Flag of the North American Federation, post-World War III. The Shining Tomorrow is at hand!
The year is 2053. After the chaos and carnage of World War III in the 2010s, the North American Federation rose from the ashes. Under the protection of the Empire of Japan, the NAF presides over an unprecedented era of peace and economic growth, free of the chaotic bloodshed that stained its past. After many challenges, law and civilization reign once again, and the United States of America that preceded it is naught but a faded memory.
Half-Japanese high school student Irma Mizuho Kaneyasu wants nothing more than to serve her community. As a member of the Young Elegant Ladies of the West, or YELOW, she spends much of her time serving the NAF’s most vulnerable while learning the finer points of responsible womanhood. Her work fulfills her and gives her a sense of purpose.
Then a giant demon attacks, and her friend Pixie disappears amid the chaos.
Fearing the worst, Irma’s mother Tina presents her with the Grand Valkyur, an awe-inspiring mechanical giant far stronger than any weapon ever developed by man. Though Irma is amazed by its strength and beauty, she rejects it as an unladylike tool of violence.
But Irma soon learns that Pixie’s disappearance was no mere happenstance, and that the ones responsible wield weapons fifty feet tall…
ALL CHALLENGES WILL BE OVERCOME. THE NAF’S BEST DAYS LIE AHEAD. THE SHINING TOMORROW IS AT HAND!
I, Rawle Nyanzi, formally introduce my novel series, Shining Tomorrow, as part of a literary movement aimed at revitalizing the mecha genre.
As a member of the movement, I have watched with interest as fellow authors Brian Niemeier and Bradford C. Walker promoted their series. Both of them had wildly successful Indiegogo campaigns (Full disclosure: I contributed to both campaigns.) Brian Niemeier’s Combat Frame Xseed, which I received an advance copy of, is an awesome tour-de-force that feels just like a Gundam series. I’ve talked with Bradford C. Walker about his Star Knight Saga numerous times in private, and I’m really hyped for that one — after all, it’s got a space princess, and I like space princesses.
But enough about them, what about mine? What distinguishes Shining Tomorrow from the above-mentioned series?
Three things:
I don’t use traditional mecha. The giant stompy war machines that become popular after World War III are not machines at all, but monsters powered by magic forces — in other words, kaiju. The main antagonist faction sells these monsters as a way to revolutionize warfare beyond what is possible with mechanical means alone, and they have proven quite successful in that regard. As the plot continues, these monsters will change to adapt to new threats. Additionally, some characters take on a “monster form” that resembles a mecha but isn’t.
The mecha I do use is a Super Robot. As mentioned above, there is a mecha, but it is not scientifically plausible. Forms of energy that can’t exist power it, and its armor does not correspond to any known real-life material. The pilot’s will figures strongly into its performance, and it will reject any pilot it doesn’t trust.
The series is superhero-based. Unlike Brian’s military sci-fi milieu and Brad’s Star wars-influenced setting, mine is based more on transforming superheroes like the Power Rangers or Kamen Rider. Such heroes are called “henshin heroes” in Japan, and this style aligns more with the story of inner struggle that I want to tell.
In this way, I add something different to our movement and improve upon the mecha genre. I foresee my novel releasing in mid-March to mid-April.
And to top everything off, here are images of Irma in her YELOW uniform and in her heroic form as Shoujo Crimson.
Irma Kaneyasu. (Illustrator: Jalen Myles Crymes)
Shoujo Crimson (Illustrator: Jalen Myles Crymes)
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So…when can we purchase / read it?
As I said, I’m aiming for a mid-March/mid-April release.