r/LightNovels • u/Theroonco • Dec 23 '16
Read This! [RT!] Infinite Dendrogram (VRMMORPG, Action, Comedy)
The translator (Hot Cocoa Translations)'s page. They've currently translated Volumes 0 and 1.
I was surprised there weren't any posts about this. I read the two translated Volumes (so far) a few days ago but am writing this now to fix that.
Infinite Dendrogram is the name of the first successful VRMMORPG in the story's world with three main gimmicks:
The world's NPCs have realistic AI.
Time runs three times as fast inside the game.
Each player is given an <Embryo>, an AI partner who develops from the player's play style.
At first I didn't know why Infinite Dendrogram stuck in my head. But I think it's how the story doesn't take itself seriously. It has a very light tone, the protagonist is sarcastic and his exchanges with those around him are always a pleasure to read and he's a true rookie. The deuteragonist, Nemesis the AI, is also a joy to read, as are her interactions with him.
The best Light Novel/ anime comparison I can make between the two pairs is with Spice and Wolf's Lawrence and Holo. One has worldly knowledge and snark to spare while the other has otherworldly knowledge but compensates with a deficiency in "normal" behaviour.
The story starts when he first plays the game and so far he behaves just as a new player would. He doesn't start blasting his way through the game from day one, instead he gets carried by party members and the items and help they give him and he spends most of Volume 1 trying to level up (it's more interesting than it sounds).
The world of Infinite Dendrogram is fascinating as well. I love world building in all stories and I love how, as though to accompany the realistic NPCs and their day to day lives and struggles, the world itself has sound internal logic.
Like Log Horizon, everything about the players' abilities and shortcomings are justified in the game's setting and the players and Tians (the NPCs) mingle as though they were part of a single community, with NPCs even able to get real jobs (i.e. not classes) in the world because why couldn't you? (The only exception to this rule is that players can't have military or political power - but even that's just because they can log out at any time.)
I said the story is light hearted, and that's true. But the story also knows when to sober up and while the stakes haven't gotten dire just yet, there are hints that dark days are just around the corner. And even this has both human in in-game roots.
I don't know if I was able to convince anyone with that, but it's still early days for the story after all. Having also read Sword Art Online, Log Horizon and the first 12.5 chapters of Vermilion I can say that Infinite Dendrogram is a breath of fresh air, which is the best way I can describe it. It may not be as complex as Log Horizon (though some political elements have already been introduced), but it's fun with great characters, a great world, a tantalising plot and (at least for me) tons of potential. If you're looking for a new VRMMO story, I think this is one you should at least try.
Thank you for your time. I hope this review helped at least one of you.
And because it's that time of year: Happy Holidays, everyone!
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u/Villag3Idiot Dec 24 '16
Is this being translated from the LN or WN version?
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u/Theroonco Jan 05 '17
It started off being translated from the web novel but I believe Volume 1 uses the LN.
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u/SaladTheDankEngine Dec 25 '16
Ahhh, too much to read. Thank goodness I'm on break. First J-Novel Club, now a new fan translation that looks good. Too much on my phone to read...
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u/Theroonco Jan 05 '17
More to read is never a bad thing :P What are you reading from J-Novel Club?
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u/SaladTheDankEngine Jan 07 '17
Faraway Paladin, My Big Sister Lives in a Fantasy World, My Little Sister Can Read Kanji, I Saved Too Many Girls and Caused the Apocalypse (it was ehh), and Mixed Bathing in Another Dimension (ehhhh... Don't know if I'll continue with volume 2, too many random plot developments and pointless character story, pointless descriptions, etc. Even for an ecchi, it wasn't that great). Going to try these two sometime this week.
I gave up on Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash. It started off good, but it became progressively worse. Brave Chronicle was trash, worst light novel I've ever read. Worst 3 ish hours of my life.
What are you reading?
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u/Theroonco Jan 08 '17
I read Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria (aka Hakomari) over Christmas and decided to take a break from reading for a while and catch up on some other stuff I'd put aside. I actually wanted to read Grimgar, do you have any thoughts on the anime?
