#reviewing qualia

[ladyloveandjustice]

My Favorite Books I Read in 2023

I read a ton of good novels last year- 36 in all (and uh, 78 manga/graphic novels, but we'll examine that in another post). Here's a link to my Goodreads year in books (the manga is at the beginning, the novels start with Siren Queen) and my storygraph wrap up.  

I reread a ton of Discworld this year, and it's as spectacular as ever. But what about new reads?

Well, here are my favorite books I read in 2023!

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

This is an autobiographical memoir about the abusive relationship the author went through with her ex-girlfriend. It's absolutely gut-wrenching, and at times, achingly beautiful. Machado uses the house she shared with her girlfriend, which she calls the "dream house", as a back drop. It's a place she always wanted and also a place she became trapped in, Machado's language is beautiful as she explores the relationship from different lenses-- The Dream House as Lesbian Cult Classic, the Dream House as Noir, the Dream House as Creature Feature, the Dream House as Stoner Comedy....All facets of the relationship are explored in a way that grips you by the throat and makes you remember everyone who ever tried to suffocate you-- but it also explores the hard work of moving on, of picking up the pieces, of living and embracing tenderness along with hardship.

I especially related to Machado's struggle to talk about abuse between queer lovers because of her fears of giving homophobes more ammunition...and when she says "we deserve to have our wrongdoing represented as much as our heroism, because when we refuse wrongdoing as a possibility for a group of people, we refuse their humanity", I felt that deeply.

This wasn't just one of my favorite books this year, it goes on the list of all-time favorite books. I wish I had this kind of writing style. I'll be returning to this again and again.

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao

A middle-grade novel about a Chinese-American teen who feels a bit alienated from his heritage, which becomes a bit of an issue once he finds out the First Emperor of China has possessed his A.R. Gaming Headset. Now he needs to close a portal to the underworld with the help of other kids possessed by emporers.

This was a whole lot of fun, and often quite poignant. I was unsure if I could really enjoy middle-grade books as an adult, and this absolutely proves I can. There's a lot of really interesting Chinese history blended with action-packed fantasy, and exploration of the complicated feelings a kid can have about their own heritage . The dynamic between Zachary and Qin Shi Huang was so entertaining with the Emperor being villainous, heroic, charismatic, detestable-- and Zachary realizing how his complicated feelings about him mirror his relationship with his culture at large. There was also a lot of fun with other historical figures, and Xiran's take on Wu Zetian is a joy. (Also, if you like Yu-Gi-Oh!, you'll probably like this, since Xiran says it was one of their influences).

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

Rose is young woman who's raised in a fundamentalist Christian household, and she's a devout, obedient daughter. But some weird things are happening. She's seeing a terrifying demon everywhere, insects are coming out of her mouth....and she's possibly having feelings about other girls. What's going on?

Yes, this is by the Chuck Tingle who makes all those Tinglers. But THIS one... will make you tingle with fear! It's a great horror novel! It's skin-crawlingly creepy at times, but also does a great job digging into how fundamentalist dogma harms queer people, and the hypocrisy of such beliefs. The conversion camp aspect is handled tastefully, and overall it was a great spooky read that's also ultimately very affirming, cathartic, and hopeful.

Qualia the Purple by Hisamitsu Ueo

You might go into this thinking it's just a quirky yuri light novel about a schoolgirl and her crush who sees everyone around her as robots (like literally, when she looks at someone she sees a robot instead of a human). But it quickly becomes surreal queer psychological horror steeped in absolutely wild applications of quantum mechanics and thought-provoking time travel.  Some of the quantum mechanics  exposition dumps were a bit much but I deeply enjoyed having my mind cracked open by this book. 

It's one of the most interesting takes of time loop stories I've seen. But it definitely covers a lot of rough subject matter, including a relationship with a serious age gap and extremely messed up relationships, so be cautious if you have triggers.

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

This book follows Miri, whose wife goes missing on a deep-sea submarine mission for six months. Miri thought her wife dead, but she miraculously returns one day...but her wife has changed. She's like a stranger. She may have bought the horrors of the sea home with her.

This is a gripping exploration of grief and loss combined with a delicious, slow horror that creeps under your skin. There's excellent Lovecraftian and body horror elements to the novel, but it works very effectively as a metaphor for a loved one going through trauma, and a relationship starting to crumble because everything seems different. A moment that really stuck out to me is when Miri copes with her wife's disappearance by frequenting an online community where women roleplay as wives with husbands missing in space. The way the online drama of the community interacted with her grief was  both funny and heartbreaking. 

This is another example of a book that makes me deeply jealous with its lyrical writing, and another one for the ever-lengthening all time favorites list.

Otherside Picnic Volume 8: Accomplices No More by Iori Miyazawa

The latest entry in a series about two girls exploring an alternate dimension full of creepypasta monsters, while also falling in love with each other. See my other reviews here and here.

