AFTERWORD

AFTERWORD

Kodansha first contacted me in the summer of last year, which means it’s been a year and a half in total… Writing this afterword is starting to make me reminisce.

You know, back then, the Kodansha Lightnovel editorial department was still called the “light novel research department.” It was full of veteran editors, and I wondered what they’d need to research at that point in their careers, but it looks like the line managed to launch, which is the most important thing of all.

Anyway, I’m Suzukaze.

If this is our first meeting, nice to meet you. If not, it’s good to see you again. Did you enjoy Attack on Titan: Before the Fall?

It was a year and a half ago when my editor asked me, “Is there something you want to do?” and I answered, “Attack on Titan.” The situation around Attack on Titan has changed drastically since then, hasn’t it. Really by leaps and bounds as they say.

I personally first learned about Attack on Titan through a tweet made by a Twitter follower. Someone important at a certain video game company in Hakata tweeted, “I’m enjoying Attack on Titan,” so I figured I’d buy it.

I don’t think I need to tell you my reaction. It was practically a given that I’d answer “Attack on Titan” to the question “What do you want to do?” And anyway, pitches alone don’t cost anything! (lol)

I think it also helped that the content of the story makes it well-suited for a novelization.

Okay. About Attack on Titan: Before the Fall. It’s what you’d imagine it to be from the subtitle.

The end.

…But leaving it at that wouldn’t do at all, so I’ll go over it a bit, without spoiling anything in case you’re reading this afterword first. As the subtitle, Before the Fall, indicates, this story takes place before the original story, or before Wall Maria falls.

It’s wintertime for humanity, as they are in a situation where the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment doesn’t exist and they have no set tactics for fighting against the Titans. For the Survey Corps, expeditions are like trips to go meet death, and the Titans are nightmares incarnate. Personally, I don’t think I’d live in Shiganshina District. I’d live closer to the interior in Trost District, but I digress.

In this book, I tried to bring readers to the world of Attack on Titan from a slightly different angle as compared to the original by doing things like making the protagonist, Angel, a craftsman of arms. It explains the inner workings of things such as materials, manufacturing processes, facilities, and so on.

What personally stands out to me is the material known as Iron Bamboo in the book. As for how it’s used, please read the book if you haven’t yet…

I was reminded of how I used to play with bamboo as a child. I’d pretend sword-fight with small bamboo, make bamboo-copters, and build piggy banks out of bamboo. I’d break open my banks almost immediately, of course, but it was all fun in its own way. I never went as far as digging up bamboo shoots, though.

With bamboo appearing in my story, I thought it’d be nice to visit a bamboo grove, but alas, unsurprisingly I couldn’t find one in my neighborhood… Or so you’d think, but on my jogging course I came across a place where some grew on a modest scale. It became a basic reference for me as I worked on my manuscript. Mosquitoes brutally assaulted me as a result, but at least I didn’t run into any Titan attacks.

Oops, got off track again.

There are a few other items that I should talk about here, but please find them in the story. You can probably spot and compare some things in the manga that are brought up in this book, and vice versa.

I went into a lot of detail about it, but one item I hope you pay special attention to is the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment. Without it, Attack on Titan would never get off the ground.

While Eren and Mikasa probably won’t learn about Angel, a mere craftsman, the fact that the two are active in the way they are is surely enough to satisfy him.

All right. I’ve wasted too much space and I’m running out of lines, so before I forget, I’d like to give thanks to a few people involved in this production.

Thank you, Isayama-sama, for bringing the world the incredible title that is Attack on Titan, and for your permission for this novelization.

Thank you, THORES Shibamoto-sama, for adorning this title with the flowers that are your illustrations. It seems as though you’re still drawing the insert illustrations, so please do your best (I know, this isn’t the place to say it).

Kodachi-sama, Miwa-sama, the story lore you laid out for me was extremely helpful. Thank you very much!

Nabae-sama and Fujita-sama from Kodansha Lightnovel, I’m looking forward to continuing to work with you.

Finally, my greatest thanks to all of you who read this book. If you have any thoughts, please send them through the editorial department, or send them to me on Twitter. I’ll probably read them. I don’t tweet much myself, but if you’re interested, you can follow me at @suzukazeR.

Until next time!