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The Sky Crawlers (English-language edition) book cover 1
The Sky Crawlers (English-language edition) book cover 2
The Sky Crawlers (English-language edition) book cover 3
The Sky Crawlers (English-language edition)
Series · 11 books · 2016-2022

Books in series

The Sky Crawlers book cover
#1A

The Sky Crawlers

Prologue, Episode 1

2016

"Are you getting angry, because I just said 'Like a child.' ...?" "I'm a child." I utter, and then smile. That is the way it is, because I am a professional pilot. It is a profession that adults cannot take. The war, which is theatrically staged, goes on in the world. "Kildren" (children who are capable of living eternally in adolescence) engage in actual combat operations as daily routines. Which leads to happier existences, to live or to die? "The Sky Crawlers" has been written by the revolutionary, the one and only author Dr. MORI, Hiroshi. It has been regarded as THE masterpiece by the author himself. This view of the world is brutally innocent enough to fascinate numerous readers. Also, the animation movie version "The Sky Crawlers", directed by Mamoru Oshii, has attracted global attention. The English version of "The Sky Crawlers", the novel series long-awaited by the whole world, has just taken off.
The Sky Crawlers book cover
#1B

The Sky Crawlers

Episode 2, Episode 3

2016

I am still a child. At times, my right hand kills humans. Instead of that. I would probably let someone's right hand kill me. "Kildren" (children who are capable of living eternally in adolescence) aviate their fighter aircrafts and shoot enemies down every day. In order to continue to live as children, they have to engage in the war, to kill time. Some of them die in combat. The cockpits of aircrafts rocking in dark waves are coffins for the pilots. In the dead silence of the deep sea, what method of death would those painfully pure-hearted ones wish for? This is the second installment of "The Sky Crawlers", which the whole world has been craving for. The story soars skyward into the higher altitude.
The Sky Crawlers book cover
#1C

The Sky Crawlers

Episode 4, Episode 5, Epilogue

2017

Do we care or not about coming back to the same place again when taking off from the runway? I do not care about such a miracle. When flying above the clouds and viewing the stars in the heavens, I can forget about the things that lie in the future. I can exchange my whole life with leaving the ground, or with the distance from the ground. I never doubt the outrageousness. The important point is whether we have such spirits of children or not. The story about the formidable children named "Kildren," who kill each other in the eternal flow of time, concludes with deadly silence. At the same time, magnificent "The Sky Crawlers" series starts from this masterpiece. To the skies of the whole world, their pure spirits continue to ascend boundlessly.
The Sky Crawlers book cover
#1

The Sky Crawlers

2017

Dr. MORI, Hiroshi, one of the most popular novelists in Japan, recognizes "The Sky Crawlers" as his masterpiece. This complete edition comes with Prologue, Episodes 1-5, and Epilogue. The animation movie version of the same title, directed by the masterful Mamoru Oshii, has attracted the global attention as well. "Kildren," who live eternally in adolescence unless they are killed in combat or commit suicide, innocently crave for being released from the curse of the gravity, and continue to ascend to the end of the clear blue sky. I can fall anytime. I can die anytime. With the resistance, we cannot fly. This work is the first installation of the serialized novels for the magnificent "The Sky Crawlers" series, and chronologically the last story in the timeline of the series. At the end of the book, "The Interview About The Sky Crawlers With Dr. MORI, Hiroshi" is also included.
None But Air book cover
#2B

None But Air

Episode 2, Episode 3

2017

Everyone puts his or her own life on the aircraft, and fly high into the sky. Because of that point of argument, I respect all the pilots, regardless of whether they are my friendlies or enemies. Some of the pilots, who may be able to become more and more skillful or still possess the potential for the future, may suffer from bad luck and be shot down. In reality, we cannot practice for aerial combats. Once we fail, everything will come to nothing. This is the most notable feature of our job. There are no such things as gods for us. What we believe are our mechanics and our own hands that hold the control sticks. "You are the number-one pilot among those whom I know. You will probably surpass me in not-so-distant future." This is a story about the Teacher and me.
None But Air book cover
#2C

None But Air

Episode 4, Epilogue

2018

"Every pilot admires you. Everyone wants to be a pilot like you ..." The Teacher is the aim for me, obviously. Because I want to be a pilot like him, I came to this airbase. As a pilot, I am approaching the one I admire, little by little. But, when the distance between us becomes zero, he suddenly leaves me and disappears. "I believe we will meet again someday." Then, in the sky, I encounter an enemy aircraft, on which a black cat is drawn. I recall the question I once asked him in the past. "Why are you called the Teacher?" The first episode of the Teacher and me ends, and the new story commences here.
None But Air book cover
#2