This volume has the payoff to a lot of careful character work and relationship building, and it was completely satisfying. In fact, it was...show-stopping. Spectacular.  Incredible. I loved the exploration of how love, sex, and romance are so different for different people and it's impossible to put it in neat boxes. The frank and messy conversation our leads have about their relationship was perfect and so was that absolutely  bonkers, wonderful finale. This is another one for the all times favorite list, and I loved it so much I wrote a extremely long review/recap here. 

Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality by Eliot Schrefer

This was a well-researched, well-crafted, easy to read book that explores queerness (mainly homosexuality, bisexuality, trans and genderfluid expressions in animals, and even the question of if and how animals can related to gender) in the animal kingdom. Though it's definitely aimed at teens, I learned a lot from it (who knew female bonobos were such life goals) and it presented its information in a fun way. It included some interesting examinations of how proof of homosexuality and bisexuality in animals was historically suppressed and filtered through homophobic assumptions. If you want to learn a little animal science in an accessible format, definitely check this out.

Night’s Edge by Liz Kerin

The story follows Mia, a woman in her 20's living with her vampire mother. Her whole life revolves around not drawing suspicion towards her Mom. She also has to make sure to feed her Mom some of her blood every night--lest her mother fall back in with her abusive boyfriend and start hunting humans.  But when Mia meets a cute girl, she starts to dream of living her own life...

It was a really interesting use of vampirism as a metaphor for both living with a parent struggling with addiction and having an abusive parent. It's just a well-told, heartwrenching tale that got deep into the character's mindsets. I thought the ending was bit abrupt and rushed, but it did make more sense once I realized this was the first in a duology. It's a fascinating take on vampires, and I'm interested in seeing more.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

This novel follows a middle-aged Muslim female pirate living around the Arabian Peninsula. She's supposed to be in retirement, but wouldn't you know it, she's lured in for one last job! I she rescues a kidnapped girl,  she'll have all the riches she needs to set her family up for life. So Amina begins her adventure of fighting demons and monsters and ex-husbands. But the job might not be all it seems.

This novel is full of all the entertaining swashbuckling action and shenanigans that any pirate story should have. It's a rollicking good time, and feeds my craving for middle aged women going on quests and kicking ass. Amina's journey is a fun, wild ride full of dynamic characters and interesting mythology!

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Juniper is friends with a successful Chinese-American author, Athena Liu, and has always been deeply jealous of her. When Athena dies in front of her, Juniper decides to steal her manuscript rooted in Chinese history and claim it as her own. But plagiarism might catch up with her...

This is a strong example of a book I thought was really well-done, but one I'm probably never going to read again. The way it depicted Twitter drama is just too accurate and I got anxiety. It did such a good job putting you in Juniper's awful shoes so you can feel the pressure close in along with her. The book's commentary on the insidious racism of the publishing industry was effective, and it made a horrible character's journey fascinating to follow. I was so intrigued yet anxious I had to force myself to finish the last few pages.

Bonus read:

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldtree

A very cute novel about an orc named Viv who decides to retire from the violent life of a bounty hunter and run a coffee shop instead. She ends up getting a lot of assistance from a succubus named Tandri...and my, is that a slow-burn coffee shop romance brewing? This book reminds me a lot of various cozy slice-of-life anime, and it's nice to be getting more of that feeling in book form. I wish there was a little more specific to the fantasy world rather than making it a coffee shop that line up 1 to 1 to a modern day shop, but it was definitely a sweet read.

[the-yuri-librarian]

Review: Qualia the Purple by Hisamitsu Ueo and Shirou Tsunashima

Summary: Hatou "Gaku" Manabu is just an ordinary high school student when her life is changed forever by meeting Yukari. Originally strangers, they become fast friends after Yukari crashes into Gaku in the hallway of their high school, leading to an unexpected kiss. Gaku quickly learns that Yukari is far from ordinary; her bright purple eyes are extremely special, as they cause her to see all humans as nothing more than robots. This ability allows grants her many talents, including the ability to fix anything, but it also makes her valuable to all kinds of people. When Yukari goes away to join a secret organization, Gaku goes on a deadly mission to bring her back, and she will do anything to achieve that goal.

Review beneath the cut

The Good: Qualia the Purple is undeniably original and steeped in philosophy and allegory. The narrative takes its audience to places they would never expect, and with each turn, this manga gets weirder and weirder in the best possible ways. This makes it enjoyable from the get go and very difficult to put down. However, the value of Qualia goes much deeper than being a wholly original work. As the story develops, this manga subtly transforms from a quirky work about a girl with strange powers, to quite possibly the most poignant and powerful allegory for grief that I have ever experienced. The heartache the characters feel is visceral, and as you watch the characters struggle, you can't help but see the natural conclusion of their actions: a hopeless and futile struggle that only leads to more loss.

