Sputnik Rushes Around Our Earthly Sphere

Tenkyuu Kakeru Sputnik (Sputnik Rushes Around Our Earthly Sphere) is a new light novel with illustrations drawn by the famous illustrator and supercell member, redjuice.

Synopsis of the light novel is as follows:

Year 2030, July 7, 16:32 JST — humanity has been deprived of the sky.

Due to the sudden indiscriminate attack by unidentified flying objects from the sky known as the “Satellites”, all aircraft is now unable to fly above the “Raven Belt” (199 feet above the ground).

Even though people have developed a ULF (ultra-low altitude) flying boat to fly in a low altitude, it’s still impossible to match the speed of the original; the consequence of losing the sky was simply too big of a price.

In that era, there exists a voyageur that provides air transportation beyond the secure airspace.

In an era where transportation of goods with a convoy is the norm, a lone guy chases the sky accompanied by a silver-haired dog-ear girl, Chelsea.

———Iba Takurou.

For the fastest crossing record holder of the North Pacific Ocean route like him, impossible requests keep on coming—even today.

This light novel is illustrated by redjuice and written by Tsukasa. redjuice has been known for a long time as a member of the music group “supercell”, and has also collaborated in a bunch other media like creating the original character designs for Guilty Crown and BEATLESS. Tsukasa is mostly known for his previous works like “RIGHT∞LIGHT”, “Juuou Mujin no Fafnir” and “Kokka Madou Saishuu Heiki Shoujo Arklow”. He has published works in four different imprints so far: Shogakukan’s Gagaga Bunko, Kodansha Ranobe Bunko, Fujimi Fantasia Bunko, and Hayakawa Bunko JA. His past works are mostly action-fantasy in terms of genre, with the exception of “nonono world end”, which is a mix of science fiction and horror.

Sputnik will be published by Kadokawa on November 15 under the Novel 0 imprint. Probably an unfamiliar label for most of you, which is understandable since this label’s geared towards 30-year old male audience. Kadokawa announced this label earlier this year on February 2016 in response to an oversaturation of the LN industry towards seinen audience. Kadokawa claimed the label’s goal to be establishing the image of a “cool and heroic adult lifestyle”. With authors such as Hiro Ito (Ginga Kikoutai Majestic Prince original script), Hikaru Sugii (Kami-sama no Memochou), Ao Juumonji (Hai to Gensou no Grimgar), and, this label will surely grow to publish even more interesting light novels for the older demography.