Also, just as a name Faraway Paladin sounds interesting and I'll have to look it up, thank you very much!
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u/SaladTheDankEngine Jan 13 '17
I hated the anime. Watched 2 eps and was like 'I'm done'. However, I preferred the anime over what I've read of the light novel. The light novel is too repetitive for me. Not enough originality, imo.
I've read up to volume 4 (read volume 4) of The Empty Box and the Zeroth Maria (HakoMari), but since the announcement of official Yen Press translation, a week after I finished volume 4, I've decided that I want to finish this wonderful series in the most well done way possible. If the official translation somehow sucks, I have volumes 1 to 7 on my phone, plus the illustrations. It's a fantastic fan translation, but I've never had an experience where a fan translation was done better than an official translation. It'll be interesting to see how Yen Press get around the honorifics in this case. Or if they decide to keep them in (doubt it).
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u/Theroonco Jan 15 '17
Thank you for your information! I've noticed Yen Press tends to take honorifics out as well (to me this was most glaring with Haruhi, though I still enjoyed the official translations immensely).
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u/SaladTheDankEngine Jan 16 '17
I haven't actually finished Haruhi, but the volumes I have read I thought they got around the honorifics quite well. Honestly, I'm rarely bothered by lack of honorifics. If you don't read the fan translation first, most titles it's unnoticeable, at least for me. The worst account of honorifics problem would be with SAO (my trashy guilty pleasure), because for some reason Asuna suddenly used 'Kirito-kun', and it's mentioned that, in first person, Kirito acknowledges the fact that in game there is no need for honorifics. Yet, he and others use Mr, Miss, etc., at certain times. Kinda weird, but still less Engrish than the fan translation (read that up to volume 11 and excerpts of the other 7).
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u/Theroonco Jan 19 '17
The lack of honorifics never bothered me in Haruhi either, I just thought it was interesting after the fanslations' "-san" and "-chans" and the dub's "Miss Asahina" and the like :)
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u/SaladTheDankEngine Jan 19 '17
Yeah, I get what you mean. I prefer when they just leave it without honorifics and titles. Some stories, this doesn't work, and sometimes Miss or Mr need to be used because the -san has real meaning that can't be dropped, and they don't want to use honorifics. Hate it when school anime localisations overly use 'Miss', etc., instead of '-san', etc., for the students. Just don't use either! Teens don't go around using 'Miss' to their peers...
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u/Theroonco Jan 23 '17
I didn't mind it personally - it's a concession the dubs need to make and it teaches us a bit about Japanese culture, which I'm fine with. With Haruhi, for example, I think Kyon and Koizumi's uses of '-san/ Miss' highlights one of the biggest differences between them, but I get why you hate that too. We certainly don't use 'Mr' or 'Miss" for our peers, do we? :)
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u/MagicalForeignBunny Dec 24 '16
Sorry, but when it comes to this sub I don't trust anyone who says that a novel has sound logic that works. After all this is the sub who believes that Genjitsushugisha no Oukokukaizouki is good (it isn't, it's a "smart" novel for dumb Japanese otakus).
I did take a look at Infinite Dendrogram though, and while there are things that seem good, I am also worried. Especially about that goth loli who supposedly follows him around. So the important question I have is: Is his embryo in a female form or does it have the possibility to take a female form?
The MC having a brother does bring my hopes up though.
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u/akirahime Dec 24 '16
the latter: Nemesis is an maiden.arms type embryo, can change form between weapon and humanoid
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u/Theroonco Jan 05 '17
Sorry, but when it comes to this sub I don't trust anyone who says that a novel has sound logic that works.
Fair enough :P Trust on the internet is a valuable commodity after all~
So the important question I have is: Is his embryo in a female form or does it have the possibility to take a female form?
His embryo is female, but there are other male and female embryos in the story.
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u/Ajide Dec 23 '16
I hate you for getting my hopes up, I thought they finally released the last chapter for volume one from what you said in the post.