The Isolator (novel series)
Japanese light novel series
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Isolator: Realization of Absolute Solitude (Japanese: 絶対ナル孤独者, Hepburn: Zettai naru Aisorēta) is a Japanese light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by Shimeji. Kawahara originally released the series as a web novel under the title "Absolute Solitude" (絶対ナル孤独, Zettai Naru Kodoku) on his website from 2004 to 2009. ASCII Media Works has published five volumes since June 2014. A manga adaptation, illustrated by Naoki Koshimizu, was serialized in Dengeki Daioh. Yen Press has licensed the novels and manga in North America.[1]
| The Isolator | |
First light novel volume cover | |
| 絶対ナル孤独者 (Zettai naru Aisorēta) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Novel series | |
| Written by | Reki Kawahara (as Fumio Kunori) |
| Published by | Self-published |
| Original run | 2004 – 2009 |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Reki Kawahara |
| Illustrated by | Shimeji |
| Published by | ASCII Media Works |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Dengeki Bunko |
| Original run | June 10, 2014 – present |
| Volumes | 5 |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Reki Kawahara |
| Illustrated by | Naoki Koshimizu |
| Published by | ASCII Media Works |
| English publisher |
|
| Magazine | Dengeki Daioh |
| Original run | June 27, 2015 – January 27, 2018 |
| Volumes | 4 |
Plot
When Minoru Utsugi was eight years old, home invaders killed his parents and older sister while he hid in a cabinet. At 16, he still struggles with the trauma. Then mysterious alien orbs descend from the sky and take up residence inside some humans, granting them each a superpower that reflects their deepest desire. Minoru's power is the ability to protect himself inside an impenetrable shell. Some people gain a more active power, and not everyone uses their power for good.
Characters
- Minoru Utsugi (空木 ミノル, Utsugi Minoru)
- Tomomi Minowa (箕輪 朋美, Minowa Tomomi)
- Yumiko Azu (安須 ユミコ, Azu Yumiko)
- Norie Yoshimizu (由水 典江, Yoshimizu Norie)
- Riri Isa (伊佐 理々, Isa Riri)
- Olivier Saito (斉藤 オリヴィエ, Saitou Orivie)
- Denjirou Daimon (大門 伝二郎, Daimon Denjirou) (DD)
Media
Light novels
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 10, 2014[2] | 978-4-04-866510-0 | June 23, 2015[3] | 978-0-316-26059-6 | |
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| 2 | February 10, 2015[4] | 978-4-04-869248-9 | January 26, 2016[5] | 978-0-316-26889-9 | |
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| 3 | February 10, 2016[6] | 978-4-04-865748-8 | November 22, 2016[7] | 978-0-316-55272-1 | |
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| 4 | May 10, 2017[8] | 978-4-04-892894-6 | June 26, 2018[9] | 978-1-9753-2627-2 | |
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| 5 | May 10, 2019[10] | 978-4-04-912382-1 | March 17, 2020[11] | 978-1-9753-0786-8 | |
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Manga
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 10, 2016[12] | 978-4-04-865656-6 | January 24, 2017[13] | 978-0-316-50464-5 |
| 2 | October 8, 2016 | 978-4-04-892292-0 | November 14, 2017[14] | 978-0-316-43976-3 |
| 3 | July 10, 2017 | 978-4-04-892920-2 | April 17, 2018[15] | 978-1-9753-0016-6 |
| 4 | March 10, 2018[16] | 978-4-04-893645-3 | December 11, 2018[17] | 978-1-9753-2916-7 |
Reception
Yen Press' English edition of the first light novel volume received a positive review from Anime News Network. It was praised for its "believable characters" and the thought that "switching between the hero and villain's point of view really works." However, it was said that Shimeji's illustrations can make Takaesu (the antagonist of the first volume) "more wolf-like than shark-like in some images."[18]