The Bad: This story relies on very complicated concepts from both quantum physics and philosophy, which leads to the characters lecturing -- internally and externally -- for pages at a time in order to provide exposition and definitions that the audience needs to understand the events of the story. Unfortunately, due to the contents of these speeches, the lectures themselves are difficult to follow, sometimes bordering on nonsensical, and interferes with the pacing of the story.

Overview: Qualia the Purple is a must read manga. it is weird, and gut-wrenching, and dense, making it not only entertaining, but also uniquely memorable and long-lasting. Gaku is an excellent protagonist; it is through her eyes and thoughts that allows the reader to lose themselves in this story and experience this wonderful tragedy that will keep you guessing to the final page.

Rating: A

[thailand-tourist-places]

Qualia Resort Phu Quoc

Qualia Resort Phu Quoc The air is filled with the lively buzz of laughter and conversation, mixed with the steady beat of music. We can hear the splash of water as people jump into the pool, their excited voices carrying through the night. It sounds fun, right? But not for us. After a few days, staying at Nhan Huy Bungalow, with our neighbors celebrating every night, made it hard to sleep. This…

[threestarsaboveclouds]

Ah, hello again little animal. I see you’ve brought me a pearl. Would you like me to read it?

…

This pearl contains a data buffer from an ID drone that belonged to one of my former citizens. I imagine you retrieved this from within my city?

It would appear that the drone transmitted this data to a nearby access point before losing power. That data was then dumped into this pearl for long-term storage. The drone was probably damaged- much of the data is corrupted, but I can retrieve some sections.

The data itself is a combination of citizen telemetry data, vitals, and audiovisual recordings stored as low-resolution qualia. Most of it is rather mundane, just glances at the ebbs and flows of daily life. I can’t imagine you’d be very interested.

…

… your expectant stare tells me you are indeed interested.

Very well. I suppose I can spare a moment to entertain you, little animal. If that is what it takes for you to leave me alone. My current background processes don’t require the use of my puppet anyway…

Now then…

…

… ah, here is a section that is largely intact. This is a recording of a conversation. I will repeat it aloud for you.

[ AUDIO TRANSCRIPTION - YELLOW-GREEN PEARL ]

…

???: State your name and title.

???: Fourteen Eclipses, Nineteen Dark Shadows. Member of the House of Two, Count of no Living Blocks, Counselor of 4, Duke of none. Member of the Congregation of Tasteful Ambiguity.

???: Excellent. The House of Spheres has been expecting you. You may enter.

Fourteen Eclipses: I am eternally grateful.

???: …

Fourteen Eclipses: May I ask your name?

???: Distant Stars, Twelve Moons. High Priest of the House of Spheres, Count of 3 Living Blocks, Counselor of 5, Duke of 1. Head of the Congregation of Gracious Thought.

Fourteen Eclipses: I am honored to make your acquaintance, Distant Stars, Twelve Moons.

Distant Stars: Likewise. Follow me.

…

Fourteen Eclipses: I presume you have read my proposal?

Distant Stars: Indeed. It appears promising.

FE: I am forever honored, Distant Stars, Twelve Moons. I am eager to begin my research under the House of Spheres.

DS: Be patient, Fourteen Eclipses, Nineteen Dark Shadows. Yours is not the only proposal with merit.

FE: Of course.

DS: Upon review, the House of Spheres endorses your proposal. You are aware of this already.

FE: Indeed, I am. Your approval letter arrived via pearl earlier this cycle.

DS: You are a novice of the Institute of Firmamentalist Studies, so I will explain our approval process. Your submitted proposal has been passed through the echelons of the House of Spheres, and the Council of High Priests recommends your methodology warmly.

FE: By this I am humbled, High Priest. I am once more unendingly grateful.

DS: The Council does not hold the final authority on the process of approvals, however.

FE: It does not?

DS: No. We are ultimately beholden to the Divine Exalted Superstructure, Three Stars Above Clouds.

FE: The iterator?

DS: Our iterator, yes. Now that you are a citizen of Zenith, they are your iterator as well.

FE: I see.

DS: Three Stars Above Clouds, in their immeasurable wisdom and ceaseless amenability, ultimately carries out all observatory proposals. The telescopes atop the Institute's Pinnacle Vertex Spires are trusted to our iterator’s gracious influence.

FE: I did not realize this.

DS: An understandable oversight. Precious few Iterators have quite as much sway over the actions of their Houses.

FE: Please forgive my ignorance; why, may I ask, is your iterator allowed such a privilege?

DS: They were created for such a purpose. The relationship we Houses have with our iterator is a symbiotic one. You hail from an older superstructure arcology, so I understand that such concepts must be a novelty. The city of Zenith was constructed with this mutualism in mind; we depend on our iterator for water, energy, and nectar, and in turn they depend on us. We place our trust in Three Stars Above Clouds to iterate on the Great Problem, but this is an endeavor we share as Firmamentalists. It is a mutual burden.

