xxxHolic: Anotherholic: Landolt-Ring Aerosol

'There are a great many strange things in the world.But no matter how odd... How incredible something may be...If a human does not touch it... If a human does not see it... If a human is not involved with it...It is simply a phenomenon. Simply a matter that will fade with time.Humans. Mankind. Homo sapiens.Humans are the most profoundly mysterious living things in the world!'This novel set within the series was written by Nisio Isin and published in Japan on August 1, 2006. NISIOISIN, the author of The Kubikiri Cycle and Death Note: Another Note the novel. The hardcover looks amazing and inside it has orignal artwork by CLAMP.There are three short stories in this book--all of which are wonderfully written. The first one was actullay included as a stand-alone episode in the anime sereis. In this tale Watanuki meets a woman who has made a fascinating choice in regards to her own happiness and the cost she is wiling to pay.The second story has Watanuki helping a classmate when he is alerted to a girl who is receiving message from her recently deceased friend. Riddled with guilt, the girl is being told to punish herself. Watanuki tries to solve the problem in time to put both the deceased and the girl's guilt to rest. But is it a case of a ghost or merely a selfish desire manifesting itself? Again NISIOISIN challenges not only the main character, Watanuki, but also the reader's concepts of perception and logic. Yuko comes across as mysterious yet merciless as ever in these tales and it makes her even more enigmatic than usual.The final tale is perhaps the most unsettling. But I won't give anything away...Fans of XXXholic need to buy this book!

nisioisin is able to put feelings into words and pick up on the small details, displaying them in a informative way I have never encountered. It is almost as good as the monogatari series.

If you are a CLAMP fan, buy this, monogatari Nisioisin at it best. Love it . . . . . .

Definitely a must for fans of XXXholic, this captures the ambience and eerie charm of the manga series. But it is most definitely an adaptation: there's hardly any description of the kind you would find in a normal novel, just intense conversations strung together by fragmented thoughts and musing on the human condition. This is not a criticism, just a warning for those expecting a more tradional book. If you don't mind that, this is a rewarding read!