Kuze

0 comments by Kuze on Jan 9th, 2011

2001 Nights is a masterpiece, a gem that is unlike Ghost in the Shell nearly unknown outside Japan. I found this manga accidentaly when browsing for space art, two years ago, and I the most fortunate manga discovery in my life. This is nothing like the superhero graphic novels or the other well known themes in the western graphic novels. This is hard science fiction, and in my opinion definitely not for kids and teen. In 3 volumes telling short stories staring with humanity's early steps into space and ending hundreds of years in the future. Exploration of Moon, early space colonies, solar sailers, generation ships, first hyperspace jumps, and other classic themes. Some of them heavily inspired by Clarke's Space Odyssey series. The volumes are available in English translation since 1996.

I highly recommend this manga for everyone who likes good and hard sci-fi. This manga will not disappoint you a guarantee.

A 60 minute long OVA was made in 1987, named Space Fantasia 2001 Nights. It was not translated into English (fortunatelly). (You can find the whole anime on the Youtube with English subs)

Another adaptation was made in 2009, named TO. It tells two stories from the manga and they are full CGI. I recommend to read the manga first and then watch the animes.