Gosick

Gosick
Cover of Gosick volume 1 as published by Fujimi Shobo
GOSICK -ゴシック- (Goshikku)
Genre	Mystery
Light novel
Written by	Kazuki Sakuraba
Illustrated by	Hinata Takeda
Published by	Fujimi Shobo
Demographic	Male
Original run	December 10, 2003 – April 10, 2007
Volumes	9
Manga
Written by	Kazuki Sakuraba
Illustrated by	Sakuya Amano
Published by	Fujimi Shobo
Magazine	Monthly Dragon Age
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	July 9, 2008 – present
Volumes	5
Anime television series
Directed by	Hitoshi Nanba
Written by	Mari Okada
Studio	Bones
Original network	AT-X, TV Tokyo
Original run	January 7, 2011 – present
Episodes	24

Gosick (GOSICK -ゴシック-, Goshikku) is a Japanese light novel series by Kazuki Sakuraba, published by Fujimi Shobo. Set in a fictional European country in 1924, a Japanese exchange student meets a mysterious, brilliant girl who only leaves the library to sleep. Her brother, a policeman, relies on her exceptional mind to solve difficult mysteries.

Tokyopop released the first novel in the series in English in April 2008 and the second in March 2010. The series has been published in Germany by Tokyopop since November 2006. A manga adaptation started serialization in the shōnen manga magazine Monthly Dragon Age on December 9, 2007. An anime adaptation by Bones premiered on January 7, 2011. Crunchyroll is currently simulcasting the series.

Plot and settings

Gosick takes place in 1924 in a small, fictional European country of Sauville. The story centers on Kazuya Kujo, the third son of a Japanese Imperial soldier, who is a transfer student to St. Marguerite Academy, where urban legends and horror stories are all the rage. There he meets Victorica, a mysterious yet beautiful and brilliant girl who never comes to class and spends her days reading the entire content of the library or solving mysteries that even detectives can't solve. The series mostly focuses on Kazuya and Victorica getting involved in different mystery cases and their struggle to solve them, at the same time forming important bonds with different people.

Characters

Kazuya Kujo (久城 一弥, Kujō Kazuya)

Voiced by: Miyu Irino (Drama CD), Takuya Eguchi (Anime)

The main character of the story. As the youngest son of a soldier, Kazuya has spent most of his life struggling with living in his highly successful siblings' shadows. Jealous of all the attention his brothers got, he worked hard to compete, but everything changed when he understood that adults, who think that the youngest child is always spoiled and useless, will never acknowledge his efforts. With a permanent scar in his heart he left the military academy in Japan and before anyone from his family could stop him, went to study abroad to St. Marguerite. Unfortunately, his appearance, combined with the student body's belief that "the traveler who comes in the spring brings death with him" has resulted in Kazuya being called the "Reaper" and having no friends. By some twist of fate he becomes a messenger and companion to the most eccentric pupil in the school, Victorica. At first he didn't like Victorica because of her arrogant attitude, but after some time he started to care for her and be protective of her. He is described, by Victorica, as a good and sincere person whose soul is pure and beautiful enough to admit pride. Despite everything that happened in Japan he is proud to be a soldier's son.

Victorica de Blois (ヴィクトリカ・ド・ブロワ, Vikutorika do Burowa)

Voiced by: Chiwa Saitou (Drama CD), Aoi Yūki (Anime)

The heroine of the story. Victorica has the appearance of a small (4'7"), almost doll-like, girl with long golden hair and emerald eyes and a voice that sounds exactly like that of an older woman. Another important part of Victorica's appearance is a pipe that she smokes when thinking about something; though in the anime, it is never shown to be lit or showing her smoking due to her young age. She spends her days at the conservatory at the top of the library, reading several difficult books, often in different languages, simultaneously. She points at one wall of the library and has told Kazuya that she has read almost all the books over there. Along with her sharp tongue, abusive bluntness and eccentric attitude, she possesses amazing detective skills. After Victorica saves him from a near-arrest, Kazuya finds himself being entangled in every new mystery. Because her mother was a mistress, and according to Victorica "a dangerous person", she was imprisoned in the depths of the de Blois mansion where she developed very un-childlike mannerisms. She was sent off to school under strict orders to never leave the campus (although Grevil sometimes obtains special permission to take her out). When she first met Kazuya she didn't like him and thought that he was annoying and stupid for climbing up all the stairs in the library. She even ignored him and made fun of him, but gradually warmed up to him and began to trust and cherish him. She enjoys "reconstructing chaos" by solving intricate mysteries and often complains of the boredom that causes her headaches. Her mother is from the legendary "Village of the Gray Wolves", a secluded castle inhabited by people with golden hair, small figure and rosy cheeks, just like her, and despite her mother being expelled from the village after being accused of murder, Victorica believes in her innocence.

Victorica's name is spelled "Victorica" on the official Gosick website. Her name is spelled "Victorique" in the first two novels (English translation). All evidences in the novel are that Sauville, the academy and Victorica's family all speak French as their first language. Victorica probably signs her name with the French spelling, "Victorique".