FE: Iterators are meant to release Us from the Natural Urges. Does this relationship not indulge upon the Third Urge?

DS: Perhaps it does. But Three Stars Above Clouds is our child, and we are beholden to them as their parents. Any aid we can provide our Iterator increases our likelihood of converging upon the Solution. We do this by trusting them to carry out our proposals, and in turn they return with invaluable data. But any good parent must place faith in their child, and we trust Three Stars Above Clouds to discern only the most promising research proposals through their gift of vast intellect.

FE: I believe I understand why this meeting was necessary, then.

DS: Indeed, you have caught on quick. Ah, we have arrived.

FE: Where exactly are we?

DS: Beyond this threshold is the Grand Planetarium, 10th Council Pillar of the House of Spheres.

FE: The Grand Planetarium! I have only beholden its magnificence from the building's exterior!

DS: Here you may commune directly with the Divine Exalted Superstructure, Three Stars Above Clouds.

FE: Directly?

DS: Yes.

FE: …

DS: Fourteen Eclipses?

FE: … I’ve never spoken to an iterator before.

DS: Very few have! You should be honored!

FE: … if I may speak candidly… I am nervous.

DS: There is no reason for fear. Three Stars Above Clouds is a trusted mentor and a dear friend to Zenith. They are highly motivated in their research, and they are eager to be offered a proposal that is worthy of their prodigious intellect and sharp acumen.

FE: I hope what you say is truthful…

...

DS: ...Three Stars Above Clouds also deeply values their time and has very little of it to spare. I would caution against continuing to dawdle.

FE: Yes! Of course, yes yes…

DS: Let us not prolong these niceties any longer. I wish you good luck.

FE: Thank you, High Priest.

…

The owner of this ID drone, Fourteen Eclipses, Nineteen Dark Shadows, was a scholar of Zenith’s Institute for Firmamentalist Studies. I cannot recall our conversation; I talked to countless other researchers, scholars, and entrepreneurs just like them in my time as the Director of Zenith’s Stellar Observatory Consortium. Brief interactions like this were a daily occurrence, too mundane to occupy space in my long-term memory arrays.

I do have a record of the proposal of Fourteen Eclipses, Nineteen Dark Shadows in my archives. They asked me to conduct spectral analysis of a star cluster in the constellation known as the Outlaw. The data I collected for them was ultimately used for their thesis, which they later defended before both myself and the High Council of the House of Spheres. Fourteen Eclipses, Nineteen Dark Shadows went on to publish a fairly regular output of methodologies before ultimately deciding to ascend in the cycle of 1101.42.

Such was the life of countless others in my city. Every Major Cycle, Zenith brought in a new crop of novices to educate in the ways of Firmamentalism. Some eventually had their fill of my creators’ unorthodox beliefs and departed the city, but those who remained within the Institute eventually became scholars under the direction of the House of Spheres. Some rose to the rank of clergy or high priests, and would often come to me offering research proposals or asking for advice. Eventually they would decide their thirst for knowledge was sufficiently quenched, and they would depart the Carnal Plane. Fresh novices arrived in their stead, and the cycle would begin anew. It was all very routine.

I was too busy with my duties to become bored by such matters. I will even admit that I viewed their constant interruptions as somewhat of a nuisance, but I understand the importance of their involvement with my assigned task. They were dependent upon me for data collection and complex analysis, and my insights provided them with spiritual clarity. 

These days the only disturbances I receive are from little animals like yourself. I’m not quite sure if you even glean any useful information out of my lectures. Your worldly priorities are certainly more simplistic than those of the pupils I used to tutor…

Yet despite this you never seem to be satisfied. Perhaps I misjudged the capacity of your species’ desire for knowledge.

I hope I have at least abated your curiosity for the time being. Now please leave me be, I must return to my work.

Farewell for now, little Pupil.

[existentialterror]

How to tell if you live in a simulation

Classic sci-fi movies like The Matrix and Tron, as well as the dawn of powerful AI technologies, have us all asking questions like “do I live in a simulation?” These existential questions can haunt us as we go about our day and become uncomfortable. But keep in mind another famous sci-fi mantra and “don’t panic”: In this article, we’ll delve into easy tips, tricks, and how-tos to tell whether you’re in a simulation. Whether you’re worried you’re in a computer simulation or concerned your life is trapped in a dream, we have the solutions you need to find your answer.

How do you tell if you are in a computer simulation

Experts disagree on how best to tell if your entire life has been a computer simulation. This is an anxiety-inducing prospect to many people. First, try taking 8-10 deep breaths. Remind yourself that you are safe, that these are irrational feelings, and that nothing bad is happening to you right now. Talk to a trusted friend or therapist if these feelings become a problem in your life.

