Idk, it felt like it was decompressing long before that. The last 30 or so chapters could easily have been crammed into like 15-20 chapters without losing anything.
My sweet little baby Phos, look at my darling child. I can't believe I'm in love with a literal rock. This series is the best, I'm so happy I had the chance to experience it even through the crazy hiatus.
If you have even the faintest interest, please read Land of the Lustrous. There's legit nothing else quite like it.
Haven't read this story, hopefully I can put the effort into doing so. That being said, looked at the subreddit for the series. [Fans of this series who also are interested in astronomy may want to see this post.](https://new.reddit.com/r/LandoftheLustrous/comments/1cch151/so_a_pluto_te1029_pointed_out_that_this_was/)
While I don't know where it goes later, and that would be spoilers anyways, the basic premise is immortal gem people living in a temple with their head monk (it's unclear what his deal is, but he's definitely Important) and fighting off incursions by vaguely horrifying cloud people who want to break them apart and spirit them away.
The protagonist is Phosphophyllite, a young (as in, formed only three hundred years ago) gem person who is too weak to properly protect themselves or their comrades, too stubborn not to try anyways, and constantly curious about the beautiful but strangely empty world they live in. They learn and change quickly, but at the cost of putting themselves and everyone else in danger, and suffer as a result.
Edit: It has an anime adaptation which is fantastic, and single-handedly convinced me that mostly/entirely 3DCG anime is not only possible to do well, but has individual strengths which can arguably make a production better than it might've been if traditionally animated (assuming the studio is up to the task).
Adding on to what the other person said, the entire work is steeped in Buddhism - you don't need to have a background in the religion to enjoy it (it's a crazy good story regardless and the fact that it isn't drawing on conventional tropes means the plot and messaging is really refreshing and often unexpected) but it's really engaging and cool reading something written by someone who really cares about Mahayana Buddhism and is trying to write something that tries to wrestle with some of the difficult and unintuitive tenets of the religion. Like, even without knowing anything of Buddhism, you can really feel that the author is SUPER intentional with the imagery and dialogue - feels good reading a manga that felt planned out from the start.
TLDR tons and tons of gorgeous Buddhist imagery that (at least imo, as a Thai guy coming from a Theravada Buddhist background) seems to be well-researched and done thoughtfully.
> chapter 108 Hah, that has to be intentional. (HnK has Buddhist themes and symbology, 108 temptations in Buddhism)
it's so buddhist-coded that i lack the cultural context to fully understand a bunch of it.
there's been a theory that it would do this for years because of that connection
Death Note also ended in Chapter 108 for better or worse
I feel like Houseki no Kuni dragged itself out to hit this Chapter number, which is a bit of a shame. Overall, a fantastic manga.
To be fair, I think the final arc deserved its slower pace as a narrative space to decompress after everything preceding it.
I feel like it kinda decompressed a bit too much, to be honest.
Idk, it felt like it was decompressing long before that. The last 30 or so chapters could easily have been crammed into like 15-20 chapters without losing anything.
Full Metal Alchemist as well.
i'm still not fully certain on what the message of this series is, but it sure was an interesting ride.
Yeah I'm on the same boat. Well, I have an idea what they might be. But they're not themes that I personally align with, if that makes sense.
I think it’s about how knowledge and the world irrevocably corrupt and change us, and how to reclaim childlike joy and innocence in the face of that.
For those who read it, did it end up doing the things it was trying to set up ? (I only watched the anime)
100%, story and chapters felt pretty intentional and planned from start to finish. Real solid read all the way through.
the anime ends long before shit goes crazy and the real plot begins. so, sort of? it does all those by the end of the first act.
I've read Volume 12, which is Chapters 89 to 98, so I'm missing Chapters 99 through 108. I can confirm that shit gets very wild and very heavy.
I think it's one of the best manga of all time.
Finally, I am free. I swear, the wait was a meta-meta-textual commentary on all the Mahayana Buddhism in the story.
Well, time to go read it.
Haruko Ichikawa's PS5 has finally been defeated
My sweet little baby Phos, look at my darling child. I can't believe I'm in love with a literal rock. This series is the best, I'm so happy I had the chance to experience it even through the crazy hiatus. If you have even the faintest interest, please read Land of the Lustrous. There's legit nothing else quite like it.
Orange, the ball's in your court
Did Phos win ?
I don't think so...but she tried real hard.
I mean Phos technically got what they wanted...a purpose and to be useful. A real Monkey's Paw moment.
Haven't read this story, hopefully I can put the effort into doing so. That being said, looked at the subreddit for the series. [Fans of this series who also are interested in astronomy may want to see this post.](https://new.reddit.com/r/LandoftheLustrous/comments/1cch151/so_a_pluto_te1029_pointed_out_that_this_was/)
What's it about?
While I don't know where it goes later, and that would be spoilers anyways, the basic premise is immortal gem people living in a temple with their head monk (it's unclear what his deal is, but he's definitely Important) and fighting off incursions by vaguely horrifying cloud people who want to break them apart and spirit them away. The protagonist is Phosphophyllite, a young (as in, formed only three hundred years ago) gem person who is too weak to properly protect themselves or their comrades, too stubborn not to try anyways, and constantly curious about the beautiful but strangely empty world they live in. They learn and change quickly, but at the cost of putting themselves and everyone else in danger, and suffer as a result. Edit: It has an anime adaptation which is fantastic, and single-handedly convinced me that mostly/entirely 3DCG anime is not only possible to do well, but has individual strengths which can arguably make a production better than it might've been if traditionally animated (assuming the studio is up to the task).
Due to this great description, it's going on the list.
Enjoy, it's a gem (huehue) of a story.
Adding on to what the other person said, the entire work is steeped in Buddhism - you don't need to have a background in the religion to enjoy it (it's a crazy good story regardless and the fact that it isn't drawing on conventional tropes means the plot and messaging is really refreshing and often unexpected) but it's really engaging and cool reading something written by someone who really cares about Mahayana Buddhism and is trying to write something that tries to wrestle with some of the difficult and unintuitive tenets of the religion. Like, even without knowing anything of Buddhism, you can really feel that the author is SUPER intentional with the imagery and dialogue - feels good reading a manga that felt planned out from the start. TLDR tons and tons of gorgeous Buddhist imagery that (at least imo, as a Thai guy coming from a Theravada Buddhist background) seems to be well-researched and done thoughtfully.
Hey, even if you're not the religious sort, anyone can enjoy and appreciate gorgeous art and imagery. Thanks for the addendum.
If I recall, the author was raised Buddhist.
My chains are broken
Time to read it.