Growing up I would sometimes turn to a channel simply known as the International Channel. That’s where I was first introduced to Slayers, where Lina Inverse and her crew’s “merry” adventures intrigued and entertained me. Since then it’s fallen into many hands (I remember it being on Anime Network on Demand, and now, many years later, Funimation has the rights to it), but it was likely well into my college years when I learned the anime was based on a light novel series. That light novel series by Hajime Kanzaka is still ongoing today, but not so in English — TOKYOPOP only released the first eight volumes until stopping around 2008.
Well, 12 years later, Slayers has now returned! J-Novel Club announced at their Anime Expo Lite panel just moments ago amongst their many licenses that they will be bringing this series back. The President and Founder of JNC, Sam Pinansky, discussed with TheOASG about re-releasing this hilarious fantasy romp:
TheOASG: So yes, Slayers is now back! Is it fine to ask how long J-Novel Club’s been looking to release this title?
Sam Pinansky: We’ve been looking into it for about 2 years seriously, but of course of all the titles that were published incomplete back a decade ago, this was one that I always felt really needed a complete re-release.
Well, until the author started writing more volumes! Now I can’t say it’s “complete” anymore…
How would you state the significance of Hajime Kanzaka’s work being released officially again in English?
Symbolically, I think it holds real significance. Light novels themselves in Japan are often talked about in terms of “eras”. The very beginning was Record of Lodoss War, but the first Golden Age was driven by Slayers (Sorcerous Stabber Orphen is also from this era). Then the beginning of the modern era of light novels came with Haruhi, and some say the contemporary era is represented by Sword Art Online. To be able to publish a light novel that literally defines an era is pretty amazing.
Can you share the localizers assigned to Slayers?
The translator is the same veteran who has been doing such a good job with Full Metal Panic, Elizabeth Ellis! And the editor is Megan Denton, who has edited a ton of our series, including the entire Rokujouma series!
The series only had eight volumes released in English. Can you confirm JNC will be intending to release all the main volumes?
We’re just going to release the first 3 and stop…NOT. Yes, we intend to translate and publish every Slayers light novel in the main series. And any new volumes that might get published in the meantime, too.
Will this just be digital only?
We will be releasing them digitally first, and then in print 3-in-1 hardcover omnibus editions. The first omnibus should be out next summer.
Finally, what’s JNC’s expectations for Slayers?
It’s a beloved series, but despite TOKYOPOP’s edition being cancelled, you could still always find copies of them around for not too much money. So frankly speaking, I don’t think this will be one of our top sellers.
On the other hand, I am very hopeful that there will be enough fans out there who purchase the ebooks and hardcovers to make it worth the investment for us. Other license rescue titles we’ve published have all done “well-enough” to be sustainable, and our expectation for Slayers are similar. I’d love to be proven wrong and have it be a strong seller though!
You can check out Part 1 of Volume 1 of the novel on J-Novel Club’s site now.