#The Starcutter and the Lying Wizard

[official-magolor-archive]

Archival 17, 22nd of November 2023

Artwork of Ultra Sword Kirby unleashing an attack on Traitor Magolor, similar to the button-mashing scene from the equivalent fight in Kirby's Return to Dream Land and its Deluxe remake. This is featured in the Kirby of the Stars light novel series book based on Kirby's Return to Dream Land, named "Kirby of the Stars- The Starcutter and the Lying Wizard" which is also known as "Kirby of the Stars: Lor Starcutter and a Magician of Falsehood" (April 2022). Note: The title of the light novel is only available in Japanese and I am therefore using the titles seen in a well-known fan translation and another from Wikirby, as they will be the titles most people know it as.

[cv01doodle]

Personal Kirby Light Novel Masterpost!

(latest update: 10/18/2024)

(I've been planning to make my own list for a long time, this isn't intended to overshadow the one that's already out, it's just my personal list to keep track of the dates, translators, and upcoming/unfinished projects)

(i'm using the names from the wikirby btw tysm)

thanks to all the translators mentioned for their hard work 🙏 and thanks to the creator of the previous list as well! also thanks to takase-sensei for writing the novels lol

-2013-

Kirby and the Dangerous Gourmet Mansion?! translated by friendship-ended-with-pokespe (complete)

-2014-

Kirby and the Big Panic in Gloomy Woods! translated by friendship-ended-with-pokespe (complete)

Kirby Meets the Squeak Squad! translated by friendship-ended-with-pokespe (complete)

-2015-

Kirby: Meta Knight and the Puppet Princess translated by friendship-ended-with-pokespe (complete)

Kirby: Big Race in Pupupu Land! translated by friendship-ended-with-pokespe (complete)

-2016-

Kirby's Labyrinth Rescue! translated by friendship-ended-with-pokespe (complete)

Kirby and the Great Planet Robobot Adventure! translated by friendship-ended-with-pokespe (complete)

-2017-

Kirby: Meta Knight and the Galaxy's Greatest Warrior translated by friendship-ended-with-pokespe (complete)

Kirby Clash Team Unite! translated by makerofmadness (complete)

-2018-

Kirby's Decisive Battle! Battle Royale!! translated by makerofmadness (complete)

Kirby Star Allies: The Great Friend Adventure! translated by rhythmroute_ (complete)

Kirby Star Allies: The Universe is in Trouble?! translated by theultimateultimateweapon (complete)

-2019-

Kirby: Big Trouble in Patch Land! translated by rosakikoza (incomplete)

Kirby: Save the Rainbow Islands! translated by makerofmadness (complete)

Kirby: Super Team Kirby's Big Battle! translated by makerofmadness (complete)

-2020-

Kirby and the Search for the Dreamy Gears! translated by owls-gamblegalaxy (complete)

Kirby: Meta Knight and the Knight of Yomi translated by theultimateultimateweapon (complete)

Kirby: Uproar at the Kirby Café?! translated by hoshi-no-mahoroa (complete)

-2021-

Kirby Fighters: The Destined Rivals!! translated by owls-gamblegalaxy (complete)

Kirby: King Dedede's Great Escape Mission! translated by owls-gamblegalaxy (complete)

Kirby: The Mysterious Incident on the Pupupu Train?! translated by kachikirby (complete)

-2022-

Kirby: Welcome to the Starlight Theater! (untranslated)

Kirby: Lor Starcutter and a Magician of Falsehood translated by starcutter-and-lying-wizard (complete, deleted)

Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Start Running to the New World! translated by makerofmadness (incomplete)

Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Break Out of the Dreams of the Isolated Isles! (untranslated)

Kirby: Full Stomach, Perfect Circle, Dream Buffet! translated by kachikirby (incomplete)

-2023-

Kirby: Sever Evil with a Slash in a Flash! translated by owls-gamblegalaxy (incompete)

Kirby: Come on Over to Merry Magoland! translated by starcutter-and-lying-wizard (incomplete, deleted)

Kirby: Having a Blast at the Music Festival! (untranslated)

-2024-

Kirby: The Dream Onsen is a Good Hot Spring♪ (untranslated)

Kirby: Meta Knight and the Monster of the Magic Stone (untranslated)

Kirby: Snowy Mountain Nights are Eventful! (upcoming)

[desultory-novice]

The Interactions of Marx & Magolor

Some think I'm out of my mind thinking Magolor's castle (or “Magolor Land”) bears a resemblance to Marx, and even more crazy to think it will lead to an appearance by him in the remake. 

...And maybe they’re right!

But I would just like to see these two who have been hinted at knowing each other for nearly TWELVE YEARS to finally interact on screen together. Canonically. (Not counting Star Allies. Great as it is.)

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look back at all the times Marx and Magolor have canonically (or canon-adjacent) been hinted at knowing each other or otherwise been seen together!

1) Magolor’s “somebody” in the "Return to Dream Land" script

<Screenshot from JO ThumbsUpMaster>

Full Text of the conversation from Wikirby: (Bold text mine)

"By the way, I knew about you long before our fateful meeting."

"Kirby, the happy-go-lucky hero with the bottomless stomach."

"I even know somebody who knows you quite well!"

"Even on this world, you're incredibly popular!"

