The Surprise of Haruhi Suzumiya (First Part) (涼宮ハルヒの驚愕(前) (Suzumiya Haruhi no Kyōgaku (Zen)) is the first of two Haruhi Suzumiya Light Novels that continue the story from The Dissociation of Haruhi Suzumiya.
A Kindle version of the book is available in English.
Development[]
The novel's original release date was July 1, 2007. Two weeks before that date it was changed to "TBA" - no information has been given as to why it was pushed back.
In August 2009, Nagaru Tanigawa, the writer of the novels, announced that he was once again starting work on the novel.[1]
In February 2010, Kadokawa Shoten announced in the April 2010 edition of The Sneaker that the first part of the novel would release in the next issue that would be released on April 30, 2010.[2] The preview would feature the first chapter of First Part (fourth chapter throughout the story). In the June edition, Kadokawa said that the novel would be released by the end of 2010 and that the story was approximately eighty percent done at the time of publication. The story was finished in late fall 2010.[3]
In The Sneaker Magazine, February 2011 edition, the editor-in-chief Koichi Sakamoto announced that the story will be released on May 25, 2011 in a two volume "simultaneous release". He also announced that there would be an "unprecedented worldwide simultaneous release". The novels were available for sale in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea in addition to domestic publication in Japan for a total of 5 countries. The release was delayed 6 months so that the novels would be translated for a simultaneous release.
Both books are available in a "First Press Limited Edition" version that were sold beginning on May 25, 2011 only in Japan. This version includes both books as well as a 64-page color booklet containing the Rainy Day short story by Nagaru Tanigawa, a look inside the workplace of Noizi Ito, a special story behind the creation of the first novels, and artwork drawn by Ito, Gaku Tsugano, and Puyo for 1200 yen. On June 15, 2011 they were sold separately for 580 yen apiece.[4]
Summary[]
Where Haruhi goes, trouble follows!
The two storylines from The Disassociation of Haruhi Suzumiya continue, introducing a new inductee into the S.O.S. brigade who may be more than just the eager freshman she appears to be. As the two realities converge, the SOS Brigade learns that the new member may have the ability to bring the two story "timelines" together... and save the world in the process.
α line[]
On Tuesday, Kyon meets Itsuki Koizumi on his way to school and they talk about the prospective members of the SOS Brigade. Kyon suggests that around six students will come to the clubroom after school and Koizumi suggests less than that. During school, Kyon aces the math quiz that Haruhi Suzumiya tutored him for the previous day.
After classes, Kyon gets another lesson from Haruhi, who wants to wait for the new members to arrive. In the clubroom are nine students (Koizumi, Mikuru Asahina, Yuki Nagato, and six freshmen) waiting for Haruhi. Haruhi has Kyon, Koizumi, and Asahina leave the room for the second round of testing. Kyon grabs a copy of Haruhi's test and reflects over it with Koizumi and Asahina in the school courtyard. They return after 40 minutes to find that all of the students have already left at Haruhi's order.
On Wednesday, Haruhi is late to school due to making a lunch for reasons she doesn't understand. She and Kyon talk about the final trial in the SOS Brigade application tests. They don't have a lesson after classes end.
There are only five applicants remaining. Haruhi takes them to the sport grounds, declares the final trial is a marathon, and starts running. As Haruhi sets no number of laps or time limit, the applicants can do nothing but run until they collapse from exhaustion. However, shortly after Haruhi declares the marathon over, a girl crosses the finish line. Haruhi declares that this girl is the only one to pass the test. They arrange for her to come to the clubroom the next day. She leaves and the SOS Brigade returns to the clubroom.
Haruhi reveals that she didn't plan for anyone to join the Brigade, but that girl was too good to pass up. Trying to pinpoint why she seems familiar, Kyon asks Haruhi how her name, Yasumi Watahashi, is pronounced. The pronunciation is similar to the Japanese for "It's me", and Kyon realizes the girl who called him while he was bathing Saturday night was actually introducing herself as Yasumi Watahashi.
β line[]
Nursing Yuki
Haruhi make the SOS Brigade nurse Nagato on Monday afternoon. As Haruhi, Asahina, and Koizumi cook her food, Nagato reveals to Kyon that her sickness started during The Dissociation of Haruhi Suzumiya, explaining why Emiri Kimidori was at the café instead of Nagato. Kyon goes to the bathroom, but has a text-message chat with Nagato and finds that the Sky Canopy Dominion is directly responsible. Nagato's text becomes garbled and she faints.
Kyon confronts the Sky Canopy Dominion interface
Kyon rushes outside in a rage, running over to Kouyouen looking for Kuyoh Suoh. She is waiting for him in front of a rail crossing. She is looking specifically for Kyon, not Nagato, and wants him to "join her". Ryoko Asakura appears, claiming Kyon as "her prey" and saying that the Canopy Dominion has no right to his living or death, but the Data Overmind does. She instigates a knife battle with Kuyoh, twisting the world into one similar to the one she fought with Nagato in during The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Kimidori appears and tells Asakura she has overstepped her boundaries. Kuyoh teleports into position to kill Kyon; Asakura saves him again. Kuyoh disappears for good. Kimidori reveals she summoned Asakura, having had responsibilities delegated to her by Nagato. Because Asakura is too deviant, Kimidori will only summon her during times of emergency. Kimidori informs Kyon that Nagato has been given the duty of establishing communication with the Canopy Dominion.
Kyon buys some orange juice for Nagato as an excuse to Haruhi for why he ran off, and returns to the apartment, where he discusses events with Koizumi. Haruhi declares that the SOS Brigade will meet in Nagato's room until Nagato gets better. Kyon goes home and calls Sasaki in an attempt to assemble her, Fujiwara, Kyoko Tachibana, and Kuyoh, hoping it will help him find the cure to Nagato's problem.
Tuesday, Haruhi arrives later than usual due to stopping by Nagato's apartment to make her breakfast. During lunch he has conversations with Taniguchi and Koizumi. Koizumi mentions that Haruhi has stopped creating any closed spaces or Celestials, since she is too worried about Nagato to feel irritated about Sasaki. He also warns Kyon that he is focusing too much attention on Nagato's problem instead of Fujiwara's plans.
The conference breaks down
After school he meets with Sasaki, Tachibana, Fujiwara, and Kuyoh. Kyon makes his request that Kuyoh and the Sky Canopy Dominion stop affecting Nagato. All three members agree to that condition if Kyon transfers Haruhi's power to Sasaki. Neither Kyon or Sasaki would like that to happen, but Fujiwara and Kuyoh continue antagonizing them, which ruins their meeting. Tachibana says that Koizumi founded and is the leader in the 'Agency'. Fujiwara mentions the process behind using the TPDD to create holes in time space while traveling.
Kyon, Sasaki, and Kuyoh run into Taniguchi and Kunikida outside the cafe. Taniguchi is stricken at the sight of Kuyoh, who is the girl he dated during The Disappearance. She dumped him around Valentine's Day once she realized he was not Kyon.
On Wednesday, Kunikida catches Kyon as he walks to school and mentions that all three of them haven't changed since they entered high school. After school only Koizumi and Kyon go to the clubroom. They go outside and play catch while talking about the events that have occurred.
Sasaki visits Kyon
Following that, Kyon heads to his room and finds Sasaki, who his sister let inside. They talk about what her purpose in life is. Sasaki gives Kyon some confidence and leaves. Kyon then takes a bath and goes to sleep.
(Continued in The Surprise of Haruhi Suzumiya (Final Part))
Rainy Day[]
Included with the limited first pressing of both Surprise novels was a short story written by Tanigawa that took place in Kyon's third year of middle school.
The cover of Rainy Day translated
Story[]
On a day near the beginning of September Kyon lays by his school's pool as his and other classes have their final swimming class of the year. Sasaki joins him and they talk about Kyon's lack of desire to study and their plans for the upcoming high school entrance exams. Kunikida follows and inquires about how close they have gotten. He and Sasaki talk about their favorite style of music, western, and the CD Sasaki lent Kunikida for broadcast during the lunch hour. They sit and watch the rest of the students in the pool until the end of class.
Later that day Sasaki and Kyon continue their discussion about schools when the class leader Okamoto comes over and tells them to fill out their career plan forms. Struck not only by her beauty, but also by how close her face is to his, Kyon reluctantly accepts the form. She leaves and Sasaki continues her discussion, now about the flow of time. Kyon stores away the image of her smiling face in his memory.
They leave the school and meet Kyon's sister as he picks up his bicycle from outside his house. Sasaki accepts a rice cracker and apologizes for not being able to stay and play with her and Miyokichi. As soon as she and Kyon leave it begins to rain. They pull under a shutter to hide from the downpour, but their clothes are already soaked. Sasaki becomes embarrassed and asks Kyon to turn away.
Due to the uncomfortable situation and the questions Sasaki asks, Kyon can only reply with his new trademark phrase "Yare yare." It was the first, but not the last, time he muttered that phrase.
References[]
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