Baccano! - Volume 19 - Chapter Aft

AFTERWORD

Hello, and congratulations on getting this far. This is Narita.

…And that was the second 1935 volume.

In terms of “beginning, middle, and end,” this is still technically the beginning. I’d planned to include everything up to this point in the first volume, but due to page constraints, it ended up being two volumes. I’m very sorry about that… That said, while it may have been the beginning, in terms of the “introduction, development, twist, conclusion” structure, it covers everything up to “development.”

In the next installment, we’ll finally transition to the casino event, the “middle” and/or “twist” section. But first, there’s going to be a Baccano! side story volume, similar to 1932 Summer.

Also like that volume, it’s an expanded version of the second half of the bonus novels that came with the anime DVDs.

I think opinions about this will probably vary. My personal opinion is that turning DVD bonuses into novels is similar to having a movie that’s gone to DVD shown on TV for free; since it’s been a few years, I hope you’ll forgive my turning it into content again.

Of course, if it’s not necessary, then there’s no need to turn these things into novels. However, there’s one big reason for turning this particular story into a book: An important character who’s going to come up starting in the next volume has already been portrayed very clearly in this bonus novel.

I hesitated over which method to use, but since the 1935 arc is a final settlement of accounts for the 1930s volumes, I want to include as many characters as possible. I’ve decided to reveal each character’s story to as many people as I can, so they can enjoy this crazy ruckus to the max.

This is going to be one of the currents that flow toward the conclusion of Baccano!, so while I’m sure I’ll get some criticism over this move, I hope you’ll watch the series play out all the way to the end before you make your final decision on it.

After the side story volume is released, I’ll fit in a volume of DRRR!!, then head into 1935-C… Or that’s the plan anyway. However it works out, please continue to give all my series your support!

My tenth anniversary as a professional author is coming up, and while I’m delighted about that, I can also tell my stamina isn’t what it used to be. Back when I made my debut, I could stay up for days on end; if I pull a single all-nighter now, I’m groggy and useless for two days afterward.

I guess I’ve gotten old. Curse you, time…is what I thought, but come to think of it, I haven’t gotten any decent exercise since I became an author. The culprit wasn’t time; it was lack of exercise. I pinned a heinous false charge on time, but I’d like to think it’s because I’m getting older and my brain has started to rust. Curse you, time…(and repeat).

As for what I’ve been up to lately, as usual, except when I’m deeply on deadline, I’ve spent all my time gaming. I discovered there’s an indoor airsoft field in my neighborhood, and I’ve joined games now and then, but even when I’m getting exercise, it still has to be kinda like gaming. I feel that games are the height of culture, and I’d like to keep improving so that I produce works of entertainment that can hold their own against these various games.

I got kind of serious at the end there because I realized, Wait a second. I genuinely don’t have anything to report except for the games I’ve played and had to frantically cover my butt. In any case, in lieu of a report on what I’ve been up to, let’s just say I have enough emotional leeway to game.

I managed to get my place cleaned up and had an air conditioner with a humidifier installed, so now I can relax and game…koff, koff…I mean, get cracking on my manuscript.

I suspect I’ll be doing even more projects here and there next year, but I hope to go through the coming months and years with all my readers, and I’ll be praying that all of you have a happy New Year’s.

I hope to have your support in this next year as well…!

*The regular thank-yous start here.

To my supervising editor, Wada (Papio), and the rest of the Dengeki Bunko editorial department. To all the copy editors, for whom I always cause trouble by working too slowly, every single time. To the staff in all the departments at ASCII Media Works. This time around, things were already insanely busy due to the twentieth anniversary festival, and my late manuscript made things even crazier. I’m really sorry about that.

To the people who are constantly taking care of me: my family and friends, and other writers and illustrators.

To Director Omori, Ginyuu Shijin, and everyone else I’m indebted to in anime, manga, games, and other areas of the media mix.

To Katsumi Enami, who breathes life into the ever-expanding cast of characters in my fumbling attempts at novels, even while succeeding right and left at various other jobs.

And to everyone who read this book.

November 2012, Ryohgo Narita