Nisio Isin (西尾 維新 Nishio Ishin, born 1981), frequently written as NisiOisiN to emphasize that his pen name is a palindrome, is a Japanese novelist and manga writer. He attended and left Ritsumeikan University without graduating.[1] In 2002, he debuted with the novel Kubikiri Cycle (クビキリサイクル Kubikiri Saikuru), which earned him the 23rd Mephisto Award at twenty years of age.[2] He currently works with Kodansha on Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture, and Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher.[3] In February, 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases, which is based on the Death Note manga, was released in English by Viz Media.[4] Del Rey Manga has already released the first and second volume in his Zaregoto series. His Bakemonogatari and Katanagatari novels have been adapted into anime.[5][6] The Bakemonogatari prequel novel is also to be adapted as an anime.[7]
Contents |
Nisio's work is characterized by references to other novels, as well as parodies of famous manga series. Among these, Hellsing and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure[8] references are particularly common. He is well regarded as an author who has blended the conventions of mystery novels and character-driven light novels.
As well as stepping on the conventions and stereotypes of anime and light novels, he is known for creating characters with unusual features, such as extremely strange names which are word play, such as Nanananami Nanami, Shikigishi Kishiki, Backyard Bottomslash, Quarter Queen, Sagano Usagi, Byouinzaka Kuroneko (which translates roughly as "Black Cat of Hospital Hill").
Zaregoto Series (戯言シリーズ Zaregoto Shirīzu) is written by Nisio Isin and illustrated by Take. The series was published between February, 2002, and November, 2005. It was followed by a spin-off series Ningen Series starring the Zerozaki clan. All books were released in Japan by Kodansha Novels, and the first two have been released in the US by Del Rey. The Japanese edition finished at nine volumes in November 2005, and it has since been released in a bunkobon edition.[9]
| # | First Published | Name | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 5, 2002 | The Beheading Cycle: The Blue Savant and the Nonsense Bearer (クビキリサイクル 青色サヴァンと戯言遣い Kubikiri Saikuru: Aoiro Savan to Zaregoto Tsukai) | ISBN 4-06-182233-0 (Japanese edition) ISBN 978-4062754309 (bunko) ISBN 978-0345504272 (English edition) |
| 2 | May 8, 2002 | Strangulation Romanticist: Hitoshiki Zerozaki, Human Failure (クビシメロマンチスト―人間失格・零崎人識 Kubishime Romanchisutō: Ningen Shikkaku, Zerozaki Hitoshiki) | ISBN 4-06-182250-0 (Japanese edition) ISBN 978-4062760775 (bunko) ISBN 978-0345505781 (English edition) |
| 3 | August 5, 2002 | Hanging High School: The Nonsense Bearer's Pupil (クビツリハイスクール―戯言遣いの弟子 Kubitsuri Hai Sukūrū: Zaregoto Tsukai no Deshi) | ISBN 4-06-182267-5 (Japanese edition) ISBN 978-4062761338 (bunko) |
| 4 | November 5, 2002 | Psycho Logical (Part One) Gaisuke Utsurigi's Nonsense Killer (サイコロジカル〈上〉兎吊木垓輔の戯言殺し Saiko Rojikaru (Jou) Utsurigi Gaisuke no Zaregoto Koroshi) | ISBN 4-06-182283-7 (Japanese edition) ISBN 978-4062761796 (bunko) |