"There may even be some folks here who have fought with you before."

"If everybody would just get along, it would make things so much easier."

"Nothing good comes of fighting. Let's always stay friends, Kirby!"

<Bonus> My translation of those same lines: 

"...The truth is, I already knew about you. The carefree and gluttonous hero, Kirby of the Stars, living on distant Popstar! Why, among my associates, there's someone who knows you all too well. That's just how popular you are; even on my planet. Heh heh heh! 

And one of them seems to have fought with you but really, how dumb can you get? If we all became friends, everyone could be happy. That's why fighting's just no good. I hope you'll continue to stay my friend, Kirby!"

...I’m kind of sorry we lost out on hearing Magolor slyly call Marx an idiot behind his back in English! Maybe they’ll add it back in DX?

2) Marx shows up in RtDL’s Kirby Master cutscene

<Screenshot from flipswitch3111>

The rest of the audience is made up of duplicates of characters already in the game. Only Marx was included without having any other visual appearance in RtDL. Aka, he’s a new resource - for a half-second back shot in a 5 second movie. Now, he had a 3D model for the Super Star Ultra cutscenes, but that was years ago, and this still would have required porting him over.

There must be a meaning to all that effort...

3) They have a rare gold Rock transformation in Kirby Triple Deluxe

<Picture taken from Kirbypedia>

The game immediately after we learn they may have known each other, they appear together on a statue? Once again, this requires either making a new model for Marx, or carrying over his SSU model.

This rock transformation is used AGAIN in Planet Robobot, seemingly emphasizing that the two of them are linked in SOME way. The only difference is that the two of them have been downgraded to common granite...

I guess the gold foil wore off? Tee hee...

4) Marx appears again in TDX's Kirby Master scene. Only this time, he’s sitting next to Magolor! (And Galacta Knight, curiously enough.)

While getting the “somebody” line requires playing RtDL extensively, it really does seem that HAL were more open to the idea to revealing that the two had some connection by this point, thus, letting them sit together.

<Screenshot from Meteorz>

4) Magolor slips up, in talking about Kirby in a way he only could have known from talking to Marx in the text of “The Starcutter and the Lying Wizard” (an official novel adapting RtDL’s plot.)

 The novel adaptation drops the “I know someone who knows you” scene, but it includes at least one line from Magolor hinting at the same idea...

--

--

--

Now, the English text above is from my translation of the novel, but you can read my explanation of said translation and why I think it still supports Marx being the one here - if you’re concerned I’m biased. (I won’t deny the possibility exists, but it doesn’t completely invalidate the idea either.)

5) Official makers of Kirby Merch, Ensky, has the two of them talking!

Back in 2017, Kirby_Ensky ran a popularity contest, the goal of which was to decide which characters should get more merch. (Waddle Dee won, btw.) 

Now, each candidate got a little shoutout tweet of their own. And Magolor's made special mention of Marx! (No other characters got this kind of call out btw.) The highlighted text says: 

"He was seen talking with Marx in the waiting room. Are they up to some trouble again...?"

The use of “again” suggests they have a history of working together.

6) The official Kirby twitter portrayed them together multiple times!

Often, they’re planning mischief. In fact, three of the pictures create a little mini-story (stretching across several years!) where Marx and Magolor plot to play a trick on Kirby by telling the puff that circling those mysterious objects you see all over Popstar 25 times will turn them into chocolate. 

They grin, seeing Kirby fell for it completely, with the puff eventually exhausting themselves (and all of Channel Dream Land) out with all that walking.

 However, when the duo try again, this time telling everyone that the star blocks you see everywhere are actually made of cake, they're caught in the act and forced to make a huge pile of star block cakes for their lie.

7) Re-ment’s Kirby-themed Hanafuda cards. 

Each card has a Kirby character or reference to something in Kirby on it. Marx and Magolor each have their own card and are part of the same "suit." What this means is they can be grouped together to create a match.

Not every familiar pairing is grouped together via suit like this, but it’s certainly interesting that they were. Especially as their art appears to almost fit together.

<Picture mine>

8) Re-Ment’s "Garden of the Stars: Afternoon Tea" 

Re-ment is better known for their figures, and they released a sweet set that has Kirby in a little hat and Waddle Dee with a frilly headband enjoying tea and sweets in the garden of the stars! It even comes with a signboard that has Kirby and Waddle Dee welcoming guests to the party. 

HOWEVER, the sign board actually has a secret reverse side which Re-ment later revealed on Twitter, featuring Marx and Magolor instead! It almost seems to suggest the two have teamed up once more and are planning some kind of prank to disrupt Kirby and Waddle Dee’s peaceful tea party!

9) The 30th Anniversary Music Fest

For the 30th Anniversary Music Fest, Marx and Magolor are paired together in both the merch (sharing a keychain design) AND the initial promo video. The promo video is interesting, because the only other characters to be introduced “in a set” like they are is the otherwise indistinct Waddle Dee trio. 

They also play similar instruments: guitar and bass.

10) The Marx costume and Magolor costume interact in a humorous way in this Super Kirby Clash video!

This particular video was posted on the official Twitter to advertise Marx’s equipment, a late game unlock. In the end of the clip, "Marx" is seen playing a trick on "Magolor," causing him to get squashed flat by the Blocky.

