Ryo Mizuno: “Record of Lodoss War”
**Japanese follows English (The Japanese translation by DeepL is below the English)**
The book I would like to introduce this time is "Record of Lodoss War" (Lodoss-tou Senki), the fantasy light-novel series written by Ryo Mizuno. The series began in 1988, and as recently as 2019, new sequels were still being published. It was a work I became absorbed in at the same time as "Fortune Quest" (Fortune Quest), which I introduced previously.
Like "Fortune Quest", "Record of Lodoss War" is set in a world of swords and sorcery. However, its tone is solemn and weighty, with a more dramatic and mythic atmosphere. The main series concludes in seven volumes, but the universe expanded significantly afterward. Additional works include "Legend of Lodoss", which takes place during the earlier “Demonic Wars” era and follows the exploits of the "Six Heroes" who brought the conflict to an end, as well as "New Record of Lodoss War", a sequel featuring Spark—the protagonist of volumes six and seven—who becomes the ruler of the Marmo Duchy and faces new adversaries. Across these stories, protagonists such as Parn, Nashil, and Spark embody strong moral conviction, and their growth and the activities of the many compelling characters are central themes.
"Record of Lodoss War" originally began as a TRPG replay created by Group SNE and serialized in the computer magazine "Comptiq". As the series gained popularity, its worldbuilding, story, and characters attracted a strong following, eventually leading to its novelization. Because of its TRPG origins, rulebooks were later published that allowed players to enjoy adventures set in the Lodoss world. The system was designed to be approachable for beginners, which is why the very first TRPG system I ever played was based on "Record of Lodoss War".
Like "Fortune Quest", "Record of Lodoss War" has also spawned a wide range of multimedia adaptations. I recently rewatched the anime series, and I have listened to its theme song, “Kaze no Fantasia”, more times than I can count. Additionally, in 1988, Humming Bird Soft released the PC RPG "Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch", followed by its sequel "Record of Lodoss War II: Five Colored Dragon", which I played repeatedly on my PC-98. And so, this time, I’ve introduced "Record of Lodoss War". If you have the chance, I hope you will pick it up and experience its world for yourself.
The work I would like to introduce this time is the fantasy light-novel series "Record of Lodoss War" by Ryo Mizuno. It began in 1988, and as recently as 2019, new sequels were still being published. It is a work I became absorbed in at the same time as "Fortune Quest," which I introduced previously.
Like "Fortune Quest," "Record of Lodoss War" is set in a world of swords and sorcery. However, its tone is solemn and weighty, with a more dramatic and mythic atmosphere. The main series concludes in seven volumes, but the universe expanded significantly afterward. Additional works include "Legend of Lodoss," which takes place during the earlier "Demonic Wars" era and follows the exploits of the "Six Heroes" who brought the conflict to an end, as well as "New Record of Lodoss War," a sequel featuring Spark—the protagonist of volumes six and seven—who becomes the ruler of the Marmo Duchy and faces new adversaries. Across these stories, protagonists such as Parn, Nashil, and Spark embody strong moral conviction, and their growth and the activities of the many compelling characters are central themes.
"Record of Lodoss War" originally began as a TRPG replay created by Group SNE and serialized in the computer magazine "Comptiq." As the series gained popularity, its worldbuilding, story, and characters attracted a strong following, eventually leading to its novelization. Because of its TRPG origins, rulebooks were later published that allowed players to enjoy adventures set in the Lodoss world. The system was designed to be approachable for beginners, which is why the very first TRPG system I ever played was based on "Record of Lodoss War."
Like "Fortune Quest," "Record of Lodoss War" has also spawned a wide range of multimedia adaptations. I recently rewatched the anime series, and I have listened to its theme song, "Kaze no Fantasia," more times than I can count. Additionally, in 1988, Humming Bird Soft released the PC RPG "Record of Lodoss War: The Grey Witch," followed by its sequel "Record of Lodoss War II: Five Colored Dragon," which I played repeatedly on my PC-98. And so, this time, I’ve introduced "Record of Lodoss War." If you have the chance, I hope you will pick it up and experience its world for yourself.