Baccano! - Volume 15 - Chapter Aft

AFTERWORD

Hello, it’s been a while. This is Narita. It really has been a long time for readers who are only following the Baccano! series, and I’m very sorry about that.

This book is a sequel to 1705, and it covers the few years up to 1710. As always, the reading order is pretty complicated, but if you follow the volume numbers on the spine, you should be fine!

In this volume, I narrowed the perspective to focus on the pasts of Huey’s group. It’s a break from the norm in several ways, but that’s just how the 1700-era volumes are.

*Warning: The following paragraphs contain spoilers.

This was the first time I’d written that sort of “end” in Baccano!, and I’m pretty sure it’ll be the last time for this series. I was surprised at how reluctant I was to show the death of a major character. I’d already hinted this particular character was dead, though, and I didn’t think I’d be able to move on without writing about it… Well, my policies tend to be flexible, so I can’t go Never doing that again! with complete confidence. Even I can’t tell where this series is going.

Fun fact: After I finished writing this manuscript, a certain character in a certain famous manga died in the same way and even said the same thing as in my story. I screamed and made a few corrections here and there, but what they are is a secret.

In any case, the next one will be 1711. I’d like to tell the story of how the alchemists who show up in the 1930 and 2000 arcs all got assembled, and to give the perspective of the mastermind behind the 1710 incident (his motive, or rather, his objective, etc.), so please sit tight and wait patiently.

By the way, I’ve been getting questions about this a lot lately in fan letters, so: Although he’s the mastermind, it’s not as if he’s to blame for absolutely everything. He has nothing to do with Renee being—well, Renee in the 1930s, or with Ladd being a bloodthirsty killer, or with Graham being a nutcase, or with Firo being too naive, so please don’t misunderstand. Actually, if that was true, he’d be as almighty as Ronny…

Now then, the DRRR!! anime is currently airing, so those of you who only buy Baccano!, absolutely take this opportunity to explore my other series! There are a lot of people who’ve seen the DRRR!! anime and then bought the Baccano! DVDs, and I’m really grateful!

To my editor, Wada (Papio)—for whom I made a heck of a lot of trouble this time, in the midst of a truly hellish schedule—as well as the copy editors, the publishing department, and everyone at the printer: I’m really, really sorry, and thank you very much!

I also forgot to say this in the last volume, but thanks to Minoru Kawakami for pointing me toward so much fantastic reference material for the 1930s-era books!

A big thank you to Katsumi Enami—to whom I’m indebted for all sorts of things, including the Baccano! Art Book, which is in stores now—for the terrific illustrations this time as well!

And finally, thank you very much to everyone who read this book all the way to the end!

February 2010—Writing a tribute story for Vol. 5 of A Certain Scientific Railgun

Ryohgo Narita