Here’s my translation of Magolor’s commentary on said tweet!

"If you could wish on the milky way, what would you wish for? I'd wish for galactic conque....err, I mean, for my shoppe to thrive! 

This equipment comes from a guy who tried to make a certain planet his own. It's incredibly powerful, but it'll make you want to play tricks on people! Hey, stop giving your friend trouble!"

...Similar to calling Marx an idiot early, he uses a rather dismissive form of address to refer to him here. He’s probably still upset about being smooshed. (Interesting too that said “friend” could very well be Magolor speaking on behalf of the Magolor-costumed Kirby. Aka, treating them as “friends.”)

11) Magolor's "Marx" outfit is "lovingly dedicated" to Marx.

Okay, okay. This sudden seeming evidence of a deeper relationship between Marx and Magolor coming out of nowhere in Super Kirby Clash isn’t exactly what it says in the original. (Gotta say, for whatever reason the original line turned out this way, I unabashedly love this version of it!) 

Though I'd like to take this time to point out that there IS an interesting theory with decent evidence (in JP) that Shopkeeper Magolor in Super Kirby Clash is apparently Magolor from the main dimension, transported to the Dream Kingdom by some strange means...!

EDIT: Theory was apparently confirmed true in an issue of Nintendo Dream.

<Screenshot from まるピンクのカービィ解説>

He's the only character to refer to Clash's Kirby as "Kirby of the Stars" - OUR Kirby’s nickname - and he makes a reference to his original villain speech, a reference no one but him could possibly get in this alternate fantasy world. (As you can see in the above tweet, Shopkeeper Magolor teasily mentions his ultimate goal in RtDL something that doesn’t mesh with his friendly, unassuming “shopkeeper” role in SKC.)

 Meanwhile, Marx doesn't make an appearance anywhere in Dream Kingdom, meaning the costume and the jester's exploits the costume speaks of may be Magolor bringing information about Marx from the main timeline into the Dream Kingdom-verse. 

So... Magolor knows Marx’s story AND what he wished for.

12) This official clip promoting Dream Buffet shows them interacting

Yet again, the two appear together in an official promo video. I heard it suggested this one could be "revenge" for the Super Kirby Clash clip, as it’s “Magolor’s” turn to interrupt “Marx” feasting on strawberries. This seems to imply that when they can't find other characters to troll, the two troll each other!

13) Lastly, the towers of Castle Magolor/MagoLand resemble Marx’s Wings

I initially thought that more of the castle’s design could be a reference to Marx, such as the shapes on the tower body resembling those on his hat, but as higher res pictures of the boxart have come out, that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. (There is a blue and red spot near the entrance that has a sun symbol on it. No telling if there’s another tower with a moon symbol...)

But we can see the colorful tiles much more clearly, and they and the flags do bear the same rainbow pattern as Marx’s wings are shown to have in his official art, a pattern that Magolor otherwise has no relation to.

Will this coincidence lead to anything? ...I guess we’ll find out!

--

Phew! I do believe that's most all of it! You could also compare their attacks, which have some similarities, although that doesn’t say anything about them having met. Now, I may have missed some interactions elsewhere though, because as you can see, there are a few really obscure places where they show up as pair. 

(And there some that are so tenuous I didn’t think they counted, like the two of them having their Poyo Poyo Cushions announced together, or both being on the “villain” side in the Kirby werewolf board game. There’s also some of the Star Allies celebration pictures and other group pics that have both of them, sometimes even in proximity to each other, but I left those out since the concept of the Dream Friends blurs the line of who knows who somewhat.

Only mildly related, there’s also this clip from a Nico Video stream about Kirby Clash that says nothing at all official about the two of them, but is completely hilarious as two men on the right come to the awkward realization that Marx and Magolor’s plushies have fallen down in a very “suggestive” manner and how are they going to adjust them without drawing more attention to it.)

...And there you go! They’re hardly inseparable (as the above video shows, they’re VERY separable! XD )  but seeing them hanging out causing trouble together is a strangely common sight. Whether or not they knew each other in the past, it’s safe to say they “know” each other now.

Here’s hoping that these two villains with a history stretching back for over a decade will someday enact their lovable mischief together on the same screen!!

[jvstar12]

does anyone know what happened to the account @starcutter-and-lying-wizard??

They provided translations of Kirby Novels in their blog. I was reading Kirby of the Stars - The Starcutter and the Lying Wizard on their blog.

Did the blog get deleted?? I can't find it anymore and the links I saved don't work :"( :"(

[gemapples]

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE RTDL NOVELIZATION RELEASING APRIL 27TH

it released last year :'00 but the entire thing has been translated !!!

but yeah i lost my mind for like 7438647 years when i heard about it btw can yall please use your mind powers to hope we get a magolor epilogue novel. I would literally never ask for anything again ty

[best-kirby-character-tournament]

Magolor Epilogue infodump time!!!

!!! Big warning!! There will be spoilers for the Magolor Epilogue!!! If there is any spoiler tag mod missed, please let mod know!!

Mod first wants to preface this by saying that some things here may be false, based on assumptions, or opinionated due to lack of information, or mod's own feelings and thoughts about Magolor's characterization. You have been warned!

