Fantasy Inbound

**Isekai, Shurai** (異世界、襲来 lit. "Another World, Invading"), known in English as **Fantasy Inbound**, is an ongoing series of science-fiction and fantasy novels by Japanese author Joe Takeduki featuring illustrations by Shirabii. The narrative follows Yu Ichinose, a child soldier, who, after after encountering a mysterious elf sleeping in a glass case, is chosen as the successor of the late national hero "Devicer Three" to wear the ultimate exoskeleton "Frame" known as Mark III.

## Background

The author, Takeduki, was originally approached by an editor at MF Bunko J with an idea to write a novel with the atmosphere of Shin Godzilla. But feeling that it won't be very successful in the light novel industry, they suggested an addition of a trendy genre like isekai where instead of Godzilla, there’s an empire invading from another world. Still not impressed by the idea, Takeduki offered his own idea of a cyberpunk action story set in a ruined Japanese archipelago where scientists and monks create a cyborg hero, which the editor ultimately approved. Originally intended to be a "balls-to-the-wall, non-stop-action, superhero-meets-fantasy", the author remarked it was quite a journey ironing out the story to its current form.

## Publication

The first book, "Project Rebirth", was published in Japan on June 25, 2020, under the MF Bunko J light novel label of Media Factory. The author has written three books in total since, the most recent third book "Those Who Call Upon the Stars" published on June 25, 2021. On November 20, 2021, at the Anime NYC convention J-Novel Club announced during their panel Fantasy Inbound has been licensed in the United States. The series has been translated in English and published online part-by-part following a weekly release schedule ever since November 21, 2021. The first fully translated e-book of the first book was released on February 22, 2022.

## Narrative

### Plot

The world is in peril. Legends live, fairy tales walk, and fantasies become reality, threatening to turn Earth into a waking nightmare. When the flames of war reach Japan’s shores, the vestiges of a shattered nation fail to protect what remains of its people against an unknown enemy, and all seems lost. Those left behind and those that failed to flee now live in scattered communities among the remnants of a better time. Yu Ichinose is just another survivor, a quiet, scrawny middle-schooler trying to get by. That is, until he finds his fate bound to a mysterious, elvish girl who seems to hold the key to hope. Now, the time has come to stand and take up the sword against sorcery. To become the hero who saves the world. The time has come to awaken the Asura Frame.

### Setting

It’s been many decades since the Earth became inexplicably linked to another world, bringing with it a slew of unknown creatures into our reality. The dangerous life-forms from the other side that now threaten humanity are known colloquially as Anomalies. In more recent years, enemy portal-keeps have begun to appear—entire fortresses that serve as portals which Anomaly forces use to attack en masse. Their armies are led by the keepers of these gates, the archmages. Then, at the turn of the twenty-first century came the elvish migration. Fed up with the oppression of the magical ruling classes, six thousand elves fled their world, transcended their reality, and found refuge on Earth. These migrants, with their characteristic pointed ears, imposing beauty, and, above all, unparalleled wisdom, are some of the brightest minds of their race and bear the title of “sage.” In just a few short decades, they mastered the humans’ sciences and brought about incredible innovations—including the twelve Asura Frames — suits of unimaginable strength worn only by chosen individuals to battle the Anomalies.

## Books

Starcaller
## Reception

The novels have been praised by acclaimed authors like Nigozyu (The Detective Is Already Dead) who remarked the series as a exciting combination between American superhero comics and light novels. And Shinji Cobkubo (Sabikui Bisco) has commented on the emotional depth of the battles and the hero's way of life. Yū Shimizu (The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy) has also praised the realistic depiction of human during wartime and Takeduki's ability to make full use of scientific concepts inside the story.

## Links

* Official site (Japanese)
* Official site (English)

## References

1. ↑ Fantasy Inbound 01 Afterword
2. ↑ Anime News Network: J-Novel Club Licenses 10 New Light Novel Titles
3. ↑ Official site: Recommendation