Glacier
Bay Books announced
that it will release this year the English version of Universe from
the Balcony (Veranda kara Uchū), the latest collection of
short stories by author Konomi Oumi. This edition will offer
English-speaking readers a unique experience that combines the everyday with
the supernatural.
A
universe of sensations and silences
According
to the official description, the work presents an expansive panorama of
dreamlike and contemplative tales: ethereal beings who get
lost in the cosmos, the faint smell of a fish tank, wordless vegetable spirits,
impossible loves and a mermaid who has forgotten to swim. At around 180
pages, Oumi's stories stand out for their subtle visual beauty and
a narrative that evokes the calm of a seashell tracing the shore.
A voice
that flourishes in indie manga
Universe
from the Balcony was
originally released during the COMITIA 145 event in September
2023, a space recognized for promoting independent manga works in Japan. The
English edition will be lettered by Tim Sun and translated
by Matthias Hirsh.
Konomi
Oumi's evident indie legacy
Glacier Bay
Books had already worked with the author in 2021, publishing her work From
This Flame, an anthology of eight stories. Oumi also participated in volume
3 of the anthology series Glaeolia, where various independent manga
artists show their talent outside the traditional commercial circuit.
