Orion (manga)
Encyclopedia
is a science fiction
/fantasy
manga
by Masamune Shirow
, first published in 1991 by Seishinsha.
, Taoism
, ancient Japanese myth
, element of cyberpunk
, Yin/Yang mysticism, and particle physics
, with a heavy dose of Shirow's wild imagination. The story is based on minor empire within the expansive (25 world) Galactic Empire, known as Great Yamato Empire
, located on minor backwater world. Dealing with gods, end of world scenario and numbers of characters caught up with universe shattering event.
using a massive technological reactor called the Nāga Generator. Unfortunately, negative karma cannot simply be destroyed, it must be atoned for. However the leader of the powerful mystic Buddhist Fuze Clan plans to stop the destruction of the negative karma which will end up creating the nine-headed Nāga
and destroy the world if not the whole universe. To help in stopping the creation of the Nāga, the clan summons a Shinto
god known as Susano
, the Warrior God of Destruction. The powerful, arrogant, and homicidal god faces challenges. These include the Empire and the clan leader's own daughter, the bratty sorceress Seska, who is possessed by the power of the negative Karma and a powerful magic formula.
At the beginning, the Clan steals a secret magical diagram/formula which contains magic power to control Nāga
once it is created.
The clan Fuze's leader, Maître Fuzen, begins the ceremony when his rival, Dr. Hebime, leads troops to the Clan Fuza's shrine to arrest him and his clan. Seska, newly arrived from a starship, is nearly arrested herself and dashes ahead of the troops. She bumbles into the summoning ceremony, and is forced to "wear" the secret diagram on her body to save it.
Dr. Hebime and his troops arrives in time to kill Maître Fuzen and his followers as they complete the summoning ceremony of warrior god Susano Orbatos. Susano warns the troops and is angry that he had no proper offerings to him. Seeing Seska with the diagram on her body, he flattens her completely, rolls her up and swallows her whole. Dr. Hebine forces his troops to attack him and has military HQ fire powerful psycoscience (and forbidden) spells casting weapons at Susano. The weapons strike him and temporary disables him. This infuriates him further and he destroys the Fuze mountain temple as Hebine escapes. Susano resurrects Maître Fuzen and has him witness what happens when a god is angered. He then goes on a rage destroying a good chunk of the capital city. Dr. Hebime summons Hanuman(the Monkey God)
whom also fails to stop Susano.
Susano and Maître investigate the palace and discover that Princesse Kushinata is to be sacrificed to the Nāga Generator. They go and fight off the palace's defenses. Meanwhile, Seska is revived by the power of the negative karma and dedicates herself to avenge her father's death and to save her clan by gaining an audience with Emperor. By becoming a royal adviser to Emperor she begins to activate the Nāga Generator and uses the secret scroll which can banish Susano.
Ultimately, the Nāga Generator is activated and both Susano and Seska clash. The Nāga Generator creates a monstrous nine-headed Nāga which becomes so bloated with Galactic Empire's negative Karma its becomes a planet sized Octopus type Nāga. Seska, after beating up Susano, banishes him.
As Nāga grows, she becomes fascinated in ruling the Galactic Empire itself.
However, Susano returns, summoning himself, rendering Seska's ability to stop him useless.
He enters the Nāga and finds the Princess at center of the generator holding the Nāga force together.
He breaks her control of the Nāga and disrupts it.
The giant Nāga splatters over the world like water, flooding it. The Great Yamato empire (what is left of it), sinks under the waves with few survivors. Susano and the princess leave the mortal survivors of Empire behind wishing them luck. Seska is restored back to normal and is reuited with Commander Ronnel. What remains of Yamato Empire appears to becomes Japan and the world is in fact Earth. However, the story alludes that the Nāga will return.
.
The Galaxy Empire spans 25 worlds and is connected by magic powered starships.
has combined many aspects of magic with technology.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
by Masamune Shirow
Masamune Shirow
is an internationally renowned manga artist, born on November 23, 1961.Masamune Shirow is a pen name, based on a famous swordsmith, Masamune. He is best known for the manga Ghost in the Shell, which has since been turned into two theatrical anime movies, two anime TV series, an anime TV movie, and...
, first published in 1991 by Seishinsha.
