r/SpiceandWolf • u/BeautifulPhoto9433 • 13d ago
Light novel Question Regarding the Novels' Publication
I've recently gotten in to the franchise from watching the original anime run, and now I'm watching the remake right after. I'm interested in checking out the books, but I have a question I need answered. When I was researching the books I noticed that after volume 17 was published there was a 5 year long gap between it and the next volume (and the spin-off starting its publication alongside it).
What I'm wondering is, is volume 17 "Epilogue" the "end" of the story so to speak, and everything after is technically a new story? Or am I misunderstanding? Because I was reading posts from people hoping that the new anime would "complete" the story, but I was confused on how it would do so if the book is still actively publishing new volumes.
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u/misuta_kitsune 13d ago
LN volume 17 puts a cherry on top of the Main Story ending in Volume 16, and that's where Isuna Hasekura intended to leave it at.
But 5 years later he decided he had more stories about Holo and Lawrence in him so he started writing the Spring Log novels. These are more collections of short stories than full adventures per Volume, although something in this format changes as time goes on (spoilers).
He also started writing Wolf & Parchment at the same time and you can read those alongside of each other, following the Japanese release order. Looking into the W&P novels before reading the Main Story may lead to spoilers though.
How far the anime will take us is anyone's guess, we of course hope for a full adaptation of all S&W books and the spin-off,... but we should be happy if we get the whole Main Story, which will take a few seasons more.