---

Okay, so Magolor. The boy. The catboy, the wizard from another world. First of all, this man is literally as short as a waddle dee, the only reason why he seems taller is that he's a floaty boy! We know he can be great at lying and theatrics, but did you know that he lied about Halcandra being his home? In Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, when playing in the Extra Mode, if you talk to Magolor in Dangerous Dinner, he will reveal that Halcandra wasn't actually his native home! Instead, he had lived there for a while after he found the Lor Starcutter!

Anyway, small facts aside, time for what you guys really wanted, Magolor Epilogue thoughts! :D The Magolor Epilogue starts directly after the events of Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Deluxe) and gives us an idea of how Magolor survived his fight with Kirby! Playing as Magolor is such a serotonin-bursting thing for mod since Return to Dream Land was the second Kirby game they've ever played (the first was Super Star Ultra), and they LOVED Magolor. Mod didn't care that it was revealed he was evil the whole time, mod loved his design, his clothes, the chaotic vibes he gave off, mod loved everything about him.

Mod doesn't really know why they're using the past tense when they say "love", mod STILL loves Magolor. But anyway, back to the Magolor Epilogue. Mod is gonna skip straight to the final boss since this is the part where mod happened to take note of a Lot of Stuff. First of all The Music. THE MUSIC!!

Listen long enough and you can hear Magolor's theme deliberately placed into the song! It isn't hidden under the other instruments, it isn't played in a way where you have to focus to hear it, the song literally dedicates more than 30 seconds to playing Magolor's theme! And do you know what he's fighting against? THE MASTER CROWN!! The SAME THING that Magolor was after, the thing that Magolor wanted so he could have unlimited power, the very thing that took over his body and forced him to fight to the death!

And after the fight, he cries, wipes away his tears, and jumps through the portal that would send him home!!! Mod Cannot get over it, Magolor is so happy that he got rid of the Master Crown's presence within him, he's so happy he can go back to Dream Land (one of mod's assumptions, since Star Allies and the Clash games feature Magolor as a character) that he cries tears of happiness and floats into the portal with his arms opened wide, welcoming the feeling of the portal sending him away from That Place.

This one cutscene sent mod into tears!! Magolor fighting back against the Master Crown, the music dedicating an entire segment to his theme, him wiping away his tears and jumping into the portal with open arms!!! It makes mod want to cry again because it's just so symbolistic of Magolor realizing his mistake, understanding that he was given a chance to fix his wrongs, and taking that chance to fight back so he can!! Of course, mod isn't entirely sure about whether or not it was symbolism, but that's just mod's take on it!

Mod could go on and on about this, but you could probably tell from mod's recent post, this is a Very Heavily edited infodump! So they'll stop here >.<

[magister-magolor]

STARCUTTER AND LYING WIZARD+ MERRY MAGOLAND ARE GONE

NO THIS IS TERRIBLE (GENUINE)

Kirby Novel Translations Masterpost

I’ll be updating this as more chapters are updated and translations are picked up!

Kirby and the Dangerous Gourmet Mansion

Kirby and the Big Panic in Gloomy Woods

Kirby Meets the Squeak Squad

Meta Knight and the Puppet Princess

Big Race in Pupupu Land

Kirby’s Labyrinth Rescue

Kirby and the Great Planet Robobot Adventure

Meta Knight and the Galaxy’s Greatest Warrior

Kirby Clash Team Unite

Kirby’s Decisive Battle! Battle Royale

Kirby Star Allies: The Great Friend Adventure

Kirby Star Allies: The Universe is in Trouble

Big Trouble in Patch Land (incomplete)

Save the Rainbow Islands

Super Kirby Clash Team’s Big Battle

Kirby and the Search for the Dreamy Gears

Meta Knight and the Knight of Hades

Uproar at the Kirby Café

Kirby Fighters: The Destined Rivals

King Dedede’s Great Escape Mission

Mysterious Incident on the Pupupu Train! (incomplete)

Kirby: Welcome to the Starlight Theatre (Will be translated by Key)

Starcutter and the Lying Wizard

Kirby Discovery: Running Through the New World (incomplete)

Kirby Discovery: Break-out from the Isles of Dreams! (will be translated by Maker)

Kirby’s Dream Buffet: Perfect Circle Full Stomach (TBA)

Samurai Kirby

Thank you so much to @friendship-ended-with-pokespe , @deafeninggardenerpanda , @theultimateultimateweapon , @hoshi-no-mahoroa , @makerofmadness , @starcutter-and-lying-wizard , @rosakikoza , @kachikirby and everyone on Twitter who I can’t tag for generously translating these for everyone!

[fruitsofhell]

With Kumazaki’s afterwords from the RTDL novel, I am now 1000% convinced that if we gave this guy one (1), singular Kirby RPG it would be absolutely amazing and revolutionary for the Kirby mythos. It doesnt even have to be like technically canon to the platformer games or anything, I just wanna see what this dude cooks up when the story is on full blast. Like at that point it’ll definitely not solely be up to him to write everything, but like Hal, show me what you got. I know that lore bible is heavy!!!

[elemom]

I’m a little late for Magolor day in my time zone but….

the latest translation to the rtdl novel over at @starcutter-and-lying-wizard includes the wonderful moment of Magolor saying “wowzers!”

it’s so funny. i love this egg

[desultory-novice]

Hello Dess! Sorry to add more to your inbox, hehe.

