Sugiura Shiho - Silver Diamond, vol. 01 (Eng. trans.)

[oyceter]

Rakan's a fairly normal high school student with an unusual affinity for plants, until one day, he comes across an unconscious man in his garden who then proceeds to wake up and threaten him... with a flowering gun. As it turns out, Rakan looks exactly like the (evil) imperial prince from Chigusa's world (the formerly unconscious guy), but instead of being evil, Rakan is a sanome, or someone who has power over plants. Soon, they're joined by Narushige and his talking snake Koh, both also from Chigusa's world, while some politics go on back in Chigusa's world.

The worldbuilding so far isn't entirely new (parts of it remind me of Nausicaa, and for some reason, I feel like I've seen the plant thing before), but it's still fascinating and inventive. But the part I love best so far is the characters. Chigusa is protective yet shy, Rakan is confused and attempts to cover it up by feeding everyone, Narushige is also protective and sweet, and Koh is proof that talking snakes are made of win (see also: Fire Dancer, The Hollow Kingdom). I feel I should be more into the worldbuilding, which is cool, and I am, except again, my brain, it is on vacation. As such, I am left with the impression of a lot of UST between Chigusa and Rakan and tons of hilarity involving the snake.

Seriously, people! Characters from other worlds being confounded by modern-day life, a la Rukia in Bleach and the juice box, are always hilarious, and even more so when they are talking snakes exclaiming, "The sky is blue!!"

In conclusion: funny, sweet, charming, yet epic-feeling, with pretty art and nice production values from TokyoPop to boot.

Comments

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

I do think the worldbuilding is really cool-- not totally original, but then, what is? But I love the characters. Plus it's so pretty. And it has notes in the back!

You're right. Talking snakes are always good news. I should write some.

[oyceter]

It is cool! It was just that the plant thing reminded me of several other sf/f manga (PSME too?) for some reason. But yeah, it is so cute and pretty and sweet and plotty at the same time!

Although really, every time I try to think critically about it, I end up just waving my hands around giggling at Koh freaking out about TVs and cars and the sky being blue!

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Snakes! Also plants! Screw yelling at the LCS, I'm ordering stuff from Powells tonight.

[oyceter]

Yes! Do it! It's really cute and charming!

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

I really liked this one, too! I really like how, unlike a lot of protagonists in similar fantasy stories, Rakan doesn't freak out at the otherworldly people who show up in his garden and tell him he has super-special magic powers. Yes, he's a bit bewildered, but he's got a nice practicality about him that says, "Well, I don't know what to do about all this weird stuff, so, we'll start with the stuff I do know what to do about: dinner, and laundry."

And the high-strung talking snake cracks me up.

[oyceter]

Yes! I love that his first reaction is to try to feed everyone! And that he's just sort of like, "Well, I guess I can make plants grow. And weird people are showing up in my garden."

Koh = LOVE!

Talking snakes

[estara.livejournal.com]

Do NOT tell me you haven't read Katie Waitman's The Merro Tree, yet? Which has huge talking snakes, who have intra-species relationships AND THEY WORK!!! excellent character and plot based scifi.
http://www.amazon.com/Merro-Tree-Del-Rey-Discovery/dp/0345414365/

"From the Publisher
When Katie Waitman's agent sent me this manuscript, he told me that I had to make this book the Del Rey Discovery of the Year. He also told me that the book included a same sex love affair with a snake. Needless to say, I was a bit taken aback. But I read the manuscript, and I was taken with two things: 1) that snake affair wasn't exactly the way the agent described it!!! And 2) this was one of the absolute best-written first novels I had read in many, many years. I had to buy it. I still love it. I even like the snake!
--Shelly Shapiro, Executive Editor
"

Re: Talking snakes

[oyceter]

I actually read about 3/4 of it a long time ago and er, got pretty squicked by the huge talking snake intra-species relationship...

Re: Talking snakes

[estara.livejournal.com]

Truly? I've never thought aliens were quite as alien as in this book and the C.J. Cherryh foreigner series, so it made sense. Considering the protagonist is first raised inside a box, I can accept anything. And it's a lovely relationship ^^.

Re: Talking snakes

[oyceter]

Yeah. It was the snake/intra-species thing and the way they grew up together thing. So... probably won't be picking it up again, sorry!

[taelle.livejournal.com]

The feeding everyone thing sounds charming - I love such characters.

I think Yu Yu Hakusho had a character with power over plants though I don't know if you've seen that one.

[oyceter]

Rakan is so cute!

Ohhh yeah! I've never seen it, but I remember reading about that character. He's a fox spirit whose name starts with a K, right?

[taelle.livejournal.com]

Kurama, yes. :)