Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 1 |  | Author: Hayao Miyazaki
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
List Price: $9.95
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Seller: mediathrill
Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 65495
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2nd
Reading Level: Young Adult
Pages: 136
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 10 x 7 x 0.4
ISBN: 1591164087
Dewey Decimal Number: 741.5952
UPC: 782009164081
EAN: 9781591164081
ASIN: 1591164087
Publication Date: March 10, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Nausicaä, a gentle but strong-willed, young princess, has an empathic bond with the giant insects that evolved as a result of the ecosystem's destruction. Growing up in the Valley of the Wind, she learned to read the soul of the wind and navigates the skies in her glider. Nausicaä and her allies struggle to create peace between kingdoms torn apart by war, battling over the last of the world's precious natural resources.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 23
 Required Reading for Manga and Anime fans September 22, 2009
Thomas C. Wilson (Arlington, VA United States)
I first encountered Nausicaa in the four-volume "Perfect Collection" edition, which was in circulation at my local library. I believe I was 12 or 13 at the time. More than any other manga series I have ever read, or possibly more than anything I've ever read, Nausicaa was what, in many ways, propelled me down the path I currently walk.
As with many of Miyazaki's works, the series is rife with ecological and social commentary, carrying the "green" message shared by many of his productions, like Princess Mononoke especially, and others to a lesser extent. However, this does not detract from the gripping storyline, the amazing artwork, and the wonderfully realized characters- all of whom grow and change greatly throughout the story. Indeed, except for a very few throw-aways (characters whose only purpose in entering the story is to leave it quickly, and the like), I don't think there is a single "flat" character in the series, an amazing thing when there are quite a few of them running about. Kushana, especially, shines as possibly the most well- and completely-developed character I've ever seen.
While the ending of the series may seem a bit cliche now, Nausicaa was the first time I ever encountered anything like it. Even if you find that the words or themes seem somewhat familiar, I feel, and hope you will agree, that it loses none of its power.
I would recommend this book, and of course the rest of the series, only on the merits of its art, but to do so would be truly selling the series short, as there are so many things to recommend it. It is truly amazing that this epic, which is expansive on both scope and scale of the plot and locations, manages to fit into so few volumes; and I think you will find that as the earlier reviewer Jay Rogers said, where a "trade" manga can be flipped through in about an hour, reading Nausicaa is a very different experience.
Furthermore, if you have seen the movie of the series, do not take that to be anything like the series. While not a bad movie, the movie adaptation of Nausicaa suffers more in the transition than almost any other movie adaptation I've seen. Due to the necessities of time, the entire point of the series is changed, the main villain is different, the relationships between the characters are cross-wired, and many other things were also edited. Because of that, reading Nausicaa will be almost like an entirely different series, as I feel the movie fails to accurately represent the real themes of the manga. Do not see the movie expecting to see a motion picture of the series; likewise, do not read the series expecting a graphic novel version of the movie. Either one will lead to disappointment.
I was actually originally wary of buying this seven-volume edition. I was worried it would be poor quality, or not include some of the the chapters in the "Perfect Collection," considering that the only copy of the "Perfect Collection" I could find available for sale cost something in the range of $120-200. As such, I really felt that I had no choice but to buy this edition of seven volumes, for a grand total of about $40 (the reason for my worry, actually. I couldn't believe something of this quality could be priced so low just because it was a different edition). Thankfully, I was not disappointed whatsoever- the books are of excellent quality, and even contain some things (diagrams, pull-out posters and maps, etc.) that are not in the four-volume set. I have yet to notice any missing chapters, if indeed there are any. Truly an excellent deal, considering the quality of the series.
Epic July 12, 2009
Avivi (Schenecatdy, NY USA)
This is my favorite epic graphic art tale and this publication of it is the finest that I have seen.
This series is also unique suited to the the imagination of preteens girls as they ponder the world they are maturing for. The female heroine is a dynamic character that can easily inspire young girls to fight for all they believe in.
A story for all people and ages January 24, 2009
Charles E. Stevens
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Nausicaa is an epic tale that engages the reader on several different levels and defies being pigeonholed into any one particular genre. Above all, it is deeply philosophical and touches on the human capacity for great compassion and wisdom as well as the capability to commit terrible destructive acts toward nature and fellow man. Others have referred to this tale as nihilist, but I believe humanist or perhaps naturalist would be a better description. Above all, it suggests that humans are fragile and transient beings and that humanity as a whole is just one part of a complex ecosystem. Yet, instead of acting with the humility that would allow us to live in harmony with nature, Miyazaki notes that hubris and self-interest lead humanity to disturb this delicate balance, with potentially cataclysmic results.
Many of the themes in Nausicaa are seen in Miyazaki's other works: a respect for nature and tradition, freedom represented by flight, abhorrence of war. We see that humanity has great capacity for both good and evil, but individual humans rarely are able to be easily categorized as specifically good or evil. This nuanced approach makes his works enjoyable to an audience of all ages, as children can simply enjoy them for their entertainment value alone, and adults are challenged to think through the complex issues of morality and existence that lie just beneath the surface of all of his works.
Personally, Nausicaa is one of my favorite manga series, and has a universal appeal that will earn it an enduring place in the canon. This is clearly a highly personal work for Miyazaki, as he pours his heart and soul into the series. This is a work that the reader will not soon forget, and rewards re-reading and introspection. I highly recommend it.
Epic September 8, 2008
B. Kelly (Northern New York)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is an epic masterpiece not just for manga lovers, but for anybody who enjoys reading a good fantasy story. The movie is good, too, but the manga, though it's written by the same person, offers a sort of different telling of the story portrayed in the film. Since the film was released before the manga was completed, there are different circumstances that occur in the manga. For instance, there had already been a war going on between the many countries around the Sea of Corruption, and the Valley of the Wind has become entangled in it. Since there are a few more volumes out there, you know that there's plenty more good stuff to come! I actually haven't purchased the remaining few volumes, but after reading the first one, I know that I simply have to!
Nausicaa the Princess of the Valley of the Wind June 22, 2008
Lynn Ellingwood (Webster, NY United States)
I was led to this book because I love Hayao Miyazaki and his films. I have also bought many of the Cinemanga books that have been made with his movies. The students I am now teaching are mostly from Japan, China, and Korea. Manga is very big with these students and in order to get them to read English enthusiastically, I needed to find a venue they could enjoy and relate to. Some books are very easy to read and that helps too. This series is a bit more difficult, but I am finding it wonderful. I have only read the 1st book but intend to read more and maybe buy the DVD. Hayao has been my introduction to Manga so I can relate to the genre also. I like to read this series as much as my students will and can be introduced to other books and series as well. I highly recommend this book as a starting off point and it's very good!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 23
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