| 5 | November 5, 2002 | Psycho Logical (Part Two): Sour Little Song (サイコロジカル〈下〉曳かれ者の小唄 Saiko Rojikaru (Ge) Hikaremono no Kouta) | ISBN 4-06-182284-5 (Japanese edition) ISBN 978-4062762120 (bunko) |
| 6 | July 5, 2003 | Cannibal Magical: Niounomiya Siblings, Masters of Carnage (ヒトクイマジカル-殺戮奇術の匂宮兄妹 Hitokui Majikarū Satsuriku Kijutsu no Niounomiya Kyoudai) | ISBN 4-06-182393-0 (Japanese edition) ISBN 978-4062762267 (bunko) |
| 7 | February 8, 2005 | Uprooted Radical (Part One): The Thirteen Stairs (ネコソギラジカル〈上〉十三階段 Nekosogi Rajikaru (Jou) Jūsan Kaidan) | ISBN 4-06-182323-X (Japanese edition) ISBN 978-4062762830 (bunko) |
| 8 | June 7, 2005 | Uprooted Radical (Part Two): Overkill Red vs. The Orange Seed (ネコソギラジカル〈中〉赤き征裁vs.橙なる種 Nekosogi Rajikaru (Chuu) Akaki Seisai vs. Tounaru Shu) | ISBN 4-06-182399-X (Japanese edition) ISBN 978-4062763370 (bunko) |
| 9 | November 8, 2005 | Uprooted Radical (Part Three): The Blue Savant and the Master of Nonsense (ネコソギラジカル〈下〉青色サヴァンと戯言遣い Nekosogi Rajikaru (Ge) Aoiro Savan to Zaregoto Tsukai) | ISBN 4-06-182400-7 (Japanese edition) ISBN 978-4062763899 (bunko) |
Connected to the Zaregoto Series, it is also known as the "Zerozaki Ichizoku Series." The illustrations are also provided by take. This series has also been published by Kodansha Novels.
| First Published | Name | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2004 | ' (Zerozaki Soushiki no Ningen Shiken) | ISBN 4-06-182359-0 |
| November 7, 2006 | ' (Zerozaki Kishishiki no Ningen Knock) | ISBN 4-06-182509-7 |
| March 6, 2008 | ' (Zerozaki Magashiki no Ningen Ningen) | ISBN 978-4061825826 |
| March 25, 2010 | ' (Zerozaki Hitoshiki no Ningen Kankei: Nyounomiya Izumu to no Kankei ) | ISBN 978-4-06-182582-6 |
| March 25, 2010 | ' (Zerozaki Hitoshiki no Ningen Kankei: Mutou Iori to no Kankei ) | ISBN 978-4-06-182680-9 |
| March 25, 2010 | ' (Zerozaki Hitoshiki no Ningen Kankei: Zerozaki Soushiki to no Kankei) | ISBN 978-4-06-182681-6 |
| March 25, 2010 | ' (Zerozaki Hitoshiki no Ningen Kankei: Zaregoto Tsukai to no Kankei) | ISBN 978-4-06-182682-3 |
| First Published | Name | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| November, 2003 | Kimi to Boku no Kowareta Sekai | ISBN 4-06-182342-6 |
| October, 2007 | Bukimi to Soboku na Kakowareta Sekai | ISBN 978-4-06-182557-4 |
| July, 2008 | Kimi to Boku ga Kowashita Sekai | ISBN 978-4061826007 |
| December, 2008 | Bukimi de Soboku na Kakowareta Kimi to Boku no Kowareta Sekai | ISBN 978-4061826267 |
| Boku no Sekai | Unreleased |
Serialized in Faust magazine with illustrations by Capcom's Kinu Nishimura
See main article: Shin Honkaku Mahou Shoujo Risuka
| First Published | Name | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| July 17, 2004 | "Shin Honkaku Mahō Shōjo Risuka" | ISBN 4-06-182381-7 |
| March 6, 2005 | "Shin Honkaku Mahō Shōjo Risuka 2" | ISBN 4-06-182432-5 |
| February 22, 2007 | "Shin Honkaku Mahō Shōjo Risuka 3" | ISBN 4-06-182521-6 |
| "Shin Honkaku Mahō Shōjo Risuka 0" | Unreleased |
The Japan Detectives Club was created by Ryusui Seiryoin, and NisiOisin is one of several authors to write novels using that setting.
