POSTSCRIPT

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The Vampire Hunter D series is based on gothic horror, science fiction, and westerns. Since I was a child, I’ve always been more in tune with movies than novels. Unlike the present, when special-effects-laden films are released nearly every week, it was westerns both old and new that I consistently found most pleasing.

Based on my writing, one might think I watch mainly horror and science fiction films, but I’ve actually seen far more westerns. And unlike horror or science fiction, quite a lot has been written about westerns, with their basis in historical fact. Through my reading, I’ve learned about not only westerns, but also the history of the westward expansion and various related phenomena. These films include Stagecoach, My Darling Clementine, Shane, The Law and Jack Wade, The Alamo, The Magnificent Seven, Rio Bravo, Winchester ’73, Warlock, and many, many more. I was just a child when I first saw them, but the protagonists of these films showed me how severe life could be for those living on the harsh frontier, and how firm their resolve was. Of course, that did little more than make me strap on a toy holster and six-shooter and practice my quick draw. (laughs)

At some point, the western declined for reasons unknown, and when filmmakers tried the occasional revival, the cast and stories were always hopelessly flashy, so the genre never did make a complete recovery. At the very least, it was my wish to put some of what I found so fascinating about those old films into the Vampire Hunter D series. The speed and skill with which D draws his blade is reminiscent of the quick-drawing gunmen of the westerns. You should be able to clearly discern the influence of westerns in Mercenary Road. The book also pays tribute to another of my interests—the sprawling ancient battle scenes of the historical epics that Hollywood and Italian cinema made for a time. I won’t say exactly where I’ve done it, but those interested in such things will know them when they see them. And finding them is part of the pleasure of this book.

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March 13, 2012

While watching Red River

Hideyuki Kikuchi