Summary
The magic/technology described in the story draws upon ideas from BuddhismBuddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, Taoism
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
, ancient Japanese myth
Kojiki
is the oldest extant chronicle in Japan, dating from the early 8th century and composed by Ō no Yasumaro at the request of Empress Gemmei. The Kojiki is a collection of myths concerning the origin of the four home islands of Japan, and the Kami...
, element of cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
, Yin/Yang mysticism, and particle physics
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
, with a heavy dose of Shirow's wild imagination. The story is based on minor empire within the expansive (25 world) Galactic Empire, known as Great Yamato Empire
Yamato period
The is the period of Japanese history when the Japanese Imperial court ruled from modern-day Nara Prefecture, then known as Yamato Province.While conventionally assigned to the period 250–710 , the actual start of Yamato rule is disputed...
, located on minor backwater world. Dealing with gods, end of world scenario and numbers of characters caught up with universe shattering event.
Plot
The main plot revolves around the Yamata Empire's plan to destroy all the galaxy's negative karmaKarma
Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
using a massive technological reactor called the Nāga Generator. Unfortunately, negative karma cannot simply be destroyed, it must be atoned for. However the leader of the powerful mystic Buddhist Fuze Clan plans to stop the destruction of the negative karma which will end up creating the nine-headed Nāga
Naga
Naga or NAGA may refer to:* Nāga, a group of serpent deities in Hindu and Buddhist mythology.-People:* Nayan / Nayar/Nair people of Kerala Society* Naga people, a diverse ethnic identity in Northeast India...
and destroy the world if not the whole universe. To help in stopping the creation of the Nāga, the clan summons a Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
god known as Susano
Susanoo
, also known as is the Shinto god of the sea and storms. He is also considered to be ruler of Yomi.-Myths:In Japanese mythology, Susanoo, the powerful storm of Summer, is the brother of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, and of Tsukuyomi, the god of the moon. All three were born from Izanagi, when...
, the Warrior God of Destruction. The powerful, arrogant, and homicidal god faces challenges. These include the Empire and the clan leader's own daughter, the bratty sorceress Seska, who is possessed by the power of the negative Karma and a powerful magic formula.
At the beginning, the Clan steals a secret magical diagram/formula which contains magic power to control Nāga
Naga
Naga or NAGA may refer to:* Nāga, a group of serpent deities in Hindu and Buddhist mythology.-People:* Nayan / Nayar/Nair people of Kerala Society* Naga people, a diverse ethnic identity in Northeast India...
once it is created.
The clan Fuze's leader, Maître Fuzen, begins the ceremony when his rival, Dr. Hebime, leads troops to the Clan Fuza's shrine to arrest him and his clan. Seska, newly arrived from a starship, is nearly arrested herself and dashes ahead of the troops. She bumbles into the summoning ceremony, and is forced to "wear" the secret diagram on her body to save it.
Dr. Hebime and his troops arrives in time to kill Maître Fuzen and his followers as they complete the summoning ceremony of warrior god Susano Orbatos. Susano warns the troops and is angry that he had no proper offerings to him. Seeing Seska with the diagram on her body, he flattens her completely, rolls her up and swallows her whole. Dr. Hebine forces his troops to attack him and has military HQ fire powerful psycoscience (and forbidden) spells casting weapons at Susano. The weapons strike him and temporary disables him. This infuriates him further and he destroys the Fuze mountain temple as Hebine escapes. Susano resurrects Maître Fuzen and has him witness what happens when a god is angered. He then goes on a rage destroying a good chunk of the capital city. Dr. Hebime summons Hanuman(the Monkey God)
Hanuman
Hanuman , is a Hindu deity, who is an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and one of the dearest devotees of lord Rama. A general among the vanaras, an ape-like race of forest-dwellers, Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and a disciple of Lord Rama in the...
whom also fails to stop Susano.
Susano and Maître investigate the palace and discover that Princesse Kushinata is to be sacrificed to the Nāga Generator. They go and fight off the palace's defenses. Meanwhile, Seska is revived by the power of the negative karma and dedicates herself to avenge her father's death and to save her clan by gaining an audience with Emperor. By becoming a royal adviser to Emperor she begins to activate the Nāga Generator and uses the secret scroll which can banish Susano.
Ultimately, the Nāga Generator is activated and both Susano and Seska clash. The Nāga Generator creates a monstrous nine-headed Nāga which becomes so bloated with Galactic Empire's negative Karma its becomes a planet sized Octopus type Nāga. Seska, after beating up Susano, banishes him.