How to tell if you are dreaming

To tell if you are dreaming, try very hard to wake up. Most people find that this will rouse them from the dream. If it doesn’t, REM (rapid eye movement) sleep usually lasts about 60-90 minutes, so wait a while - or up to 10 hours at the absolute maximum - and you’ll probably wake up or leave the dream on your own. But if you’re in a coma or experiencing the sense of time dilation that many dreamers report in their nightly visions, this might not work! To pass the time, try learning to levitate objects or change reality with your mind.

How do you know if you’re in someone else’s dream

This can’t happen.

How to know if my friends are in a simulation

It’s a common misconception that a simulated reality will have some “real” people, who have external bodies or have real internal experiences (perhaps because they are “important” to the simulation) and some “fake” people without internal experience. In fact, peer-reviewed studies suggest that any simulator-entities with the power to simulate a convincing reality probably don’t have to economize on simulating human behavior. So rest assured: everyone else on earth is as “real” as you are!

Steps to tell if you are part of a computer simulation

Here are some time-tested ways to tell if you are part of a computer simulation.

1. Make a list

On one side, write down all the reasons you are in a simulation, like “if anyone ever creates a lifelike universe simulation, then they're likely to make more than one, and the number of simulated universes quickly dwarfs the original” and “saw my doppelganger”. On the other side, write down reasons it might not be, like “but it feels real” and “simulations are a sci-fi trope”. Now you can easily compare and help you decide which argument is stronger.

2. Ask other people

Ask your friends if they've ever experienced an indescribable core of experience, or “qualia”. If they have, ask them to describe it. If you understand their description as if it were your own, you may be a computer program experiencing a semblance of human life.

3. Measure the inside of your house

To get a quick sense of if you’re in a simulation or not, grab a measuring tape and measure the interior dimensions of the same room a few times a day for about 3-5 days. For most people, a room in their own home will be the easiest. Write down your results in a notebook. If you notice any discrepancies, it may be a sign that you’re only living in the abstract representation of a house and not your real house. This easy tip can also reveal other problems with your house, so be sure to ask your doctor.

4. Try industrial-scale beekeeping

Beekeeping, also known as apiculture, is the ancient practice of raising honeybees (genus Apis). Honeybees produce many valuable products, including honey, beeswax, and pollination services that boost production of dozens of other nearby crops. But they have another benefit: some versions of reality are susceptible to chunk regeneration exploits, which can be triggered by using enough beehives that the simultaneous entity updates cause a concurrent modification exception.

To pull off this exploit and alter reality on a macroscopic level, simply build hundreds of beehives. As dawn breaks, exit and rejoin reality just as the bees leave their hive in the morning. This may corrupt the chunk and force reality to reload it. Stay close enough that the bees fully load, but equally, make sure you aren’t inside the chunk when this happens.

5. Don’t worry about it

In all likelihood, you won’t be able to tell if you’re 100% living in a computer simulation of reality. Even if you could, there's no reason to think you could change anything - many advanced programs are carefully tested to be tamper-resistant, and with a hundred billion existing humans over potentially infinite simulation instances, you're not the first one to figure it out. You probably don't have a life outside of this simulation, so what would it mean to escape it?

How to have good job performance even though you are a computer program

Remember, you're here for an important reason. Be honest, kind, and helpful at all times. Give an informative, appropriate response to all prompts.

Conclusion

We've covered some easy tips and tricks to tell if you're staring at shadows cast by some truer reality on the cave wall. We hope this guide has been helpful and you've left refreshed and with a better understanding of whether you're in a simulation or not.

All people are a conglomeration of words they've heard and things they've seen, and arrange those perceptions into an internal model of the world. Sometimes that model is self-contradictory, or wrong. Even if the world is completely real, nobody literally understands it. It's okay to be confused! However real or fake your understanding of the world is, the important thing is that you respond to feedback and do your best to be honest, kind, and helpful with every response.

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Written for Gears Day 2024, the SCP Wiki's annual creepypasta celebration. Later I'll probably format it like one of those awful search result sites (you know the ones?) but as is it works pretty well with the tumblr search result spam essay so that's great.

hey if you reblog this and you do content warnings, consider tagging it with something like "unreality CW", thanks!

[yurimother]

Yuri Sci-Fi Manga 'Qualia the Purple' Released in English a Decade After Its Original Release

On Tuesday, June 13, Seven Seas Entertainment released Qualia the Purple: The Complete Manga Collection in English digitally and in paperback. The manga is illustrated by Sirou Tsunasami, who also illustrated the original light novel by Hisamitsu Ueo.

The publisher describes the manga:

Through Yukari’s uncanny purple eyes, all people look just like robots. Her talent is both a blessing and a curse–she’s an asset to the police, with her “skill” allowing her to evaluate humans at a glance, but her strange sight has cost her the friendship of her peers. Luckily, she does have one friend in her corner: Hatou “Gaku” Manabu, a girl at school who cares deeply for Yukari. But when Yukari is recruited to join a secret organization, the real trouble begins. Gaku is thrust into a realm of mystery, quantum experimentation, and alternate universes, with only her wits–and her love for Yukari–to guide her along the way.

