The third novel is supposed to come out this month, anyone seen an early release yet?

A very unexpected thing indeed!!
That scene is one of my first lol experience for a NOVEL.

I got the first one for my birthday. Mostly because my mom thinks anime is stupid and comiic books are for little boys.
I actualy liked it alot. The first part had this sci-fi thriller feel to it. Which is OK because I like Sci-fi! But I thought the bonus story was verry funny.
That little book got me through part one of the W.A.S.L. (if you don't know the W.A.S.L. is this monster test that determins if we, the class of 2008, graduates or not!) I'm going to have to get book two to get me through part two of that stupid test coming up next week!

I don't have the first one,land of sand, but i do have the second one, the abducted alchemist. when i read the land of sand in barnes and noble it was pretty boring at first. the second one i thought was pretty good, i didnt finish it yet due to all the text books i have to read for education, but yea, im half way so their both pretty good novles!

I've just read the third novel, Valley of White Petals, and it was an interesting tale, one story and it was as long as the first novel in total page count. Of course this leads me to wonder what the 4th and 5th novels are about as usual. I know one of the two has two stories in it but I am not totally sure.

My Borders doesn't have it yet... Talk about late! But I saw the girl (is her name Ruby? That's what it looks like the Katakana says) in the second art book. She's pretty cute.

Does anyone know where to see on-line or download the novels (the second one)?????
I have ask this before and someone told me that the only way to see the novels was to buy them .
Is anyone going to scan them????? ......

Its entirely text, why would you want to see scanned text? It's better to buy the novels. They'd don't cost much. =/

Neokakashi: Yep her name is Ruby, and [spoiler]Al is her fiance ;3[/spoiler]

a lil' off topic... but did you found the second art book scans? O_O *clings*

[quote name='Wyrd_Raven' date='May 4 2006, 05:36 PM' post='390426']
[quote name='paca' post='390417' date='May 4 2006, 12:23 PM']
Does anyone know where to see on-line or download the novels (the second one)?????
I have ask this before and someone told me that the only way to see the novels was to buy them .
Is anyone going to scan them????? ......
[/quote]

Its entirely text, why would you want to see scanned text? It's better to buy the novels. They'd don't cost much. =/

Oh. O_o how stupid I can be!! I didn`t know that they where only text.
thankssss =)

who would buy if you can download them of the internet

I download a lot of things of the net including every FMA thing that comes out. But guess what I still buy not only all the English releases but lately all the Japanese releases as well. Why? Because I don't feel right about STEALING and I actually want to show my support to Fullmetal Alchemist and Arakawa something you are not doing by only downloading things.

I don`t want to buy them ( if i wanted the only way to
have them will be to buy at the internet)........ I prefer
to download them but..... do you know where?

I don't think it's even possible to download them! Not in English, anyway - besides, the manga is free online, so you may as well buy the books! There's only two in the US right now, anyways - support Arakawa! I mean, I read the manga online but buy the books anyway - FMA is amazing, and Arakawa deserves to not be taken advantage of - same with the fans who actually post and translate - they had to buy it, so why mooch off of them the whole time? Have some pride!


Anyway, I love these novels, and of the two so-far released in the US, no. 2 is DEFINITELY my favorite! I was laughing my ass off the whole time! Hahaa!

People, these novels are BOOKS!! At least buy them and read them!! You're not reading manga, YOU'RE READING BOOKS!! FULL WRITTEN WORDS!! In another word........ THIS THING EDUCATES YOUR READING!! WHOOT!! You can even include this on ur stinkin' book log if you want! My mom doesn't let me buy the FMA mangas anymore but she lets me buy the novels. Just buy them. I'm pretty sure there really isn't a place to download them cause there's no point of bothering to translate a novel and posting it onto the internet when there's a translated novel out there in the book stores. Go and read~ use the force~

I got my novels 3-5 and finished reading vol 3!
It was sure better than the first two I tell ya in case of more dramatic terms. (almost no comedy stuff)
Here's the summary.