There is a line that has always been my favorite in the original localization. From the 120 spheres dialogue in normal mode, Magolor says:

In fact, [the Lor Starcutter] can do almost anything, if the heart of its pilot is true.

In DX, it's slightly changed:

In fact, [the Lor Starcutter] can do almost anything, depending on the will of its pilot.

I think for the most part, they mean the same thing, but it's different enough to me though I can't really explain what xD Do you know if the wording is slightly different between OG and DX for the JP versions?

(I think a lot about the relationship between Magolor and the Lor Starcutter, so it's been one of my favorite lines. The change stuck out at me instantly xD)

Not at all! I'm happy to help answer a question of yours! That said...

This line's in a bit of an awkward place, as you can only get it before completing Nutty Noon. I'll try to take note of it on my next run through the game, but for now, I can do some speculating...

One thing I'm pretty sure of is that the Japanese script has probably not changed any. They don't tend to, on remakes like this. (I mentioned the game Live a Live a while back and despite being a really old SNES game with a very light script - don't take that as a criticism though, the game is amazing - they didn't change any of its dialogue either.)

The other reason I don't think the JP line changed is because BOTH interpretations can be gleaned from the original line: 

「のるヒトの ココロしだいで、 イロンナ 船になるんダヨ。」

This is all because the key word in question here, "kokoro" can mean heart, mind, and will! (Confusing, I know!)

But I did spot a few other lines in DX that were changed slightly from what I remember in my playthrough. (Such as removing the haircut gag and adding Magolor calling Marx COUGH his mysterious friend who fought with Kirby COUGH "foolish.") And this is also the first mainline game to come after Forgotten Land, where the translation team supposedly worked closely with the development team to make sure everything was accurate to the developer's intentions!

So I think this is one of those lines that was changed to be "truer" to what Kumazaki et all intended for the game's lore.

...But I'm with you. The original WAS a really good line. Especially the dichotomy of "a true heart" with the "lying wizard." It really did a nice job implying that Magolor was unable to communicate with the Lor in this game because he was lying to his own heart.

Of course, we do get a version of that in the Lor Starcutter's own pause screen lore, where it implies that it blocked itself off from speaking to Magolor because it sensed he was already under the sway of the Master Crown?! Which is pretty wild!!

[magister-magolor]

i'm not a fan of a lot of the earlier light novels but I think they've really picked up and tend to be pretty consistently good these days

Big fan of Dreamy Gear, Starcutter and the Lying Wizard, and Come On Down to Merry Magoland! in particular.

i think this is why i enjoy the light novels so much despite their (many) flaws. mie takase’s take on kirby is so fun and full of personality imo. he’s a deeply compassionate hero but also a mischievous kid/teen who can be kinda flighty or impulsive or naïve or bratty from time to time. it feels like the kirby i imagined playing thru the games as a kid

[desultory-novice]

Okay, so, the Kirby "Encyclopedia" should really have been called the Kirby "Directory."

I mentioned I would translate it, but there's not much worth translating in here. Most of it is less interesting than your average pause screen lore. Thus, I'm not doing the whole book…

Here are translations for all the ones I found interesting though!

-

Adeleine

[Mid-Boss, Helper, Ally]

A girl whose hobby is painting. She seems to have come from some place quite far away to study painting. She has the power to bring the creatures and food she paints on her canvas to life.

[Re-appears as a Dream Friend]

Adeleine, who had been on a journey to someplace far away, appears alongside Ribbon to support Kirby.

//Interesting that they imply she was on a journey elsewhere between 64 and Star Allies...

Bandanna Waddle Dee

[Mid-Boss, Helper, Ally]

A Waddle Dee recognizable by their trademark blue bandanna. They were an enemy in the past, in service to King Dedede, but in recent years they've made more appearances as an ally of Kirby's. Can perform a variety of techniques with their spear.

-

Marx

[Boss, Helper]

A mischief-loving jester. Manipulated Kirby in his very first appearance in an attempt to make everyone's home, Popstar, his own. When it's time for a fight, he shows his fangs and spreads his large wings to attack.

Marx Soul

[Boss]

The form that the defeated Marx takes after he is resurrected by the power of the Galactic Nova. Appears at the end of the True Arena after defeating all other bosses.

//I like the phrasing “resurrected by the power of the Galactic Nova :files away in my “Clockwork Marx” theory file:

Magolor

[Boss, Helper]

The "magician of falsehoods” who came from another world aboard the spaceship called the Lor Starcutter. He meets Kirby and the others after crash landing in Dream Land. In truth, he planned on acquiring the Master Crown Landia was guarding to take control of Halcandra.

//I normally translate “magician of falsehoods” as “lying wizard” based on the English game, but they put it in quotes here, so magician of falsehoods felt more appropriate. Also, Magolor? Did you REALLY want to take over Halcandra? You know that planet's awful, right? (Ticks another box in the "Magolor isn't as smart as he makes himself out to be" checklist.) The rest of the stuff on his page is completely useless, btw. Just saying Kirby et al help gather ship parts and that you can recruit him in KF2 at Rank 39

Magolor Soul

[Boss]

This grotesque being was once Magolor, before he was swallowed up by the limitless power of the Master Crown. He is saved when the crown is destroyed.

