The Surprise of Haruhi Suzumiya (light novel) (Volume 10) (The Haruhi Suzumiya Series, 10)

Another amazing book in the Haruhi series, it's cap titivating and doesn't let you go. The characterization built around the new additions along with increased dynamics of your favorite characters. I read the second half in one sitting because i just couldn't put the book down! It was very enjoyable to read with thorough consistency from the previous novels. Highly Recommended!!

Some people enjoy Haruhi Suzumiya; some don't. I'm the former, but for good reason: this series combines so many genres in a relatively un-cliched way.This last book...I'll admit, it isn't perfect. In terms of reading, there are very long sections dominated by lectures (particularly delivered by Koizumi or Sasaki), and the parts that actually contribute to the plot of the story are small in comparison. But those plot additions are stunningly written (and translated), and I found, during the climax, a grin wouldn't leave my face. Gasps of shock and joy sounded throughout the reading.Drawing attention to one fact that makes this book different from its predecessors: Kyon doesn't give his generic introductions. Mikuru Asahina isn't the balm of his life (I don't think that phrase even made it into this composite novel, which has to be a first). His understanding of Nagato has gotten past the point where he has to explain how he understands her...he just does. Perhaps these draw along the element that is the best part of this novel...many, most, of the characters are expanded. Koizumi, Kunikida, Sasaki, Fujiwara, Haruhi herself...the author does a great job integrating all of the separate elements together into a comprehensive story.If you're a fan of the series, I think this is a must. And, if you've never read Haruhi before, feel free to try it out. It's different, but I've never been disappointed.

Just finished reading this one the other night and while it may not be the absolute best novel in the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise, it's definitely one of the most ambitious. Strictly speaking this book (which is the tenth and, at least for the time being, final one of the English-language translations) consists of not one but two volumes, together constituting a direct sequel to the preceding volume ("The Dissociation of Haruhi Suzumiya"). Reading the final few pages felt a little like leaving old friends and comfortable places behind, but there may yet be hope for the future; if another anime were produced, "Dissociation" and "Surprise" combined (along with a few episodes influenced by parts of earlier books in the franchise) might make the best series yet, and enough unanswered questions and possibilities for future stories exist once the final page has been finished, even though there's currently no indication that Nagaru Tanigawa has any plans to further chronicle the S.O.S. Brigade's universe.

This book has been a long time coming: the newest installment in the Haruhi Suzumiya series. Japan has had it for two years now, and it's finally in our hands! The story is nuts. My mind is still reeling from what went on. This is the next step up in the series, akin to the earlier Disappearance. This book is a big freaking deal, both by settling older plot threads and creating new ones. If you're a fan of the series, and have read up until Dissociation, then you need to get this book. If you haven't read that far, have only seen the anime, or haven't seen any of the series yet, then do not buy this. Start somewhere else.

expectations were met. The book looks great, and no complaints will be given. I will be sure to read it as soon as I can!A++

I always feel a strange combination of embarrassment and enjoyment out of reading the Haruhi books. Maybe it's the whole young adult thing and I'm not a young adult but regardless, this book is a pretty strong finish and enjoyable read.In an earlier version of this review I mainly harped on the strange problems that plague the actual text. Things like clunky wording, a couple times where I'm pretty sure a word is missing entirely, and once where the book uses the wrong name when referring to a character. If it wasn't wrong then Mikuru just blipped in and out of existence. Overall these problems are small though and they pretty much disappear as the story goes on. I guess someone else took over proof reading.Anyway the story itself is pretty good and Kyon, the main character, is perhaps at his most likable in this book, at least for me personally.There's just something very down to earth and relate-able about the way he acts and treats people here. Kyon spending more time in this book around other guys for a change just doing guy stuff: playing catch, talking about girls and dates, and wanting to play video games makes him feel more real than he usually does. Combined with him taking control of the situation and trying to resolve things himself without having the aid or overbearing guidance of others, like he usually has, makes him a guy you empathize with and you really feel the pressure of the situation along side with him.The book, like the previous one, is two parallel stories, Alpha and Beta, and it is an interesting way to tell the story, but personally the Beta story is by far the more interesting story, so having to switch back to Alpha felt like a bit of a chore.In conclusion, I recommend this book. I liked it, it was enjoyable, and had everything you would expect from a Haruhi book at this point.

This series is so good I can't even put it into words.

Kept me glued to the last word. Top notch series.

