Japanese Ultima novels
As the Ultima series became popular in Japan during the late eighties and early nineties, a number of novelizations and fictional works were published in relation to the series.
This is not to be confused with the also published Japanese Ultima gamebooks, which are something different.
Aspect[edit]
Ultima Underworld[edit]
- Title: ウルティマ アンダーワールド (Urutima Andaawaarudo)
- Publisher: Aspect
- Author: 野間逸平 (Ippei Noma), 伏見 健二 (Kenji Fushimi)
- Published: Jul. 22, 1994
- Original List Price: ¥610
- Length: 286 pages
- ISBN-10: 4893661787
- ISBN-13: 978-4893661784
Synopsis: The popular Ultima series finally comes to adventure paperback! Readers will be charmed by the strong and beautiful heroine Sharon, who has become the Avatar (one who has mastered the Eight Virtues) and is led once more by parties unknown into the fantasy world of Britannia. To save Baron Amrik's daughter Ariel, Sharon sets out for the Abyss. Beset by many foes, she begins her search for Ariel – only to discover...[1]
JICC[edit]
Ultima Novel: Quest of the Avatar[edit]
- Title: 小説ウルティマ クエスト・オブ・アバタール (Shousetsu Urutima ~ Kuesuto obu Abataaru)
- Publisher: JICC.
- Author: 井上 尚美 (Naomi Inoue)
- Published: Oct. 30, 1989
- Length: 189 pages
- Original List Price: ¥971
- ISBN-10: 4880636053
- ISBN-13: 978-4880636054
Synopsis: The three evils of Mondain, Minax, and Exodus have been destroyed, and Britannia has been blessed with an age of peace and prosperity. But Lord British has his doubts. The terrors that had thrown this world into panic are now vanquished – but the evil they have called into the hearts of its people yet remains. If it is left unchecked, the powers of darkness could very well rise again... And so comes the solution of the philosophers of the Lycaeum: the Quest of the "Avatar" – the living embodiment of the Virtues, the Saint who has mastered the Principles of Truth, Love, and Courage on which this world is founded. But to become the Avatar, one must face trials beyond imagination... Lord British's call has been answered, eight companions gathered, a peerless company assembled. And so they set out on this quest – the Quest of the Avatar.[2]
Kadokawa Novels[edit]
Ultima: Monstrous Metamorphosis – Vol. 1 – Book of the Water Dragon[edit]
- Title: ウルティマ妖魔変〈第1部〉水竜の章 (Urutima Youma-Hen [Dai-Ichibu] Sui-Ryu no Shou)
- Publisher: Kadokawa Novels
- Author: 西谷 史 (Aya Nishitani)
- Published: Jan. 25, 1988
- Length: 205 pages
- Original List Price: ¥340
- ISBN-10: 4044104166
- ISBN-13: 978-4044104160
Synopsis: The power of the black arts has been purged from the world of Ultima by heroes from the "Real World." The dark warlock Mondain hurls a curse toward the Real World, where four high school students are possessed by evil spirits. Now, eight years later, we visit two of the four – rock star Aya Mizugami and Takuma Hiura, computer expert on her music productions. The evil spirits within them begin to awaken, and Aya begins to undergo a bizarre transformation... A cutting-edge sci-fi novel taking dynamic inspiration from the world of computers, first in a thrilling series by Aya Nishitani, expanding on the super-popular Ultima series![3]
Ultima: Monstrous Metamorphosis – Vol. 2 – Book of Magic[edit]
- Title: ウルティマ妖魔変〈第2部〉魔道の章 (Urutima Youma-Hen [Dai-Nibu] Madou no Shou)
- Publisher: Kadokawa Novels
- Author: 西谷 史 (Aya Nishitani)
- Published: Jun. 1, 1989
- Length: 194 pages
- Original List Price: ¥340
- ISBN-10: 4044104174
- ISBN-13: 978-4044104177
Synopsis: The world of Ultima was delivered from the thrall of evil by heroes from the "Real World." However, the ghosts of the mages Mondain and Minax have sworn vengeance, causing four high school students from the Real World to be possessed by evil spirits. Eight years later, one of them, the beautiful rock singer Aya Mizugami, possessed by a water spirit, transforms into a water dragon during a concert; she breaks through the ceiling of the concert hall and flies away. Through the despair and rage of Takuma Hiura, in love with Mizugami, the fire spirit within him is awakened. Mondain, his spirit housed within a supercomputer, and Minax, who has become flesh once more, awaken the spirits of earth and wind and begin to plunge the Real World into chaos... The shocking, bizarre second installment of the series inspired by the popular Ultima games![4]
Note: In a pun, the heroine's last name translates to "water god"; the hero's, to "sun bay."