-

Kine

[Helper, Ally]

The droll jokester Kine looks identical to an ocean sunfish. His speciality is moving in water. Normally, Kirby can't inhale enemies in water, but with Kine, that's not a problem.

Coo

[Helper, Ally]

Flying is his specialty, and he can even fly through strong winds and gales. Grabs Kirby in his claws when he and Kirby unite. Is apparently quite the star in Dream Land.

Rick

[Helper, Ally]

A friend who looks just like a hamster. Kirby can hop on top of him to travel across land. Rick doesn't slide on ice, and he can climb sheer cliffs by continually jumping. And he jumps quite high. Has a girlfriend named Pick.

//Found it interesting that they go out of their way to say they resemble these animals but are NOT these animals.

Gooey

[Helper, Ally]

Kirby's friend. The same species as Dark Matter, but Gooey does not possess a wicked heart. Can catch and swallow enemies using their long tongue, but Gooey can't use inhale.

-

Nightmare Wizard

[Boss]

Arrived to bring bad dreams to the residents of Dream Land. Takes this form after you defeat Nightmare Power Orb.

//It seemed up in the air as to whether Nightmare was keeping Dream Landers from having dreams, or actually giving them bad dreams. Turns out, he was actually giving them bad dreams.

Dark Matter

[Boss]

A member of the Dark Matter tribe. Starting with Popstar, where Kirby and friends lived, Dark Matter spread a dark fog over the star to turn it into a world of darkness, so it would be more hospitable to their tribe. Dark Matter's name refers to the substance known as dark matter.

//Interesting that Dark Matter was trying to...terraform Popstar? Sounds like Necrodeus, to be honest. That last line about the name is mostly there for Japanese speakers who might not connect the word with the concept, because the concept is written in kanji.

Galacta Knight

[Boss]

The strongest warrior in the galaxy, who, out of fear of their tremendous power, was sealed in crystal long, long ago. Galacta enjoys strife. Summoned by Galactic Nova when Meta Knight made a wish to fight the strongest warrior in the galaxy.

//Interesting about Galacta actually LIKING strife/conflict. Don't know if we'd heard that before.

Landia

[Boss]

Four dragons living in the depths of Halcandra, and the last boss you face there. They normally take the shape of a single large dragon with four heads. Attacked Magolor's ship, the Lor. They can fly and spit fire and move about freely at high altitudes.

//So Landia are in fact four dragons that just enjoy chilling as one dragon? That's cool.

Necrodeus

[Boss]

The boss of the Skull Gang who plotted to cover the world in darkness. At the beginning of the story, he uses his staff to split Kirby into 10, defeating 9 of them.

-

Fecto Elfilis

[Boss]

An invasive species from outer space that invaded the forgotten land. Possesses the ability to travel through dimensions. After an accident, they were split into Elfilin and Fecto Forgo. Called "ID-F86"

//I always thought the "Elfilis was an invader" might have been narrator bias from the Forgotten Landers, so it's interesting to have confirmation they were a hostile invader.

Chaos Elfilis

[Boss]

A new life form born when the souls of Soul Forgo, Morpho Knight, and the primeval beasts mixed together.

//...Where is Morpho Knight now, I wonder...? :files in the “multiple Morpho Knights” theory file:

Fecto Forgo

[Boss]

What was left when Fecto Elfilis's benevolent heart split off. Kept in Lab Discovera, they were controlling Leongar.

-

Gryll

[Boss]

A magic user riding a broom. Attacks by hitting people with their broom. Followed by their three companions, Sugar, Salt, and Pepper.

Queen

[Other]

The queen of Ripple Star where Ribbon and the other fairies live. She's a bit of a scatterbrain and not always the most reliable.

Shopkeeper Magolor

[Other]

Magolor, only he runs a shoppe. If you buy all of his equipment, the shoppe gets an upgrade and he dresses like Magolor.

//I translated this because the writing was hilarious. "He dresses like Magolor." Also, the first line could also be read as "A Magolor who runs a shop." I’m just imagining all these different Magolors now…

[desultory-novice]

Note: This is about the RtDL novel, “The Starcutter and the Lying Wizard.” It also contains some vague spoilers of said novel. (It also has me being salty about Magolor.)

...Oh gosh, I totally missed this message! So sorry about that and thanks for reminding me. Hmm. “Official fanfiction” is an interesting term. I did some double-checking and couldn’t find a generally agreed upon definition, so I’ll just state that I've always taken in to be mildly insulting toward a work. 

Of course, fanfiction doesn't have to be bad (and there are many, many great fanfic out there!) but I feel like, sometimes, it's a way to label an official work that feels like it goes OOC or does whatever it wants to the story without sticking to established guidelines. Stuff that makes it "fanfic-y."

So, under that definition, is the novel official fanfic?

...Hrm. Well, anyone who's read this post knows my feelings on the novel lean toward mixed. That said, I don't think the novel's flaws (yeah, it has them) are the same as the kind of flaws "official fanfiction" has.

Outside of one clear “this isn’t what happened in game, no matter how you look at it"(1) moment that sticks with me, the rest of what they do with the story is just a matter of interpretation. It doesn’t stray from the story of the game (maybe to its detriment...?) and no one is out of character. 

