pocket to pick in the nightlife districts, gets caught red-handed…by none other than one of the highest-ranking, golden-haired android elites ruling from the capital Tanagura: the “Blondy” Iason Mink!
By all rights, a Blondy standing at the pinnacle of aristocracy and a slummer should have never crossed paths—their chance encounter marks the beginning of a love twisted by obsession, soon spiraling into a karmic chain of events...... more>>

⬇️ //// About the Japanese novel and anime adaptations ////
⬇️ //// About the English translation ////
⬇️ //// Current translation status ////
⬇️ //// Drama CDs, prequel and side stories ////

//// About the Japanese novel and anime adaptations ////

Originally serialized in the bimonthly magazine Shosetsu June (小説ジュネ) spanning six chapters from December 1986 to October 1987, the novel was released with minor revisions into a hardcover edition in 1990.
This first version of the story received a two-episode/OVA anime adaptation in 1992 and 1994.

Between the years 2001 and 2007, the original story was greatly expanded upon and released in six paperback volumes. After a change of Japanese publisher, two more volumes were released between 2009 and 2010, completing the series (the six aforementioned volumes were released as volumes 1-4 in the newest Japanese edition).
This second version of the story was meant to be adapted into a twelve-episode OVA anime—initially planned to release in 2010—but was postponed to 2012, only to be discontinued after the fourth episode’s release.

//// About the English translation ////

The English paperback expanded edition is made up of eight volumes: the six first volumes (Seibido/Crystal edition) + the two later volumes (#7 and #8 in English, but #5 and #6 in the newest Tokuma/Chara edition).
The change in Japanese publisher led to a change in translator for the English edition between vol1 to 6 and vol7 to 8: it is highly recommended to read the fan translations of #7 and #8 as opposed to reading the licensed edition, due to the massive loss in translation (expect a 50% word count difference between the two).

//// Current translation status of the different editions of the novel (as of April 20th, 2024) ////

. Shosetsu June edition, unlicensed: 2/6 chapters, ongoing fan translation.
. 1990 hardcover edition, unlicensed: 2/6 chapters, ongoing fan translation. An older fan translation had 4/6 chapters translated but the project was dropped.
. 2000’s expanded edition, English licensed: fully translated, complete.

//// Drama CDs, prequel and side stories ////

– The Shosetsu June story was adapted into a drama cassette and a drama CD (Dark Erogenous).
– The expanded story was adapted into three drama CDs (Destiny, Nightmare, Resonance)
– A prequel called Midnight Illusion was serialized in Shosetsu June between December 1992 and April 1993, and released as a hardcover in 1996. 3/6 chapters have been fan-translated into English.
– The 5 side stories have all been fan-translated into English (Kizu/Wound, File-0, Cal’s Sighs, Musk, Illusion Night) and are based on the expanded version of the novel.

Look up online “Ai no Kusabi Master List LiveJournal” to find the links to all the material listed above and more.

[This page was updated as per an anon’s request, all credit goes to the AnK community where credit is due.] <<less

The world has advanced to a stage where most of society has been left to human-shaped robots known as hIEs. A 17 years-old youth, Endou... more>> Arato, met with the android Lacia one day and became her owner. Although looking no different from a normal human at one glance, she was actually one of the five Red Box android created by a Super Intelligent AI which boasted of abilities beyond what the world has seen—. The five each have their own will and begin fighting each other to exert them. Between the adults who can do nothing but watch as the fight unfolds, and the youths who have begun to form a new relationship with them. What is it that connects these far too advanced androids and the human world? Just what is important and vital in this age where everything has become convenient and what is the relationship between humans and object, the choice that Arato makes for the future having met Lacia who far surpasses human is—. <<less

1000 years later in the wide galaxy, amongst the four civilizations, the human race is currently in turmoil. In these conflicted times within the many... more>> stars, the heroes appear. Will these heroes change the galaxy with their hands? This is a tale about these heroes and the stars around them. <<less

