tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7359282494220851602.post4089458031247632775..comments2023-08-17T02:18:21.530+12:00Comments on Lan's Side Quest: Spice and Wolf- novel 4Lanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17236048894890201415noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7359282494220851602.post-58460334250653258692015-03-19T13:49:33.826+13:002015-03-19T13:49:33.826+13:00While I understand that, this ending was just so w...While I understand that, this ending was just so wrong; nothing like the previous endings which were immensely satisfying. I felt like Isuna decided to include unnecessary things (contract voiding, cookies, etc) and ignore necessary points (contract's clauses, rational negotiations, profits). It's just a very strange and disappointing ending that also was very shortsighted in the book and writing. I hope the other volumes do not produce conclusions such as this.<br /><br />Yes, Isuna is a he. I would say I'm a fan of his but the previous pieces of his works that I've gone through were rather disappointing. Aside from this volume, World End Economica I while still good overall wasn't well executed, and his other Manga Billionaire Girl was a completely hollow experience. I'm starting to think Spice and Wolf really will be his one and defining piece of work. Shame really when he's such a great niche writer.XiCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7359282494220851602.post-41171600338005969312015-03-17T22:33:20.823+13:002015-03-17T22:33:20.823+13:00fair enough. Unlike western authors, Japanese auth...fair enough. Unlike western authors, Japanese authors are pressured to churn out their novels as quickly as possible. If he(?) had enough time to work on each novel im sure details like this would have been ironed out.Lanhttp://lanssidequest.blogspot.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7359282494220851602.post-21165405837041010192015-03-17T17:55:15.252+13:002015-03-17T17:55:15.252+13:00Having just finished volume four I found the concl...Having just finished volume four I found the conclusion rather distasteful. While I understand what Lawrence did and why he did what he did in the negotiations, the results are less than ideal. In a position of great power (thanks to the "miracle") he still gives up the village's absurdly favourable contract (ignoring the stipulation that the villagers do not have to pay tax for goods they purchase) and does not manage to sell the wheat.<br /><br />His solution is temporary at best and in the short term thanks to the extra quantity of wheat the villagers should be able to profit greatly with cookies. He has their unilateral support due to this but that is because no one has foresight nor knows of business. In the future the village will be cornered into the trap that all villages face at the time as they have been effectively folded under Enburch's influence. Without the contract they will lose their way of life within years and will have to work extra hard on side jobs to ensure they have enough money to survive. After all, cookies will be done by other bakers given the time and since the contract no longer exists, Tereo is no different economically from any other village now.<br /><br />The compromise Lawrence made is disastrous and he has effectively screwed the villagers; he offered the contract to be nullified when he had no need to. Yes, it would avoid further conflicts in the future only because Enburch has gotten what they wanted. What makes me cringe most about this solution is that Lawrence himself does not profit greatly from this ordeal. He, humbled for whatever reason only asks for his wheat to bought at an above average price from the villagers of all people. He could have very well sold it to that wheat merchant in Enburch as part of the negotiation as his wheat is not of Tereo.<br /><br />Of all the novels so far this one's conclusion is the most disappointing. I am actually glad it never made it to the Anime as if this was the arc that finished the Anime series I would have been left immensely disappointed.XiCnoreply@blogger.com