Ed and Al are traveling to a city called Westaria (or Wistaria, Whistaria, whateva) to inspect: by the orders of Colonel Mustang. (Ed calls it black mailing) By rumors, Westaria is the perfect city. Tale tells that once a man has gone in, they never want to leave the city again. But Westaria has certain standards for people entering their perfect world. Westaria accepts all poor people who got nowhere else to turn to, no fancier than that. Ed and Al gets close to Westaria and finds a tomboyish girl fighting a bunch of theives. Al jumps in to help and Ed saves the girl from almost being stabbed by a theif. The girl is called Ruby, she invites Ed and Al into the city of Westaria as her soul saviors. As Ed and Al secretly inspects the city, they are surprised to find out that it IS a perfect city. According to Ruby, Westaria is bound by the rule of Equivalent Exchange. Whatever the worker works gets the same amount of money in return. Ed and Al assumes the city is perfect, but as they stay longer, they find out the peaceful world of Westaria isn't what it all seems to be.

Srry for the confusing summary;;
I thought this novel focused much around Al's feelings of his current body and how he has to accept it as it is or forever believe that this isn't his body and never use its advantages to help other people. This novel was pretty heavy and very emotional unlike the first two. It tells how there never can be a perfect city; where things are always equal between everyone to make everyone happy. For something to be pleasing or to feel happy, you need negatives things to experience that true happiness. You need to know what negative things are to distingush them from positive things.
This all may sound confusing but if you read the novel, it makes sense. So srry!! >_<

Even the title of vol 3 matches the story perfectly! The Valley with White Petals (you'll know why it's such a neat title)

The funny amusing thing about vol 3 is that in one part, Al pretends to be Ruby's fiancée and Ruby jokingly calls Ed, "Brother-in-law-san." Then she goes, "Aw, you're afraid I might take away your precious little brother??"
XXD

Vol 3's awsome. But after reading the vol 5 epilogue, I wanna read vol 5 fast... (but I hafta read vol 4 first!! >_<)

In the US its currently up to volume 3, still waiting on 4 and 5. But I have to agree the story for volume 3 was well done. I even liked the omake at the end showing what Roy was doing on the other side of the phone conversation.

It's strange. I've been reading the novels since they were released in English, but I've never read this thread before...



I agree. If no one supported the series by buying the books and such, there would be no series! If you're really a fan, you should support the series by buying it!

Anyway, I just finished reading "The Valley of White Petals" and it was just awesome! I'm always whining about how Al is the one who wants a girlfriend, but all the girls seem to like Ed. Finally, a girl who likes Al! If only she knew the truth...



Heheh. That slacker.

Oh yes, I remember reading that one... I have read the first 4 novels (borrowed off my friend... cuz I don't like the novels that much... Arakawa didn't write the novels.... and I rather spend $$ on merchandise XD;; ) and that 3rd one is my fav.

Roy playing MahJong is awesome *-* I want to play against him~ Maybe I can win since Roy is useless~! XDD *gets bricked*

I plan to get the second artbook if the price drops at the local japanese bookstore... (right now it's too expensive @_@)

ooh, now i REALLY want these. Does anyone know when 4 & 5 will be out in the US? (maybe i can drag my parental units to the book store sometime..)

No word yet on 4 and 5. But I want them too.

From the FMA Manga Japan site:
小説「鋼の錬金術師(4)
遠い空の下で」

エドとアルが旅の途中で幼なじみに再会する表題作の他、軍部の面々が活躍する「ロイの休日」の豪華2本立て!!


「鋼の錬金術師(５)
それぞれの絆」
　
発行禁止となった書物を探して訪れた町を舞台に、ある家族と出会ったエドたちの物語。もちろんロイも大活躍の小説第５巻!!

I just finished the 3rd one. It was really good.

Just finished reading the third novel (oh, and some freaky dude interviewed me about alchemy and this movie called "FullMetal Jacket".... weiiiird @_@, anyway), and it was awesome! I can't say any more because MasterKris has already explained the novel clearly. !

All I have to say is... poor Roy. XD Wonder what Hakuro will do to him.

Does anyone have an idea on when the volumes 4 & 5 will be available on Canada/US, though?

Hmm The more I've been looking at all the information available, I think we may see the fourth novel sometime after Volume 10 based on the 4th novel omake in the omake scan and the chapter cover list threads.

I didn't like how the second was written, but I own the 1st, and reading the 3rd.

"THE ABDUCTED ALCHEMIST" it's very funny !!!!!!

The 4th novel is divided into two stories again like the first one.

The first story is about this town Ed and Al comes to and meets their old childhood friend, Pete. (Ed's best mate) And as they stay longer, Al wants to go visit Risenbool again and relizes how much he misses his hometown. Ed on the other hand, doesn't want to because they can't waste a single moment to find the Philosopher's Stone. (also, Ed gets a bad fever in the beginning of the story)

The second story (which I haven't read yet) is about Roy's vacation. That's all I know and I also know that Hughes appears in this one.