One day, people awoke to find themselves with the superhuman ability called Dialecte. They gathered in the academy city "Canaan" that was isolated from the general public - a futuristic town floating in the sky. Masaki was a high school student who had a peaceful hobby of making pastries and yet he was judged to have the peerless ability "Glow Verbaliser" so he changed schools.... more>>

He meets up with his childhood friend Shirley along with the quiet and mysterious Alice. The two of them are the strongest "Breaker" pair who supervise the rule-breakers of the school regulations regarding the misuse of illusions...but they break up over a trivial argument. Furthermore, since Masaki has the power that's called peerless, Alice chooses him as her new partner.

The strongest! The unluckiest? Let's raise the curtain on the maximum level tea and sweets superpower school battle!! <<less

Originally published in Animage magazine in the late 80s under the title Char’s Counterattack, the novel was later published by Tokuma Dual Bunko under the... more>> title High-Streamer. The hero of the Earth Federation Forces: Amuro Ray. As a member of the new task force Londo Bell, he was heading to the refugee colony of “Sweetwater” for an investigation. There, where many of the citizens harbor animosity towards the Earth Federation government, Amuro meets Alena, a young woman who supports the uprising movements. Immediately thereafter, a black unit of unknown origins attacks the space cruiser Ra Zym that Amuro and the others are on. Here, Amuro becomes aware of one man’s intent to attack the Earth under the Neo Zeon–an enemy joined by fate: Char. <<less

Metal statues which resemble living human girls.
They understand the mind and have an inner voice.

In the year After Colony 195, with the start of Operation Meteor, the scientists' plan for revenge against the OZ military organization. The operation involves five young boys who have each been chosen and trained by one of the five rogue scientists, then sent to Earth independently in extremely advanced Mobile Suits, one designed by each of the scientists, known as "Gundams". Their Mobile Suits are called Gundams because they are constructed from a rare and astonishingly durable material known as Gundanium alloy, which can only be created in outer space.... more>>

The five Gundam Pilots — Heero Yuy (an alias, not to be confused with the assassinated leader), Duo Maxwell (also an alias), Trowa Barton (another alias, he was previously known as Nanashi (No-Name)), Quatre Raberba Winner, and Chang Wufei — originally have no knowledge of each others' existence. On first meeting any of the other five, each pilot believes the others to be enemy pilots in new OZ mobile suit designs. Once the young pilots realize that they have the same objective of destroying OZ (and in some cases the same mission), they band together to help each other complete their goals. <<less

Due to an unexpected turn of events, Xia Fei consumed a Super Gene Optimization Fluid that bore no brand, expiry date, instructions or stated its... more>> place of origin.
Our story begins here... <<less

In the post-apocalyptic age, men were damned.... more>>

On a fateful day, one ordinary man found a black mystical crystal in a mine.
The crystal gave him the opportunity to change his life forever.

Could he escape from his predetermined fate and create a destiny for himself? <<less

“As long as I level up another 10 times, I will be able to activate the Gene Lock. At that time, I will be able... more>> to destroy this celestial body!” After transmigrating into the body of a tr*sh in a future where zombies and intellectual beasts existed, Lin Xiu accidentally obtained an upgrade system to transcend human limitations and devour the heavens! <<less

The year is 2013, and it's the city of No. 6: a stringently controlled, diligently maintained megalopolis that embodies the highest ideals of humankind. Sion has lived under close supervision as a "high-ranking elite and therefore one of the city's assets" since the age of two, and feels secure - if not particularly happy - in his carefully planned out, government-sponsored future. ... more>>

On the night of his twelfth birthday, his comfortable lifestyle is turned upside-down when he meets, tends the wounds of, and shelters, a strange boy with an icy demeanour who calls himself "Nezumi" (Rat).

Why did I open the window that night? If I had not, I'd never have been forced to know what it's like to fight, to starve, and to suffer in anguish... <<less