[B-T]Sugar Dark: Umerareta Yami to Shōjo

[Mystes]

Note: The ND version is to be discussed in the "Hosted" sub-forum.

Original Title: シュガーダーク 埋められた闇と少女
Romaji: Sugar Dark: Umerareta Yami to Shōjo
Translation: Sugar Dark: The Buried Darkness and the Girl

Author: Enji Arai
Artist: mebae

Description, from B-U:

Dark fantasy story follows a boy named Muoru who has been falsely arrested and sent to a cemetery to perform forced labor. There, he calls himself the "grave keeper" and meets a beautiful girl named Meria. Muoru becomes fascinated with Meria as he spends his days digging a hole containing the undead monster named "The Dark".

This dark fantasy won the 1st Sneaker Grand Prize since Haruhi 6 years ago.

[Doraneko]

I am actually surprised that it takes so long to see a project request of this series here in B-T, considering its reputation and quality. It also has a certain degree of support among English-speaking fans thanks to scanlations of its excellent manga adaptation.

The theme of grave keeping is rather obscure in the light novel world. It was quite a coincidence and surprise that two unrelated works dealing with this theme got two reputable rewards at the same time. Kira has already elaborated on Sugar Dark, and the other series is 神様のいない日曜日 (Kamisama no inai Nichiyoubi) which got the Fantasia Grand Award from Fujimi Shobou. Both of which are well-written and it is interesting to compare and contrast how the two handle this obscure theme.

The only reason I didn't put up a teaser for Sugar Dark is that I expect sooner or later it will be licensed in English. I guess I have overestimated the American publishers however. Regardless, It is an outstanding series per se and well worths an English translation.

[Mystes]

Do you know if it's a single-volume novel, or that the series is simply discontinued?

[Doraneko]

Do you know if it's a single-volume novel, or that the series is simply discontinued?

It is more like the writer hit a block and still hasn't overcome it. A sad thing really, especially when in comparison his "gravekeeping rival" in Fujimi has a pretty successful career and has already published 5 books .

The CM of Sugar Dark:

[Mystes]

Gravekeeping rival?

[Doraneko]

Gravekeeping rival?

The theme of grave keeping is rather obscure in the light novel world. It was quite a coincidence and surprise that two unrelated works dealing with this theme got two reputable rewards at the same time. Kira has already elaborated on Sugar Dark, and the other series is 神様のいない日曜日 (Kamisama no inai Nichiyoubi) which got the Fantasia Grand Award from Fujimi Shobou. Both of which are well-written and it is interesting to compare and contrast how the two handle this obscure theme.

[Mystes]

...More novels to read.

The Sunday God wasn't here? Is it good?

[Doraneko]

...More novels to read.

The Sunday God wasn't here? Is it good?

It is less dark when compared to Sugar Dark and is also easier to read. Critics usually prefer Sugar Dark though because of the more sophisticated prose and the writer's skilfulness in recreating a truly dark atmosphere.

Anyway both are decent works and you can't get terribly wrong regardless which one you choose to read.

[Cosmic Eagle]

Do you know if it's a single-volume novel, or that the series is simply discontinued?

It is more like the writer hit a block and still hasn't overcome it. A sad thing really, especially when in comparison his "gravekeeping rival" in Fujimi has a pretty successful career and has already published 5 books .

The CM of Sugar Dark:

Block? I thought there were rumors going around that this was on the hit-list of soon to be discontinued titles?

[Doraneko]

Block? I thought there were rumors going around that this was on the hit-list of soon to be discontinued titles?

ｿｰｽkwsk

Only 1 volume was released and it was a long time ago. The series is either discontinued or not. How can it be "on the hit-list of soon to be discontinued titles"?

As for the sales, sure it is no Haruhi but neither is any other light novel series to-date. It is safe to say the series is at the very least profitable enough to avoid being forcibly discontinued. In fact it is likely doing better than a great majority of the titles out there.

ラノベランキング ：１位は「乃木坂春香」　スニーカー大賞「シュガーダーク」が３位　０９年１２月

You may take a look at the blog of the author and see why everyone thinks he has hit a writer's block and may even have quitted from his writer career all together.

http://araiengine.sblo.jp/

[Cosmic Eagle]

Block? I thought there were rumors going around that this was on the hit-list of soon to be discontinued titles?

