Thank you as always for your support. It’s me, Carlo Zen. How did you enjoy Volume 14? This makes two volumes published in two consecutive months, with no wait.
As long as you enjoyed it, there is nothing that could make me happier.
As always, I have Shinobu Shinotsuki, the editors, the proofreaders, the designers, the printers who helped even during the Bon season, and a great many others to thank for all their support during this long forced march.
More than anything…knowing that the readers were out there waiting gave me the impetus to write! It really is easier to write knowing that there are people out there waiting for you. I am extremely grateful.
In Volume 14, in terms of narrative, I think Zetts finally came into his own as a clear charlatan. And I suppose Tanya played a fair part in seeing him hatch. It looks like the series’ transformation into The Saga of De-Cooling the Geezers might be intensifying for the immediate future. I hope you don’t mind!
Now then, there was a bit of a hiatus, so this may not feel as impactful as it might, but it has now been ten years since the first volume of The Saga of Tanya the Evil was published, making this our ten-year anniversary.
Although this is a thing to be celebrated, I actually hadn’t intended to split this entry into a part I and part II.
However…between Zetts cutting loose and other characters flying off the handle like they did, well…I honestly felt like it was my characters leading me around by the nose. They really made sure my work was cut out for me. I could probably write another volume just about how much hard work this was.
It was looking like I was going to reach a thousand pages. Too much to whittle down while keeping a handle on everything!
I’m embarrassed to say that someone like me, who has always respected word limits, can not easily let go of ingrained habits.
Then it occurred to me, however. If I just split the entry in two, why, my word limit would double, wouldn’t it? And thus I began boldly scheming to attack head-on, breaching the word limits using a close, mathematical approach, and deciding while I was at it that I would also have room to write a free and generous afterword.
However, as someone who was already three years late, I’m afraid I didn’t have much breaching force left. I was asked to keep the afterword short instead…
However, it is our tenth anniversary, after all, so we have decided to deliver this issue in a special expanded volume, with some extra illustrations after the rear copyright page!
Once again, thank you, everyone, for putting up with all my quirks and goofing off.
And besides, after publishing in consecutive months, I think I’ve started to get a handle on “breach force.” Next time, for sure…! I’m still committed to challenging those word limits, and never giving up!
It’s almost time for us to say goodbye. I suppose it would be better if I could share ideas about prospective release dates for the next volume. As far as my stunning faculties of memory can recall, the plan is for Volume 15 to be announced and released at around the appropriate time. Specifically, I hope it can be released some time next year…or at least that’s what I’m hoping.
Honestly, I’m sorry for always keeping everyone waiting…
But hey, there’s the second season of the anime to look forward to as well… I promise to do my best. Just don’t give up on me.
Now then, until next time!
✦ ✦ ✦
September 2023, Carlo Zen