Ultima: Monstrous Metamorphosis – Vol. 3 – Book of the Crimson Fog[edit]
- Title: ウルティマ妖魔変〈第3部〉紅霧の章 (Urutima Youma-Hen [Dai-Sanbu] Koumu no Shou)
- Publisher: Kadokawa Novels
- Author: 西谷 史 (Aya Nishitani)
- Published: Aug. 1, 1990
- Length: 206 pages
- Original List Price: ¥379
- ISBN-10: 4044104182
- ISBN-13: 978-4044104184
Synopsis: The wounded Earth Dragon absorbs the red mist of Exodus into its flesh on the ruined isle of Magincia and is reborn. The crimson fog it spews from its maw turns Britannian after Britannian into Exodus's slave, and the world of Ultima is plunged into chaos. At the same time, the spirit of Fire, Takuma Hiura, in his search for the spirit of Eve, happens upon a mysterious old priest in a field of flowers in the vast forests of Mt. Fuji, while Kitasato (the spirit of Wind) is abducted by marauders along with a charming young lady named Yuki... Who will be the hero who saves Britannia from this crisis? To repel the evil spirits, the world of Ultima and the Real World converge at one point, and it is here where all will be decided.[5]
Ultima Gaiden: Lovers of Cyber Tower (part of Fantasy Kingdom 〈1〉)[edit]
- Title: ウルティマ外伝: 電脳塔の恋人 (Urutima Gaiden: Dennou Tou no Koibitotachi), published in ファンタジー王国〈1〉 (Fantajii Oukoku 〈1〉)
- Publisher: Kadokawa Novels
- Author: 西谷 史 (Aya Nishitani)
- Published: Jan. 25, 1991
- Original List Price: ¥738
Note: Tale is anthologized with three unrelated stories.[6]
Locus[edit]
Ultima VI: Survive and Fight![edit]
- Title: ウルティマ6: 生きて戦え! (Urutima 6: Ikite Tatakae!)
- Publisher: Locus/Seiunsya
- Author: 金井 哲夫 (Tetsuo Kanai)
- Published: Mar. 15, 1993
- Length: 254 pages
- Original List Price: ¥971
- ISBN-10: 4795276285
- ISBN-13: 978-4795276284
Synopsis: The heroic Avatar, all too inured to death, discovers a new self upon looking death in the face personally... More of a mental fantasy action tale.[7]
Ultima Underworld 1.5: Bride of Another Dimension[edit]
- Title: ウルティマ アンダーワールド 1.5: 異次元の花嫁 (Urutima Andaawaarudo 1.5: Ijigen no Hanayome)
- Publisher: Locus/Seiunsya
- Author: 金井 哲夫 (Tetsuo Kanai)
- Published: Aug. 10, 1994
- Length: 223 pages
- Original List Price: ¥971
- ISBN-10: 4795276331
- ISBN-13: 978-4795276338
Synopsis: A party of rowdy mountain men, a Lolita of a mage, and a battle of puns between the Avatar and a demon from another dimension! What kind of Ultima is this!? Lord British'll blow his top!! But it's OK – Americans can't read it, anyway![8]
Alternatively: The mountainmen giving a party with powder? An abnormal mage? The devil of a strange dimension and the Avatar confront a cheap joke? Can there be such an unreasonable ULTIMA? Lord British will be very angry. It's okay. Anyway Americans can not read it ! ha.. ha.. ha..![9]
External Links[edit]
- KtJ Dragon – a listing of Japanese Ultima novels and gamebooks
References[edit]
- ↑ BOOK Database via Amazon Japan. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
- ↑ BOOK Database via Amazon Japan. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
- ↑ BOOK Database via Amazon Japan. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
- ↑ BOOK Database via Amazon Japan. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
- ↑ BOOK Database via Amazon Japan. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
- ↑ BOOK Database via Amazon Japan. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
- ↑ BOOK Database via Amazon Japan. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
- ↑ BOOK Database via Amazon Japan. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
- ↑ Japanese Ultima Curiosities. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
| Ultima Novels | |
|---|---|
| Ultima Saga | The Forge of Virtue ☥ The Temper of Wisdom |
| Technocrat War | Book One: Machinations ☥ Book Two: Masquerade ☥ Book Three: Maelstrom |
| Other | Japanese Ultima gamebooks ☥ Japanese Ultima novels |