As Nāga grows, she becomes fascinated in ruling the Galactic Empire itself.
However, Susano returns, summoning himself, rendering Seska's ability to stop him useless.
He enters the Nāga and finds the Princess at center of the generator holding the Nāga force together.
He breaks her control of the Nāga and disrupts it.
The giant Nāga splatters over the world like water, flooding it. The Great Yamato empire (what is left of it), sinks under the waves with few survivors. Susano and the princess leave the mortal survivors of Empire behind wishing them luck. Seska is restored back to normal and is reuited with Commander Ronnel. What remains of Yamato Empire appears to becomes Japan and the world is in fact Earth. However, the story alludes that the Nāga will return.
Characters
- Susano Orbatos - God of Destruction, an powerful, wild, arrogant, homicidal divinity.
- Seska - Bratty, beloved, egotistical, bumbling, a 1st Class Navigator sorceress aboard magical-powered starships. She has a crush on Commander Ronnel.
- Maître Fuzen - Clan leader of Fuze Clan whom opposes the Naga Generator and summons Susano Orbatos to stop the project. He becomes Susano's aide in his crusade to stop the Nāga Generator.
- Dr. Hebime - Leading doctor and creator of Psycoscience and Maître Fuzen's rival. Creator of the Nāga Generator. He is dedicated to stop the Fuze Clan from interfering with his dream of the Nāga Generator.
- Commander Ronnel - Noble handsome officer of the Greater Yamata Empire, and secretly attracted to Seska.
- Sokoku Emperor - Idle, lazy leader of the Great Yamata Empire, who approves the creation of the Naga Generator and is nearly killed by it.
- Princesse Kushinata - The half-divinity princess who agreed to be sacrificed to the Nāga Generator to stop negative karma from destroying the Galactic Empire. She has some link to Susano Orbatos.
Background
The fictional Yamata Empire based on as based expanded continent in what would become Pacific Ocean. Drawing from the ancient mythology of the continent of MuMu (lost continent)
Mu is the name of a hypothetical continent that allegedly existed in one of Earth's oceans, but disappeared at the dawn of human history.The concept and the name were proposed by 19th century traveler and writer Augustus Le Plongeon, who claimed that several ancient civilizations, such as those of...
.
The Galaxy Empire spans 25 worlds and is connected by magic powered starships.
Technology/Magic
Masamune ShirowMasamune Shirow
is an internationally renowned manga artist, born on November 23, 1961.Masamune Shirow is a pen name, based on a famous swordsmith, Masamune. He is best known for the manga Ghost in the Shell, which has since been turned into two theatrical anime movies, two anime TV series, an anime TV movie, and...
has combined many aspects of magic with technology.
- Elements of cybernetic technology can be seen with in use with warriors the Great Yamato Empire. These warriors integrated with what appear oversize suits of armor which has human's arms and legs, pelvis removed and connected by series wires and tubes. Not all these armors require this, Commander Rommel remains wholly human. These Armor Knights besides wielding swordSwordA sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
s, staff like HalberdHalberdA halberd is a two-handed pole weapon that came to prominent use during the 14th and 15th centuries. Possibly the word halberd comes from the German words Halm , and Barte - in modern-day German, the weapon is called Hellebarde. The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on...
s, as well magic wielding devices. These Armor Knights have limited flight abilities.
- Starships - Seen in beginning of the story, Masamune Shirow has starships guided by human navigators which phase through time & space not unlike starships seen in original DuneDune (film)Dune is a 1984 science fiction film written and directed by David Lynch, based on the 1965 Frank Herbert novel of the same name. The film stars Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides, and includes an ensemble of well-known American and European actors in supporting roles. It was filmed at the Churubusco...
film of 1984. The warships appear as Japanese warships of Middle Ages which have broadside armarments not unlike 18th century sailing ships warships. These vessels are normally seeing hovering or flying instead of laying in water.
- Diagrams / Forums - These are large circular mystic spells are used by characters of story. They can be used as explosive alarm clocks, summoning spells, magical controlling devices (such as Nāga Generator), as well as controlling starships.
- Nāga Generator - This device was conceived through mixing science and mystic magic to collected all negative karma in known universe to purify the Galaxy Empire.
- Psychoscience - This is mixture of science and mystism which give power wield magic to level of the gods. However, science is needed to monitor and control it this mix. It still being developed, thus prone to problems which are seen throughout the story.