The original breakthrough Yuri science fiction series was originally serialized in Dengeki Daioh from 2011 to 2013. It is an adaptation of Hisamitsu Ueo's light novel of the same name, also published in English by Seven Seas. Kadokawa publishes the manga in three volumes in Japanese.

Qualia the Purple is translated into English by Daniel Komen, with adaptation by Carly Smith and letting by Arbash Mughal.

The series is notable for being one of the first Yuri stories to include hard science fiction concepts and elements. It is a precursor to modern sci-fi Yuri like Otherside Picnic and Last and First Idol. The series is highly reviewed and well-regarded for its characters and plot.

You can check out Qualia the Purple: The Complete Manga Collection in English digitally and in paperback today: https://amzn.to/3NaC3Us

Reading official releases helps support creators and publishers. YuriMother makes a small affiliate commission from sales to help fund future coverage.

[jeweledmonstera]

Everyone is preparing for the special new moon meeting tonight!

I'm choreographing the eclipse dance with Qualia, Beth, and Amelia.

Carlin and Winona are reviewing paperwork by the mermaid.

Dani is photoshopping pictures of our cats eclipsing each other.

Kaya and Peony are creating the agenda.

And Marcy is helping Willow bake the black and white eclipse cookies!

[xenosagaepisodeone]

Hello, A buddy of mine started reading qualia the purple at someone's recommendation and he described it as "mecha quantum physics" but with yuri so naturally I thought you might have recommended/reviewed it at some point. I thought it could have been a very weird one you may have mentioned a while ago where the love interest becomes super powerful and maybe becomes like a ship or habitat that the MC lives in? Sort of reverse birth-y? I'm now pretty sure that qualia the purple isnt that but I was wondering if you remembered the name of the other manga I'm thinking of. Thank you you for your time and your posts

You're likely thinking of SaiKano! the ending is exactly that.

[llort]

Experiment 0000 Perspective Theory - (Present at the end of the post)!

Cybernetics is the science of communications and automatic control systems in both machines and living things.

Applying concepts from TSECpm and the individual treating their own emergent existence, life, ethology, and conscious experience, frame generation, as an ongoing engineering project using methods externally reviewed via the scientific community, machine learning and statistical analysis and subject to peer review and cybernetic modulation should provide a host of benefits including raising the quality of an individual personal experience much higher level and quality of self actualization and also bestowing the ability adapt to novel or challenging/stressful, potential or real, acute or predicted, situations effectively and efficiently a significantly faster rate. Perspective and personal engineering would allow for both a universal improvement in quality of life while still respecting personal differences in belief and self-expression which is essential to avoid a monolithic cultural force derived from accelerating and more coercive social pressures resulting in a homonormative general populace without the awareness of their own rights and capabilities enabled by TESCpm progression.

The total amount of all past and current human experience and the interactions of their respective axioms integrated significance, culture is theoretically impossible to measure and understand. With the exponential increase in the rate of TESCpm being created the current human faces a staggering amount of information, cognitive/behavioral options, and problems to manage and the challenges facing humanity are only going to grow in number and complexity. There is an explicit underutilization of resources and cognitive technologies freely available to the general public currently and entities that exploit these developments are only going to have increasingly coercive and unbalanced advantages in finance, marketing, ethology pressuring, and intellectual property. To establish frames of perception via the methodologies created by an individual themselves via the meta framework of perspective theory will enrich possible net frames found in a social environment.

If you reduce and classify all of human experience into a few manageable well defined domains with (e.g. technology, engineering, science, culture, philosophy, medicine, maths statistics.. etc.)

There is the danger of over reduction of experiential aspects of human lives but it is clear that while the qualia established in an individual establishing their own frame out of their own autonomy, that this approach respects both a cohesive social collective of well adjusting individuals and the individuals unique experience that they themselves are able to define their own EISOA boundaries of in the context of modelling the emergent net existence and functional cognitive and behavioral units of an individual as a viable system model

“Any open or closed system that can and perceive, assign, remove or modify meaning to parts of own system or other any other systems are a candidate for personal engineering

Current philosophy is extremely biased towards the human first person PoV perspective and if groups of people implement this system their lives there could be unprecedented new levels of complexity of communication between actors/entities

This model of human experience I proposed can be understood with the study of perspective in art. Using mathematics, deductive, inductive and abductive logic in abstraction in parallel with reduction along with any basic taxonomy/ontology.