None But Air

2018

Dr. MORI, Hiroshi, the greatest treasure of the Japanese publishing industry, admits “The Sky Crawlers” series is his masterpiece. “None But Air” is the second novel of the series and takes place in the earliest chronological phase of the entire storyline. This much-anticipated complete edition comes with Prologue, Episodes 1-4, and Epilogue. As I admire a genius pilot whose codename is “the Teacher”, I also take off into the sky. In the place which is none but air, I can surely feel myself only when I am innocently facing enemies and dancing like a bird. I was not born to love someone. I was not born to be loved by anyone. Just lightly ... I was born to fly. The story leading to “The Sky Crawlers”, the finale of the series, has commenced here. At the end of the book, “The Interview About None But Air with Dr. MORI, Hiroshi” is also included.
Down to Heaven book cover
#3

Down to Heaven

2019

“The Sky Crawlers” series, the masterpiece from Dr. MORI, Hiroshi, has been recognized worldwide, thanks to the animation movie and video game versions. This is the complete edition of “Down to Heaven”, the third novel of the series, coming with Prologue, Episode 1-4, and Epilogue. I am ending up being promoted, pushed, and hyped up as the star pilot, after having shot down many enemies. The top brass of the company dislikes my being sent to the combat airspace. The next sortie may become my last. The duel with the eternal mark of my admiration. The aerial combat above the city. There will be no regret, even if one of us falls. If I have to die, I shall do so today. Definitely, it has got to be today. I mean, the opponent is the Teacher. The story that started from “None But Air” leads to “The Sky Crawlers”, the finale of the series. At the end of the book, “The Interview About Down to Heaven with Dr. MORI, Hiroshi” is also included.
Flutter Into Life book cover
#4

Flutter Into Life

2020

“The Sky Crawlers” series, the masterpiece from Dr. MORI, Hiroshi, has been recognized worldwide. This is the complete edition of “Flutter Into Life”, the fourth novel of the series, and includes Prologue, Episode 1-4, and Epilogue. As a pilot, I spend my days engaging in aerial combats. One day, I encounter an enigmatic woman named Sagara, who appears to be a relative of one of my deceased colleagues. Suito Kusanagi, my superior officer, seems to have known Sagara for a long time. As Sagara starts to rely on me for help, I am implicated in ominous circumstances regarding the secrets of Kildren. The story keeps flying and takes sudden turns like a fluttering aircraft. Toward the conclusion of the series, it has just made the final turn. At the end of the book, “The Interview About Flutter Into Life with Dr. MORI, Hiroshi” is also included.
Cradle the Sky book cover
#5

Cradle the Sky

2021

“The Sky Crawlers” series, the masterpiece from Dr. MORI, Hiroshi, continues to attract readers in many countries with its unique worldview and sensibility. This is the complete edition of “Cradle the Sky,” the fifth (final) novel of the series, and includes Prologue, Episodes 1-4, and Epilogue. If I can’t fly, I no longer live anymore. That’s why I have escaped from the hospital. Someday, I will go up to the sky, to dance with a wonderful partner there again. When I fly. When I live. The lighter, the better. In the sky, only light things rise. Only the free things climb up. Wait for me. Let’s meet each other again. Let’s dance again. Freely. In the beautiful sky. The biggest and final shock awaits at the end of the story, and utterly alters the scenery of the first novel “The Sky Crawlers.” You cannot speak about and discuss this series without reading this volume. At the end of the book, “The Interview About Cradle the Sky with Dr. MORI, Hiroshi” is also included.
Sky Eclipse book cover
#6

Sky Eclipse

2022

"The Sky Crawlers" series is the masterpiece of Dr. MORI, Hiroshi, who has been attracting a great deal of attention globally for his solitary aesthetics that are not bound by any common sense. This is the complete edition of Episodes 1-8 of "Sky Eclipse," the final volume and the only short story collection in the series. They were the tales in a world with "None But Air." Some chose to go "Down to Heaven." Or, there were those dancing in the sky to "Flutter Into Life." They were born in the "Cradle the Sky." Literally, they were "The Sky Crawlers." And at the time of "Sky Eclipse," eight "stories on earth" will reveal the truth that has been hidden. Like a cloudless blue sky, the world is infinitely clear and transparent. The series is now being sublimated into the sky, and the curtain is about to be closed beautifully. At the end of the book, "The Interview About Sky Eclipse with Dr. MORI, Hiroshi" is also included.

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