Now, I do think Mie-sensei chose one of the least interesting interpretations of RtDL's story, but it is still RtDL’s story, no question. (I've said this before, I’ll probably say it again, but she focuses too much on the friendship of the core group while giving Magolor barely any presence in the story, thus robbing us of the other relationship we're supposed to compare the group's friendship to. And just to make this clear, his absence as a character alone does NOT do a good job saying "This is why he fails at being a true friend!" Because a character can be missing for most of a story and still be a good friend. As long as they're characterized that way. But it’s tricky to characterize someone when they’re barely present and have nothing but expository dialogue..)

Of course, if the question isn't about the quality of the novel but where it stands as an official Kirby production, well, in that sense...

I would also say the novel is NOT official fanfiction. While the game series definitely make up the core Kirby universe/story, Kirby has expanded to a multi-media franchise now, and those often tend to have multiple interpretations of the same stories as they get translated into different media.

So this is, rather than official fanfic, an official adaptation of Return to Dream Land. That is, it’s just plain old fiction.

In the end, the game “Kirby’s Return to Dream Land” is its own thing and (to me) the best and most complete way to experience that story. Outside of the prologue chapter, I wouldn't say there's anything you can get here (that is significant) that you can't get out of playing the game. (And you also get, ya know, MAGOLOR AS A COMPLETE CHARACTER if you play the game.)

Oh, he may not engage in narrative conversation with the four main characters in game as he does here in the book, just him talking to the player/Kirby. But I'd argue those dialogue boxes characterize him better than the....maybe four conversations he has total in this book? 

...Argh! GDI, I'm still salty! 

The funny thing is, I’m really glad we don’t get a big expository Magolor chapter that spills all his secrets and reveals he’s, like, Hyness’s great grandson, or an unrelated salvager looking to make it rich boosting artifacts, or the lost child of Halcandran royalty just trying to reclaim his birthright, or a test cat experimented on by the Ancients seeking revenge by taking their stuff, because I like seeing all the various interpretations of Magolor and want them to continue existing freely. But that doesn’t excuse the fact that they took him out of the parts he SHOULD have been in!

The thing is, I've been replaying RtDL and there's some things I want to bring up there that I really don't understand why they’re not in this novel...

There's a reason Magolor is so beloved after all these years, and it's not just because of the "Hahaha, I was manipulating you the whole time!" Generally speaking, every few stages in RtDL, Magolor will pop up on screen to tell you excitedly about a new room he's built for you on the Lor, and that you ought to come back and check it out. And after every boss battle, you have a cutscene that takes you back to the ship where he'll converse with you, update you on your goals, tell you what's next, and generally wish you good luck. Then you can stay and bother him some more if you want, and he’s got TONS of dialogue! He's always there on your journey, even if he never leaves the ship.

I know I haven't finished with the novel’s translation yet (please, no one take my ranting about it as evidence I'm not going to finish it or that I'll give it a bad translation out of spite. I will finish it and I’m even trying to take the most generous and enjoyable interpretation of the text in my translation of it, so that everyone doesn’t have to live with the version I see in my head when I read it. But I feel it's also okay to level appropriate criticism at things, even things you're working on/are a big fan of!) but anyway, you've probably all read enough of the novel to see Kirby and the gang fight several bosses and every time they beat one it's "...and they took the part back to Magolor. Chapter over."

Why would you cut the Magolor bits out? I mean, are we REALLY reading this book for Mr. Dooter lore? To find out Fatty Puffer desperately needs his worldview broadened? Or to hear EVERY SINGLE BOSS give the exact same "Nuh-uhhhh! I found this shiny thing and it's mine now and you won't take it from meeeeee!" speech? (Also, when I say “the most generous read of the text” up above, I want you know, their speeches really are almost IDENTICAL to each others, and I’m trying hard to make them NOT read that way in English so you all won’t get bored.) And of course, they ALL keep their stolen parts in identical treasure rooms hidden behind walls?? ...Sigh...

That said, I'd be perfectly fine with all those things if they didn't seem to come at the expense of cutting the deuteragonist-villain out of the story! He's in the title! He's the one you should be developing before the end! Else his betrayal comes off as meaningless. What exactly is Magolor BETRAYING if he's never established to be anything other than a pitiful stranger to Kirby and the others? Give us an emotional connection so that we have an emotional investment in him when he grabs the Master Crown and gives The Speech. 

Mie-sensei does this very thing with the Lor! Gets us involved. Quite subtly and brilliantly, even! It only takes a few lines to make us feel the ship’s sadness by the concerned way Bandanna Waddle Dee speaks of it. But we get (spoilers for unfinished chapters) that at least two more times to hammer it in! 

Opposite to that, “Let’s hurry! Magolor is waiting for us!” has no emotional cues to let us know the group is warming up to this funny wizard and are beginning to think of him as a friend. (Which you’d hope they would. The novel actually makes the journey to repair the Lor take a LOT longer than is implied in game. They really SHOULD be friends. Or fake friends.)

I don’t know why the small page count is the way it is. It’s supposedly not even that short a book, as it’s got more text in it just because of the size they printed the book at, but the narrative balance on things is just..off.