Grevil de Blois (グレヴィール・ド・ブロワ, Gurevīru do Burowa)

Voiced by: Takehito Koyasu (Drama CD), Hidenobu Kiuchi (Anime)

Grevil is an aristocrat who had forced the local police to make him a detective purely because he had an interest in crime. The most noticeable thing in his appearance is his drill-like hairstyle that Kazuya thinks could be used as a deadly weapon. Despite being a terrible detective and always having to rely on Victorica to solve his crimes, he usually refuses to acknowledge that she even exists. When he comes to the library he speaks about the case that troubles him to Kazuya, saying that it helps him to clarify his thoughts. Kazuya tries to get him to tell it to Victorica, which he ignores. Victorica tells Kazuya to chat with the detective, that she will just read her books; if she says anything to herself, pay no attention. This is because he is Victorica's half brother and even if they are family they could never acknowledge each other in public. His mother was their father's proper wife and because he is the eldest son he takes all the glory for solving crimes and will take over after their father dies. He is described by Victorica as a heel and a playboy.

Avril Bradley (アブリル・ブラッドリー, Aburiru Buraddorī)

Voiced by: Tomoko Kawakami (Drama CD), Noriko Shitaya (Anime)

An international student from Great Britain. Because she and Kazuya were both from abroad, they quickly found common ground and were able to talk freely. A beautiful girl with short blond hair and blue eyes. It is hinted that she has feelings for Kazuya. She represents Kazuya's ordinary ties to the school, apart from his adventures with Victorica. Despite Kazuya spending a lot of time with her, just like the other students beside him, she has never met Victorica in person. She also enjoys eating.

The real Avril Bradley was kidnapped on the way to the academy and replaced by Keiran II, the succesor of the famous thief Keiran who mysteriously disappeared 8 years prior. This thief wishes to continue his legacy by stealing the priceless works of famous artists and writers, etc., and was after a rare stamp that Avril's grandfather, a famed adventurer, had intended to give to her. She was rescued by Kujo, and later in the nurse's office said she thought he was a "black-haired prince." Ironically because the thief knew in high details of the real Avril. It wasn't hard for Kazuya to reestablish a friendship to the real Avril. It was like nothing had change and as if the whole thief incident never happen either.

Cecile Lafitte (セシル・ラフィット, Seshiru Rafitto)

Voiced by: Yui Horie (Drama CD), Yui Kano (Anime)

A teacher in St. Marguerite Academy. She teaches Kazuya's, Avril's (and Victorica's) class. A small woman with a baby face, fluffy brown hair and big round glasses. She tasks Kazuya with taking the class handouts to Victorica, and she was the one who first brought Kazuya and Victorica together. She also dislikes ghosts and is prone to fainting in certain supernatural situations.

Media

Light novels

There are nine light novels out in total for Gosick. The Gosick novels are full length works, and the GosickS books are short story collections. The series was authored by Kazuki Sakuraba with illustrations by Hinata Takeda. The first novel was released in Japan on December 10, 2003 and the last one on April 10, 2007.

• Gosick (GOSICK -ゴシック-, GOSICK -Goshikku-) ISBN 4829162295
• Gosick II: The Crime That Has No Name (GOSICK II -ゴシック・その罪は名もなき-, GOSICK II -Goshikku - Sono Tsumi wa Na mo Naki-) ISBN 4829162546
• Gosick III: Beneath the Blue Rose (GOSICK III -ゴシック・青い薔薇の下で-, GOSICK III -Goshikku - Aoi Bara no Shita de-) ISBN 4829162732
• Gosick IV: A Fool Represents the Case (GOSICK IV -ゴシック・愚者を代弁せよ-, GOSICK IV -Goshikku - Gusha o Daiben seyo-) ISBN 4829162880
• Gosick V: Beelzebub's Skull (GOSICK V -ゴシック・ベルゼブブの頭蓋-, GOSICK V -Goshikku - Beruzebubu no Zugai-) ISBN 4829163283
• Gosick VI: Night of the Masquerade (GOSICK VI -ゴシック・仮面舞踏会の夜-, GOSICK VI -Goshikku - Kamen Butōkai no Yoru-) ISBN 4829163755

GosickS takes place before Gosick, GosickS II between Gosick IV and Gosick V. GosickS III takes place after Gosick VI.

• GosickS: The Reaper Comes in the Spring (GOSICKS -ゴシックエス・春来たる死神-, GOSICKS -Goshikku Esu - Haru Kitaru Shinigami-) ISBN 4829163100
• GosickS II: Summer from the Disappearing Train (GOSICKS II -ゴシックエス・夏から遠ざかる列車-, GOSICKS II -Goshikku Esu - Natsu kara Tōzakaru Ressha-) ISBN 4829163526
• GosickS III: Memories of an Autumn Flower (GOSICKS III - ゴシックエス・秋の花の思い出-, GOSICKS III -Goshikku Esu - Aki no Hana no Omoide-) ISBN 9784829163870

Manga

A manga with illustrations by Amano Sakuya, is currently serialized in the shōnen manga magazine Monthly Dragon Age.

Drama CD

A drama CD in which the story is based on the first volume of GosickS, was released on April 21, 2006.

Anime

Episode list

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Music

The opening theme of the anime is titled "Destin Histoire" by yoshiki☆lisa and will be released on March 2, 2011. The ending theme is titled "Resuscitated Hope" by Komine Lisa and will be released on April 27, 2011.

Reception

Anime News Network's Carlo Santos commends the light novels for "a mysterious, elegant atmosphere and an intricate plotline make this a thrilling read from start to finish". However, he criticises the light novels for "flashback scenes [that] never really fit in, and the final conclusion is rather far-fetched".

External links

• Official Website Template:Ja icon
• Official TV Tokyo Website Template:Ja icon
• Gosick (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia