The Luminous Fairies and Mothra

“Mothra is one of pop culture’s most extraordinary and enduring characters, so utterly unique unto herself that she stands (or rather flutters) apart from the rest of the kaiju crowd. Sixty-four years later, being able to read the original novella will be a delight for longtime monster aficionados as well as anyone else entranced by the postwar landscape of Japanese art and fiction. Experiencing this original story is like watching a caterpillar that will one day blossom into the lepidopteran spectacle that is the original film, soaring on shimmering wings of celluloid. Jeffrey Angles provides fascinating historical context for both the novella as well as the production of the movie, making this publication a must-have companion piece to the 1961 classic!“—Matt Frank, illustrator of Mothra: Queen of the Monsters

“Jeffrey Angles’s translation of The Luminous Fairies and Mothra illustrates Mothra’s monstrous complexity when placed within sociopolitical and historical contexts. This narrative showcases Mothra’s ability to disempower gender binaries, colonialism, and capitalism within the lingering shadow of a post–World War II nuclear specter. Much like Mothra, this novella casts a light in the dark, reminding humanity that despite the distances between our shores, we’re bound together by the threads of song and story.“—Donny Winter, creator and host of Growing Up With Godzilla

“For those who only know the film version, The Luminous Fairies and Mothra will prove eye-opening. Now, thanks to Jeffrey Angles’s brilliant translation, we can finally read in English the remarkable original version of the story, with its sharp commentary on the geopolitics of the Cold War world.“—Michael Bourdaghs, University of Chicago

“Creature feature buffs will be thrilled.“—Publishers Weekly

“A thorough guide to the meanings and relevancies of this Kaiju fairy tale… Devoted fans of Japanese fantasy will definitely be interested in The Luminous Fairies & Mothra.“—CineSavant

”The Luminous Fairies and Mothra holds undeniable historical importance as a stepping stone toward one of Ishiro Honda’s finest genre pictures.“—Our Culture

Shin’ichirō Nakamura (1918–1997) was a critic, scholar, and author of dozens of novels, many of which feature the experience of intellectuals during and after World War II.

Takehiko Fukunaga (1918–1979) was a prolific poet, translator of French fiction, and novelist, known for his sensitive, poetic writing style and interest in existential themes.

Yoshie Hotta (1918–1998) was an essayist and novelist involved in leftist politics and the international nonalignment movement of the 1960s.

Jeffrey Angles is professor of Japanese literature at Western Michigan University. He is author of three books and translator of several works in Japanese, including Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama.

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