...Okay. I've done enough ranting about novel Magolor...

TLDR, the novel is not bad; it's definitely lacking in a key area, but it IS official; it's just an official adaptation. 

(Technically, Pupupu Hero is ALSO an official adaptation of Return to Dream Land. You know, the manga where Magolor wants to bed Chilly?)

Maybe we'll get yet another adaptation of RtDL down the line in a different form? Maybe we'll get a new Kirby anime that treats the different games as 4-5 episode arcs? Right now, this is the only novel adaptation of RtDL, but it doesn't necessarily supersede the game's version of events - even if it's got some additional details that ARE likely canon to the Kirbyverse going forward.

Magolor started out with magic (at least, the ability to project light through his hands); the Ancient’s city resembled a clean, modern day metropolis and they worshipped the Lor before they were destroyed overnight; Super Abilities exhaust Kirby and could be dangerous; legends of Halcandra have spread all over multiple-universes; the Lor can speak - not with words, but into people’s minds/hearts; Meta Knight can recognize Halcandran text and is a huge nerd for history; Bandanna Waddle Dee is pure of heart... (2)

Oh, and for a better explanation on what I mean by “details that are probably canon...” on a broad scale even though these are only adaptations, I point to the Planet Robobot novelization that had stuff like The Pocketwatch in it, and spelled out Susie and President Haltmann's real backstory....yet also had Haltmann survive, something that definitely did NOT happen in game.

Anyway, as is typical for one of my posts, this was very rambly and derailed quickly, but I hope that cleared some stuff up!

--

Actual Spoilers: 

(1)

...Whether or not you interpret Magolor Soul’s death scream in game as him shouting “Kirby!!” - and you don’t have to - it has an unmistakeable “...aieeee!!” sound in there. The novel writes Magolor Soul as shouting “Guoo...” - trail off included. Literally the only vowels not in his in-game scream.

(2)

...that the Master Crown responds to the wearer’s soul and Magolor became that way because he had evil in his soul. Also, that the eye that appeared where his mouth should be was NOT his eye.

[gemapples]

is the novel out or something.??? if so where can i read it . I'm desperate for magolor .need it..........

the actual novel isn't out yet; only previews !! but both of them have been translated so far by @starcutter-and-lying-wizard so feel free to check them out there !!

[articskele]

YESSSS- It's definitely a more obscure duo, but the aesthetic is immaculate and I just think they're neat ouo

As for the light novels! I know there are translations floating around from deafeninggardenerpanda, theultimateultimateweapon, makerofmadness, hoshi-no-mahoroa, and starcutter-and-lying-wizard!!

I HIGHLY recommend Search for the Dreamy Gears, Meta Knight and the Knight of Hades, and Meta Knight and the Strongest Warrior in the Galaxy :D!!!

Thoughts on Morphogala? I ain't much of a shipper myself, but the dynamic of this ancient fallen warrior that believes himself to be no more than a monster and the reaper that brings them peace is really interesting!

Both of them slowly opening up to each other in Hades and realizing that neither of them really had the chance to live normal lives AUGH-

ndskjaf I'm not super familiar with it actually, aesthetically its a great match~ (also i just love their aesthetics indivually and also WE NEED MORE BUTTERFLY THEMED BADASSES IN MEDIA)

the pairing is definitely up my ally of tropes so you may or may not have just added a whole nother genre of brainrot for me to discover and obsess over ndaksjfhsdkafksd

....speaking of which do you know where i could read the kirby light novels online or maybe an audiobookl??

[nyaagolor]

Kirby Novel Translations Masterpost

I’ll be updating this as more chapters are updated and translations are picked up!

Kirby and the Dangerous Gourmet Mansion

Kirby and the Big Panic in Gloomy Woods

Kirby Meets the Squeak Squad

Meta Knight and the Puppet Princess

Big Race in Pupupu Land

Kirby’s Labyrinth Rescue

Kirby and the Great Planet Robobot Adventure

Meta Knight and the Galaxy’s Greatest Warrior

Kirby Clash Team Unite

Kirby’s Decisive Battle! Battle Royale

Kirby Star Allies: The Great Friend Adventure

Kirby Star Allies: The Universe is in Trouble

Big Trouble in Patch Land (incomplete)

Save the Rainbow Islands

Super Kirby Clash Team’s Big Battle

Kirby and the Search for the Dreamy Gears

Meta Knight and the Knight of Hades

Uproar at the Kirby Café

Kirby Fighters: The Destined Rivals

King Dedede’s Great Escape Mission

Mysterious Incident on the Pupupu Train! (incomplete)

Kirby: Welcome to the Starlight Theatre (Will be translated by Key)

Starcutter and the Lying Wizard

Kirby Discovery: Running Through the New World (incomplete)

Kirby Discovery: Break-out from the Isles of Dreams! (will be translated by Maker)

Kirby’s Dream Buffet: Perfect Circle Full Stomach (TBA)

Samurai Kirby

Thank you so much to @friendship-ended-with-pokespe , @deafeninggardenerpanda , @theultimateultimateweapon , @hoshi-no-mahoroa , @makerofmadness , @starcutter-and-lying-wizard , @rosakikoza , @kachikirby and everyone on Twitter who I can’t tag for generously translating these for everyone!