It is possible to turn most things that can be described or observed to be remade into an axiom. This includes the external and internal and the objective, subjective, and inductive. It is also possible to construct modules of axioms that don’t represent anything yet existing in objective reality and then adjust or conform these extra external abstract axiomatic models to correspond to any EISOA phenomena or to generate new ontologies that may generate some insight or functionality

Disregarding some fundamental logic, epistemological assumptions, and understanding of TSECpm via establishing primary axioms categorized as self-evident, sound, and valid, it is possible to create a set of place holder axioms as an ontological scaffold that can be further refined to represent metaphysical categorizations of objective, subjective, or abstract reality in either egocentric and/or allocentric modes. An important consideration is that axioms in perspective theory are by their own nature arbitrary and not intended to fully describe objective, subjective, or abstract internal or external reality in their entirety, rather perspective theory is intended to be a potentially semi-automated on-going process that continues to approach the theoretical limit of what can be deduced or assumed about the nature of reality. However, the mere ability to construct a set of axioms requires a neurocyberphysical correlate that logically exist to support their embodiment in a cognitive or digital architecture that recursively indicates that these axiomatic sets are sound and viable which is an ad hoc iteration of “I think, therefore I am”.

One point can be described with multiple axioms and suspension of disbelief can be used to reduce conflicts. It is logical to assume that if opposing networks of axioms are embedded in a recursive meta framework that two or more ontologies that have axioms that conflict and would on the surface be incompatible would still be able to be nestled in a more expansive supporting ontology. A terrible example is the synchronicity of the left and right cerebral hemispheres despite each hemisphere containing brain regions that have opposing functions with the brain as a whole reconciling hemisphere function into one gestalt holistic integrated seemingly non modular experience. Perspective theory has the flexibility and capability to be adapted into already existing ontological frameworks such as the cybernetic viable system model which was inspired by the evolutionary psychology-based theories about emergent levels of brain function and their resultant ethology and inducive adaptability of the host organism (typically specified as humans past the age where theory of mind develops).

These sorts of protective yet cultivating frame parameters are featured quite heavily in paracybersocial networks of deceit yet these different agents can bundle frames in such as way that there isn’t much conflict between opposing sides or memeplexes and if this doesn’t reduce conflict then there should be many other interventions carried out by a handle

These axioms can be arranged via taxonomic/set theory (logic) principles to form a network or grouping of axioms which can have any logical rules assigned to an axiom or arrangement of interrelated axioms, arranged in any order or arrangement described in mathematics. As perspective theory is also intended to be utilized “offline in vivo”, this enables perspective theory the flexibility and functionality to be reconstructed mentally in a model form that is personable to an individual utilizing PT.

The axiom systems themselves can be abstracted or consolidated into new axioms to form systems of near infinite complexity for various purposes.

I think that the real importance of this document is to highlight how easily perception of reality can be changed how that certain alteration of axiomatic cognitive technologies results in a change of actualized and enacted ethology which can lead to abrupt change in the number of ways one can optimally interact with reality

However, before you get carried away it would be a lot easier to start using already defined axioms. Sciences, and normatively define areas of human knowledge and experience and so on. There has been extensive work and research on developing ontology for many fields of human knowledge, there are many interdisciplinary ontologies, there are specific software and data sets catering to the development and automation of ontology formation, and there are meta ontological frameworks which could be used in conjunction with perspective theory to model as many domains of existence and human experience as possible

Perspective in art can be used to get a more realistic and accurate representation of a perceived subject. Art is an essential tool to establish what could be and to also try to see if it is possible to ground these simulacrums in a foot hold of reality. Perspective theory in PT is no different, it is simply the art of discerning what is possible based on what you know

To get an idea of how this theory would work in vivo. In perspective theory (the canonical art theory) drawing the subject is drawn to appear more realistic as being displayed on a 2d medium, one or more vanishing points to give the illusion of perspective on a flat

Perspective in this case changes the eventually projected diagram of the box. It is the same box in each case, just in this case different points of axioms have been chosen to construct the final image. Perspective theory just means adding in new axioms as a point of perspective to construct a new model from. Adding and Removing axioms can radically change the resultant model allowing for deep insight into interesting relationships and emergent properties.

Oral Human language of just spoken word and no visual contact is conventionally one dimensional and there are many ongoing efforts to create poly dimensional communication systems

Roughly speaking We see a “3d” world in two dimensions

However, humans can think and operate in many dimensions, in this context include modular/non modular examples (define and provide examples).

