Work Introduction: 'Flying Children' (Text: Sassy / Ichigo)
The second anthology from Drops Shobo is a work of fantasy literature for adults titled 'Flying Children.' It was first distributed at the 38th Tokyo Literature Flea Market in May 2024.
I, Sassy, was in charge of the theme for this edition.
When I was small, I read a complete collection of Moto Hagio's works in the library, and there was a short, musical-style story called 'Howard's Newspaper Advertisement.' The line 'All ordinary children fly' left such an impression on me that I remembered it ever since.
I drew inspiration from 'Howard's Newspaper Advertisement' for the theme of this anthology and the name of the sanatorium in my own story.
'Trapika's Cocoon'
The first story in the 'Flying Children' anthology is 'Trapika's Cocoon' by Chise Kanamori.
It is a work of fiction inspired by the Cottingley Fairies incident, featuring a man who lost an arm in the Great War and a tomboyish fairy. Kanamori is an author skilled at researching historical facts and documents to create original worlds, so this work truly showcases her full potential.
This story is also included in Kanamori's latest collection, 'A World of Afternoon Naps.'
'You Are the Heart, I Am the Wings'
The second story is an orthodox juvenile piece by Waka Haruno. It follows a lonely eighth-grade boy who grows wings, his interaction with a beautiful, aloof girl, and themes of flight and falling. It is a coming-of-age story infused with fantasy and sci-fi elements, yet it retains that signature, somewhat illicit, dark undertone characteristic of Haruno's work.
'Flying Children' initially aimed to be children's literature for adults, eventually settling into fantasy literature, and this piece perfectly captures the dazzling nature of the pain and wounds just before becoming an adult.
'The Abyss of Love'
The author of the third story is Urara Shobu. From the very beginning, it evokes the sensation of having stepped into a place one shouldn't be; it is the most mature and dark work in this anthology.
I don't think there are many authors who can express the feeling of a damp Japanese-style house. She depicts the conflict and tragedy born from the lineage of a prestigious family using the motif of 'feathers.'
'Room 412, Arieli'
The fourth story is my own, Sassy's. It is the story of twins, Ari and Eri. Set in a sanatorium closed off from the outside world, it features twins who share sensations, a man with ever-growing fingernails, and a stone man who keeps building the walls of the sanatorium. I poured the longing and fear of a child growing up into the figures of the twins.
🐦⬛ We asked Blanc to do the cover illustration.
This cover illustration is captivating, starting with the angel that seems to emerge from it, but there are many other highlights, such as the adorable details and the mysterious items we requested to be drawn. I am in awe of the passion and effort put into creating such a delicate piece of art.
You can read the secret story behind the creation of the cover art by Blanc here!
The promotional video for this collection of four short stories was created by our member, Urara Shobu.
You can watch this luxurious movie, featuring music by Saku Okada, here 📽️
🐦⬛ This collection is available on booth. If you are interested, please check it out!
Chise Kanamori's 'A World of Afternoon Naps' is also scheduled for a reprint✨ Please check this out as well.
https://drops-shobo.booth.pm
By the way, the term 'kodomo' (children) is written in various ways in Japanese: 'kodomo' (hiragana), 'kodomo' (kanji), and 'kodomo' (different kanji). When you check the usage of 'kodomo' in government documents, I feel like you can vaguely discern what kind of image of 'children' that organization holds. In this collection, we have adopted the 'kodomo' (kanji) spelling, just like in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.