Dirty Pair (light novels)
| Dirty Pair (light novels) | |
 Cover of the novel showing the two protagonists | |
| ダーティペア (Dāti Pea) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Science fiction, Space opera |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Haruka Takachiho |
| Illustrated by | Yoshikazu Yasuhiko |
| Published by | Hayakawa Publishing |
| English publisher |
  Dark Horse Comics |
| Demographic | Male |
| Original run | May 1980 – October 2007 |
| Volumes | 8 |
Dirty Pair (ダーティペア Dāti Pea) is a series of sci-fi Space operas written by Haruka Takachiho first starting in 1979 with illustrations by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko. The first four books were originally serialized in the Japanese publication SF Magazine. The novels were later adapted into a series of anime OVA, films and television series.
Development
The inspiration for Dirty Pair novels was a visit to Japan by the British Australian SF author A. Bertram Chandler, probably in 1978. On his itinerary was a stop at the young Studio Nue, which Takachiho co-founded. As something to entertain their guest, two of the staffers there, Yuri Tanaka and Keiko Otoguro, hit upon the idea with Takachiho of taking Chandler to a tournament of the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling organization, which was a member of the World Women's Wrestling Association (WWWA). The card included the highly-popular wrestling (and singing) team, the Beauty Pair. Something that passed among the foursome during that match led Chandler to remark to Takachiho something to the effect that "the two women in the ring may be the Beauty Pair, but those two with you ought to be called 'the Dirty Pair'."[1]
This became the germ of an idea for a novella Takachiho decided to write, transplanting the rough-housing of pro-wrestling to the realm of space-opera mystery stories, with which he already had experience in his already successful Crusher Joe series. The team code-name "Lovely Angels" is also play on the names of certain women's teams of the time, such as the Queen Angels.
List
- ダーティペアの大冒険 (Daatipea no Daibouken <The Dirty Pair's Great Adventures>, 1979; book: 1980), won the 1980 Seiun Award
- ダーティペアの大逆転 (Daatipea no Daigyakuten <The Dirty Pair Strike Again>, 1985; book: 1985), won the 1985 Seiun Award
- ダーティペアの大乱戦 (Daatipea no Dairansen <DP's Rough and Tumble>, 1985–87; book: 1987)
- ダーティペアの大脱走 (Daatipea no Daidassou <DP's Great Escape>, 1991–92; book: 1993)
- ダーティペア外伝 独裁者の遺産 (Dokusaisha no Isan <Legacy of the Dictator>—Dirty Pair Side Story #1, 1997; book: 1998)
- ダーティペアの大復活 (Daatipea no Daifukkatsu <DP's Great Resurrection>, 2004)
- ダーティペアの大征服 (Daatipea no Daiseifuku <DP's Great Conquest>, 2006)
- ダーティペアの大帝国 (Daatipea no Daiteikoku <DP's Great Empire>, 2007) —conclusion of the preceding novel
Release
The light novels have begun to be released in English translation from (DH Press): the complete first book appeared in September 2007, and the second book appeared in March 2008. English translations previously existed only for the first story (published as one of a series of short books for Japanese students of English) and the fifth book, which was originally released in Japanese and English translation on the Microsoft Network during 1997–99.
References
- ↑ "Crusher Joe liner notes". AnimEigo. Retrieved 19 August 2014.