There was just a small stain on the cover but since the price was so low I don't complain ! And it arrived really quickly, so there really is not a single thing to complain about :D

6 years...I have been waiting oh-so-much to receive and read this book (along with the previous chapter) in the series that my beard has grown long and my hair started thinning!I don't usually do this, but let's start reviewing it from the cover: this paperback version has a very stylish design; all other editions - even the hardback ones - pale in comparison.The images included in the light novel are in my opinion beautiful but negligible: they are meant to keep the novel true to its Japanese denomination of "light novel", but this is by no mean a "light" novel. Probably it has never really been and it's a shame many common readers will just skip over it because of its supposed lightness. If you are unsure whether your "serious reader" ego's reputation might get stained, just shut up, read it and judge by yourself.Pictures and design aside, Nagaru Tanigawa gets more metaphysical and serious than ever with this story. Overall, the plot here gets more mature in a similar fashion to how Harry Potter grew up as the plot unwound... For those who like hypertextual reading, there are plenty of brilliant quotes here and there: at a point the writer even quotes Pink Floyd! Remember: always trust people who like Pink Floyd.Unfortunately there are a couple negative points to this book.Sometimes it feels like the story is slowing down its pace and losing itself a bit too much in the narrator's thoughts. It's not really a negative point by itself, but I recognize some may be annoyed by this. The other negative point is that reading this book is REALLY addictive; also, as you get close to the end, you start realizing that given the current statistics you probably won't have another Haruhi chapter for a long long while...Haruhi is one of those series I feel glad to sacrifice my sleeping hours for. It's part "slice of life" and part "science fiction fair", yet it's written in such a lifelike and immersive way that it will take you zero effort to feel as if you were in Kyon's shoes. And it feels damn good.About the translation, I can say we are facing a little gem which can keep all the puns witty without the presumption to translate everything to English; this works like a charm if you assume your reader has a minimal knowledge of the Japanese language, which leads to a better appreciation of some jokes and puns. Good news: by no means knowing Japanese is fundamental to fully appreciate the smoothly written story - the English is solid. Even if English isn't your first language, it isn't very hard to read and it might probably be cheaper and better done than your local language translation (which is the case for the Italian version of the first two books of the series).If you, like me, have been waiting too much for this, there's also a special treat for you at the end of the book: the writer will personally excuse himself for the delay. Seriously, how many times do you see this in western media?This book is worth every single penny. Just buy it and its brothers, you won't regret it!

This product was delivered on time and it great quality.The story is well written and easy to follow. If you have been reading the previous Haruhi Suzumiya books you won't be disappointed by this new one. The book was as good and even better in places than Nagaru Tanigawa's previous books and really shows how great of an author Nagaru is. I would encourage everyone to read the Haruhi series because it is a great set of stories and is a very enjoyable to read.

Je trouve que Tanigawa est capable d'écrire des choses très intéressantes, comme il est capable de se perdre dans une sorte de routine.Pour ce volume, je dirai que la chose se vérifie. En effet toute l'intrigue, qui fait directement suite au précédent bouquin, est plutôt bien construite et intéressante. Sans trop de temps morts, l'histoire se développe, avec son lot de péripéties, d'action, saupoudrées de dialogues parfois un peu perchés mais qui ne font pas pour autant tâche au regard de l'univers et des personnages écrits par Tanigawa.En revanche, par rapports aux enjeux développés dans les tout premiers volumes, The surprise of Haruhi Suzumiya est trop peu prolixe. L'auteur parait tirer sur la corde, voire ne parait plus enclin à donner de réponses à des questions qu'il avait mises en place au début de son œuvre. Si techniquement Tanigawa s'attèle à l'écriture d'un ultime volume, on peut décemment se demander si ce dernier compte pour de bon mettre un terme à sa série en dévoilant les révélations nécessaires à la cohérence de l'histoire.Ne reste donc plus qu'à attendre le dernier pan des aventures de Haruhi Suzumiya.

If you are a fan of the Haruhi series, you will not be disappointed. I always considered the highs of the series to be the very first novel and the Disappearance one. I now rate this one at that level too, having been a little underwhelmed by Indignation and Disassociation, although the latter was more because it was only half a book. This one is the second half, so it won't make much sense if you haven't read that (I re-read it before starting this one so I could remember the complex plotlines). It takes a while before the alpha and beta lines converge to the climax so you are left guessing for most of the book, and it is very satisfying for me that I really couldn't work out some of the crucial aspects until the author explains them at the end.It ties together all (well, almost all) the loose ends nicely, and even ends that you didn't realise were loose...those small things turn out to have been important. If Tanigawa-san never writes another Haruhi novel, this is a great high on which to end things. However, there is plenty of scope for more if the inclination takes him - I for one would welcome more tales of the gang as they progress through High School into college.If you are new to Haruhi, I highly recommend the series to you - though you really do need to start from the first book (Melancholy). It essentially revolves around a high school girl who unwittingly shapes the world around her, and the collection of friends and onlookers that try to ensure she doesn't change too much. It has elements of mystery, romance, supernatural and fantasy as well as just 'slice of life' observations. The translation of most of the books is pretty good from the original Japanese and I get the impression (from my limited Japanese) that the original feel is maintained. The characters are very well developed and you get a strong impression of their personalities; the humour also comes across well, which is often an issue with poorer translations. All the books are written from the perspective of Kyon, a self-proclaimed 'normal high school student' who gets involved with Haruhi and the others. This is one key to the series' success, in that Kyon provides a comical, sarcastic view of proceedings as a balance against Haruhi's in your face and often obnoxious personality.Final points - this book was originally split into two in Japan so is twice the normal size - bargain! If it wasn't obvious, I highly recommend buying it, reading it, and then reading all the series again, and again...Tanigawa-san, please write some more!