| First Published | Name | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| March 2004 | Double Down Kanguro | ISBN 4-06-182305-1 |
| August 2007 | Triple Play Sukeakuro | ISBN 978-4-06-182538-3 |
The series was first created by Nisio Isin as a series of short stories for Mephisto magazine. While his previous Zaregoto series featured large casts of characters, each Bakemonogatari story tends to introduce only one new character. The previously published stories, and some new ones, were eventually collected in two volumes as part of the Kodansha Box launch titles on November 1, 2006 and December 1, 2006. The first volume contains three stories titled Hitagi Crab (ひたぎクラブ), Mayoi Snail (まよいマイマイ) and Suruga Monkey (するがモンキー); the second volume comes with two newly written stories titled Nadeko Snake (なでこスネイク) and Tsubasa Cat (つばさキャット).
A prequel to the series, titled Koyomi Vamp (こよみヴァンプ) was published in the first issue of Pandora magazine, it was later released as a separate volume on May 7, 2008 as Kizumonogatari (傷物語, "Scar Story"). The first volume of Nisemonogatari (偽物語, "Impostory"), a sequel to the series, was released on September 2, 2008 and contains Karen Bee (かれんビー). The second volume, contains Tsukihi Phoenix (つきひフェニックス) was released on June 10, 2009.[10] The first volume of Nekomonogatari (猫物語, "Cat Story") is a prequel that takes place between Kizumonogatari and Bakemonogatari. It was released on July 28, 2010 and contains Tsubasa Family (つばさファミリー).
The second volume of Nekomonogatari is the start of the second season to the series and contains Tsubasa Tiger (つばさタイガー) and was released on October 29, 2010. Kabukimonogatari (傾物語, "Slope Story") was released on December 24, 2010 and containing Mayoi Jiang Shi (まよいキョンシー). Hanamonogatari (花物語, "Flower Story") containing Suruga Devil (するがデビル) was released on March 31,2011. Otorimonogatari (囮物語, "Decoy Story") containing Nadeko Medusa (なでこメドゥーサ) was released on June 30,2011. Onimonogatari (鬼物語, "Demon Story") containing Shinobu Time (しのぶタイム) was released on September 28, 2011. Koimonogatari (恋物語, "Love Story") containing Hitagi End (ひたぎエンド) was released on December 22, 2011.
The final season of the series will contain three books. The first one is Tsukimonogatari (憑物語, "Possess Story") containing Yotsugi Doll (よつぎドール). The second is Owarimonogatari (終物語, "End Story") containing Ougi Dark (おうぎダーク). The third is Zokuowarimonogatari (続終物語, "Continuation End Story") containing Koyomi Book (こよみブック).
| # | First Published | Name | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 1, 2006 | Bakemonogatari (化物語 (上), a portmanteau of bakemono [monster] and monogatari [story, tale]) | ISBN 978-4062836029 |
| 2 | December 1, 2006 | Bakemonogatari (化物語 (下)) | ISBN 978-4062836074 |
| 1 | May 7, 2008 | Kizumonogatari (傷物語, a portmanteau of kizumono [something damaged, scarred or wounded] and monogatari [story, tale]) | ISBN 978-4062836630 |
| 1 | September 2, 2008 | Nisemonogatari (偽物語 (上), a portmanteau of nisemono [a fake, impostor, or imitation] and monogatari [story, tale]) | ISBN 978-4062836791 |
| 2 | June 10, 2009 | Nisemonogatari (偽物語 (下)) | ISBN 978-4062837026 |
| 1 | July 28, 2010 | Nekomonogatari (猫物語 (黒)) | ISBN 978-4062837484 |
| 2 | October 29, 2010 | Nekomonogatari (猫物語 (白)) | ISBN 978-4-06-283758-3 |
| 1 | December 24, 2010 | Kabukimonogatari (傾物語) | ISBN 978-4-06-283767-5 |
| 1 | March 31, 2011 | Hanamonogatari (花物語) | ISBN 978-4-06-283771-2 |
| 1 | June 30, 2011 | Otorimonogatari (囮物語) | ISBN 978-4-06-283776-7 |
| 1 | September 28, 2011 | Onimonogatari (鬼物語) | ISBN 978-4-06-283781-1 |
| 1 | December 22, 2011 | Koimonogatari (恋物語) | ISBN 978-4-06-283792-7 |
| 1 | 2012 | Tsukimonogatari (憑物語) | Unreleased |
| 1 | 2012 | Owarimonogatari (終物語) | Unreleased |
| 1 | 2012 | Zokuowarimonogatari (続終物語) | Unreleased |
This twelve volume samurai epic with illustrations by take was released one volume a month throughout 2007. A spin-off novel, Maniwagatari, was released a few months later.