ｿｰｽkwsk

Only 1 volume was released and it was a long time ago. The series is either discontinued or not. How can it be "on the hit-list of soon to be discontinued titles"?

As for the sales, sure it is no Haruhi but neither is any other light novel series to-date. it is safe to say it is at the very least profitable enough to avoid being forcibly discontinued. In fact it is possibly doing better than 70% of the titles out there.

You may take a look at the blog of the author and see why everyone thinks he has hit a writer's block and may even have quitted from his writer career all together.

http://araiengine.sblo.jp/

It was a posting on AS roughly a year or so back...That led to more such claims

I thus assumed it was unofficially dead....since it's been so long

But it's good....very good relatively

[Doraneko]

I thus assumed it was unofficially dead....since it's been so long.

Yeah in fact it is, even if it is more of the fault of the author himself not finishing the second volume than the sales not doing good. I just didn't get the soon-to-be part in your previous message.

[Cosmic Eagle]

I thus assumed it was unofficially dead....since it's been so long.

Yeah in fact it is, even if it is more of the fault of the author himself not finishing the second volume than the sales not doing good. I just didn't get the soon-to-be part in your previous message.

That was because there was nothing explicit saying it's off....

[Doraneko]

That was because there was nothing explicit saying it's off....

I think you meant the series is unofficially dead/discontinued now, instead of soon-to-be , and I do agree with that like many others.

Regardless it is still officially and technically alive. If we are lucky maybe we can see the next volume in a few years. The ball is in the hands of the author after all, and he can get vol.2 published whenever he feels like to.

I am just wondering what he progress of the manga is and whether it has gone past the content of vol. 1.

Spoiler! :

2010年04月14日
お詫び


お久しぶりです。新井です。
こんなに放置してしまっているのに、見に来てくださってありがとうございます。

ご想像の通り、締まらない状態となっておりました……おります？（……脱出出来たかどうか、まだ自分でもわからないです……）

訪問者様が今もここをご覧になられている理由は、
ありがたくも、わたくしめの新作情報を求められてのことかと存じ上げます。
だというのに放置を続けてしまい、大変申し訳なく思っております。

そして、さらに謝らなくてはならないことに、
最低でも向こう三ヶ月は、新作の出版予定はありません。
雑誌ザ・スニーカーに短編などを載せる予定も、今のところありません。

現在、新作の執筆作業は続けておりますが、時期や発表形態については未定です。
一応補足させていただくと、編集部さまと喧嘩をしている、といったことは決して無いです。
ひとえに自分の力が及ばない結果です。
担当さまや編集部さまにはご迷惑を掛け通してしまっていて、
なんというか、お詫びのしようもない状態です。本当に情けない。


ここしばらく、色々考える所はあったのですが、とりあえず、時間が掛かっても、
次は自分の納得が行くものを書かせてもらうことにしました。
（内容がちょっとだけ問題ありそうなので、本という形になるかはわからないんですが……）


……そんな状態ですので、待ってくださっている方におかれましては、
もしまた目に止めていただくような御縁がありましたら、その時はよろしくお願いいたします。

勝手な言い分ばかりで、本当に申し訳ありません。


blogの方は、しばらく週刊更新は無理そうです。こちらもごめんなさい。
生存報告程度には更新したいと思っておりますので、
月一程度な感じで覗いてくださいますと、何かあるかも知れません。


では、いってきます。

Spoiler! :

2010年04月30日
四月総括

前回の日記にて言外に述べるような書き方をしてしまったのですが、
今製作しているのは、シュガーダークの二巻ではありません。

身も蓋もない言い方をしてしまえば、二巻は、頓挫してしまいました。
待ってくださっていた方には、本当に、本当に申し訳なく思っております。
（具体的な事情については、興味のある方には
　お伝えする義務があると思いますので、いづれ何らかの形でと考えています。）

ひとつ言えるのは、昨年末から今春にかけての二巻の作業が難航した結果、
私は、自分がどうやって文章を書いていたのかさえわからなくなるような状態に陥っていました。

現在書いているのは、そのリハビリも兼ねた、まったくの新作です。

そこそこ長い話になります。
面白い物語をお届けできるよう、精一杯頑張ります。

The last blog update was back in January this year, btw, with no mention of any new progress to vol. 2 or the new series he had been planning.

[Cosmic Eagle]

Well at least the postings do seem to imply he's not getting shot down by the bunko.....IE he's not saying any absolutes that it's dead and apologizing for it....