Interesting that explains the omake 4koma for the 4th novel.

I didn't like the first story at all. The second one is pretty funny, though. XD

ALVISS~~~!!!!! *hearts*

Me too. The first story is very boring...it feels like it's dragging... but I have to hurry and finish it to read Roy's vacation!! T_T

YAY!! Finally! Someone who knows Alviss!!
Isn't he so smexy??

Vol 3 seems so interesting. I will buy it soon . Al finally has an unofficial girlfriend XD.

Vol 2 was funny, but I didn't quite like it that much for some reason :S *is looking forward to reading vol 3*

im reading the most recent one, the valley of white petals...and so far its pretty good

So when is novel 4 coming out? I have the other 3 novels (and they rock!)

i don't read them but i might strt if i find them interesting

@Panda_Battle - If you like reading fanfics, you'll probably like them.

i got the first one some time ago and never finished it (cuz i had seen the episodes)
then before school started i got the second and it was great! doing a book report on it too

now im reading the 3rd book and its not as good but still good. it reminds me of one of the episodes, when ed, al and winry go to that one town and meet that one girl and she takes ed's watch (lol). thats funny

the forth book sounds pretty good but no action

(i know this question is in the wrong topic but u guys/gals would know)
does Inoue call Arakawa a guy again? (book 1, page 220)

srry i don't read them cause i am too poor to afford them

I'm still working on Roy's holiday. It's going slowly.

Vol. 2 was definitely my fav... I didn't know that there was a 4 and 5!!! AWESOME!

1 and 3 were just ok...

Roy's holiday? Which one is that? *is curious*

The NFA - It's the fourth novel.

Man, I wonder when Viz is going to release the 4th novel? I can't wait to molest read it and have it on my bookshelf DX

... can anyone give even a short summary of Roy's Vacation? I've been hearing about it for months now.. ;__;

The novels are actually quite good, and my favorite part of the novels are the Afterword and the After-Afterword... so funny... And I always thought the novels' author was a girl... ^^;;

@eina - I would, but I still have a long way to go till I finish reading this novel...

Can't remember exactly what happened since it has been over a year since I have read it (I didn't buy the novel... I borrowed it off a friend when I was in vacation on Hong Kong) Forgot how Roy's vacation started, but Hughes and Armstrong were part of it... They have arrived in this small village and helped out and then found out some sorta conspircy and saved the village's children... If I remember correctly, this village only has elderly and children because the parents were off working somewhere (part of the conspircy (?)....... see how little I remember XD)

Hope that helped XD

Are these any good?
I only read the preview in the manga, and it looked horrible.
Something I would write for english class.
Then again, I'm really good in that subject...

To put it one way, I wasn't happy regarding what I saw.
How are the novels, truly?

Not too shabby. Sure, a little on the simple side (I'm really good at English, too), but I think that's

1) to accommodate to a variety of reader ages
2) because of the whole rigmarole of translating

Other than that, they're pretty good. Kinda cheesy, but all in all a good, quick read that's (generally) well worth it. If anything, just read "The Abducted Alchemist" - I think it's the second one. The other two are more cheesy, but I think you'd like the 2nd one, if you're anything like me!

All in all they're ok - I've read better fanfiction before, but the novels have little after-words from Arakawa which totally make it worth the purchase price!

I think Roy was ordered to re-train the troops stationed in some off-beat location, and went there thinking it would be like a vacation... but it turned out they badly need training. Then Houghes shows up checking on Roy, and then Houghes takes Roy for a day trip to cheer him up, but somehow they get trapped in this village, and Roy ended up peeling potato.....

LOL yea, cuz they lives in the village so they have to help out with chores. XD

OMG. I so cannot wait to get my hands on it! Thanks you two for the summaries *huggles both* The novels really aren't that spectacular, but they are quite okay. Aside from the after-afterword, there are also images that are specially painted for the novel.

The 2nd novel was hilarious... I was snickering so much at 1am it seemed unhealthy, lol.

I am now re-reading my novels. I love them!

Thanks so much for the summary of number 4!

I'm going back and re-reading number 2... Heeeheee!

I re-reading the 3rd novel for our book project in school XD

well i'm getting it this week.. and the other two going to be in the next few weeks , is it any good just let me know don't tell my about just tell me if it awsome!