Takahashi, Rumiko. Mermaid saga.TAKAHASHI, Rumiko. Mermaid mermaid, in folklore, sea-dwelling creature commonly represented as having the head and body of a woman and a fishtail instead of legs. Belief in mermaids, and in their counterpart, mermen, has existed since earliest times. They are often described as having great beauty and charm, which they use to lure sailors to their deaths (see Siren). In some legends they assumed human shape and married mortals (see Mélusine). saga. Viz. 206p. illus. 1591163366. c2004. $9.99. SA Yuta, the main character of Mermaid Saga, is 500 years old, and he has had enough of immortality. He ate the flesh of a mermaid as a young man and it granted him eternal life; now he wants to grow old and die like a normal man, so he is seeking another mermaid to undo what has been done. His search leads him to an isolated village, where he is greeted by a group of old women who jab him with harpoons harpoon (härp  n`), weapon used for spearing whales and large fish. The early type was a flat triangular piece of metal with barbed edges and a socket for attaching a wooden handle, to the end of which a long rope was fastened. and throw him into a pit. The old women are mermaids in human form, and they are guarding Mana mana: see animism; taboo., a 15-year-old girl who has also eaten mermaid flesh. The old women are planning to devour her, and thus be restored to youth themselves. Fortunately Yuta arrives before the feast. He rescues Mana, and they hide in the caves under the cliff, which are populated by grotesque fish-beasts, all victims of the old women. You see, the flesh of a mermaid is a dangerous thing--it might make you immortal, but it will more likely kill you or turn you into a mindless monster. In the end, Yuta learns that his condition has no cure. But he now has a companion--Mana, who is also immortal. Mermaid Saga is authored by Rumiko Takahashi, the creator of the super-popular Inu Yasha. Mermaid Saga dates from earlier in Takahashi's career, and bears some of the hallmarks of her later work: clear storylines, appealing characters, lots of action. However, this is a horror series, and is thus quite gruesome (severed limbs, cannibalism cannibalism (kăn`ĭbəlĭzəm) [Span. caníbal, referring to the Carib], eating of human flesh by other humans. The charge of cannibalism is a common insult, and it is likely that some alleged cannibal groups have merely been victims of popular fear and misrepresentation., lots of blood); there is also semi-nudity. Collect Inu Yasha or Ranma 1/2 (another Takahashi series) before this title. Recommended for libraries with large manga collections. George Galuschak, YA Libn., Montvale P.L., Montvale, NJ S--Recommended for senior high school students. A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries. |
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