| First Published | Name | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| January 9, 2007 | "Katanagatari Chapter 1: Zettou Kanna" | ISBN 978-4-06-283611-1 |
| February 3, 2007 | "Katanagatari Chapter 2: Zantou Namakura" | ISBN 978-4-06-283604-3 |
| March 1, 2007 | "Katanagatari Chapter 3: Sentou Tsurugi" | ISBN 978-4-06-283619-7 |
| April 2, 2007 | "Katanagatari Chapter 4: Hakutou Hari" | ISBN 978-4-06-283623-4 |
| May, 2007 | "Katanagatari Chapter 5: Zokutou Yoroi" | ISBN 978-4-06-283628-9 |
| June, 2007 | "Katanagatari Chapter 6: Soutou Kanadzuchi" | ISBN 978-4-06-283631-9 |
| July, 2007 | "Katanagatari Chapter 7: Akutou Bita" | ISBN 978-4-06-283634-0 |
| August, 2007 | "Katanagatari Chapter 8: Bitou Kanzashi" | ISBN 978-4-06-283636-4 |
| September, 2007 | "Katanagatari Chapter 9: Outou Nokogiri" | ISBN 978-4-06-283639-4 |
| October, 2007 | "Katanagatari Chapter 10: Seitou Hakari" | ISBN 978-4-06-283643-2 |
| November, 2007 | "Katanagatari Chapter 11: Dokutou Mekki" | ISBN 978-4-06-283648-7 |
| December, 2007 | "Katanagatari Chapter 12: Entou Juu" | ISBN 978-4062836524 |
| February, 2008 | "Maniwagatari" | ISBN 978-4062836876 |
| First Published | Name | ISBN | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2006 | xxxHolic: Another Holic Landolt-Ring Aerosol (×××HOLiC アナザーホリック ランドルト環エアロゾル Horikku Anazāhorikku Randoruto-Kan Earozoru) | ISBN 4-06-213509-4 (Japanese edition) ISBN 978-0-345-50518-7 (English edition) |
Kodansha (Japanese) Del Rey (English).[11] |
| August 1, 2006 | Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases (アナザーノート — ロサンゼルスBB連続殺人事件) | ISBN 4-08-780439-9 (Japanese edition) ISBN 978-1421518831 (English edition) |
Shueisha (Japanese) Viz Media (English) |
| First Published | Name | ISBN | Volumes |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 6, 2005 | "Ningyo ga Ningyo" | ISBN 4-06-182453-8 | 1 |
| December 14, 2007 | "Youkai Henge Kyogyokudo Tribute" (Anthology) | ISBN 978-4062144759 | 1 |
| December 10, 2009 | "Nanmin Tantei" | ISBN 978-4-06-215941-8 | 1 |
| September 6, 2011 | "Shoujo Fujuubun" | ISBN 978-4-06-182800-1 | 1 |
| First Published | Name | Artist | Publisher and Magazine |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2006 | "Hōkago, Nanajikan-me" | Yun Kōga | Kōdansha Comic Faust |
| January 4, 2008 | Urooboe Uroboros! (うろおぼえウロボロス) | Takeshi Obata | Shueisha Weekly Shōnen Jump[12] |
| February 2, 2009 | Medaka Box (めだかボックス) | Akira Akatsuki | Shueisha Weekly Shōnen Jump |
|
|||||||||||