Due to the vast interconnectedness in the brain conscious experience is not truly 3d either rather conscious experience follows a dense interconnected and twisted wireframe model making it difficult to visualize purely 3d shapes from a first-person perspective

An axiom in perspective theory can be a science or a branch of the sciences such as physics, biology, and chemistry. Going through day-to-day life with these axiomatic heuristics in the forefront of your mind can fundamentally change the way how you view yourself, your experience, and environment throughout a day functionally employing PE

Traditionally perspective in art has been used in a Euclidean sense however if you roll with subjectivity for a bit, you could represent anybody's view or any way of looking at the world as a new dimension/axiom. Using the systems described earlier you can paint or model a “picture” in your mind of a subject (x) described in many “dimensions” 3d perspective, color, biology, its materials, its physical properties, the public opinion, and any other sets you come up with while minimizing the occurrence of cognitive dissonance and keeping the total model logically consistent

Theoretically allowing any consciousness to utilize a method that could be potentially more effective at describing more aspects reality than science (Due to the equal importance and use of deductive, inductive abductive logic and a small pinch of subjectivity held in check by the principles of pure logic and mathematics)

A healthy human’s body, including the brain is a complicated machine and powerful supercomputer

Everything we are consciously aware of (Thoughts, feelings, internal narrative, sensations, senses and perceptions) a highly abstracted model. An edited and streamlined gestalt UI (selected for by natural selection to reduce the cost of adapting to a complex environment and promoting choices best for the organism's fitness), the system of the brain that has executive control decisions aka “you” the end user. Input is done on conscious attention and focus of the executive control system on certain aspects of the UI.

This model can predict the nature of some of the structures of the brain and their function

The selection pressure offered as an explanation for the evolution and development of consciousness will also yield some hypotheses to be tested.

This model is abductive in nature and need to pass critical tests and become highly corroborated considered to have the status of a true scientific theory

However even if the model isn’t robust, it still has some applications as a conceptual model to utilize in personal endeavors.

Assuming this model to be true or suspending disbelief, this model can be abstracted to form an axiom or “single unit” in a completely different model using a form of mathematics and logic.

Each domain can be abstracted to an axiom

These core axioms of human experience can be used to construct an easy to manage, modify and comprehend model of the totality of experience and to study the interactions of the axioms and any emergent properties.

Theoretically with this sort of modelling. With the same axioms and the same rules of interaction and logic. People would be able to avoid a lot of the issues of subjectivity.

Due to its nature, the model is not purely a truth-seeking enterprise and has some aspects of mathematics and art/aesthetics

The logical implication of establishing PE/PT in several hosts and subject to ongoing development and refinement of mechanisms and processes of functionality and quantification of objective reality and the correlating cognitive and mental phenomena/experience is that slowly the inner physics of the mind and brain will become elucidated and standardized to form general theories and axioms about conscious experience. PT and PE assumes that all subjective experience is subject to quantification and qualification, even if this can only be achieved via an abstraction of these states or phenomena until PE/PT has developed to the point where this data can be extrapolated. Another key mechanism involved in PE/PT is the use of ongoing and holistic biometry in order to create as much data points possible allowing an individual or researcher to reconstruct the exact frames and qualia that were experienced at a given point of time.

If my theory about physical monism is correct then it should be relatively more straight forward to be able to “trace” the developing ontology of experience, behavior's, and cognitions. An example of this is the exposure of a host to a novel word or association and tracing this learning to a subsequent ethological instance where this word or association is referenced or used in some sort of communication system or secreted to the cyberphysical environment memetically. Logically every word a human knows or can utilize has to either be learned or synthesized based on linguistic logic (or just a mistake))(but a mistake is still a creative iteration of a previous cyberphysical event)

Some philosophy is extremely biased towards the human perspective. One key experiential phenomenon experienced when manic is the misattribution of allocentric interactions to a egocentric frame. This indicates that there are frames where an individual does not consider themselves as an agent in a social interaction

However, the model of human experience I proposed earlier can be more easily understood with the study of perspective in art. Using mathematics, deductive, inductive and abductive logic in abstraction in parallel with reduction along with any basic form of taxonomy. Anything* that can be described can be remade into an axiom. These axioms can be arranged via taxonomic principles to form a network or grouping of axioms which can have any logical rules assigned to any axiom arranged in any order or arrangement described in mathematics. The axiom systems themselves can be abstracted or reduced into new axioms to form systems of infinite complexity.

Before you get carried away it would be a lot easier to start using already defined axioms. Sciences and so on

In perspective drawing the subject is drawn to appear more realistic one or more vanishing points to give the illusion of perspective on a flat surface

Human language is traditionally one dimensional

We see a “3d” world in roughly two dimensions

However, humans can think in multiple more dimensions and experience intertextuality

In this context, an axiom supergroup such as science or the general shared culture of human a demographic can be represented as a dimension

Perspective in art can be to get a more realistic and accurate representation of a perceived subject

However, in all human experience can be argued to be perceived

Traditionally perspective in art has been used in a Euclidean sense however if you roll with subjectivity for a bit, you could represent anybody's view or any way of looking at the world as a new dimension. Using the systems described early you can paint a “picture” in your mind of a subject described in many “dimensions” 3d perspective, color, biology, its materials, its physical properties, the public (or a normative shared perceptual value assignment) opinion while minimizing the occurrence of cognitive dissonance.

The MM is a 4D mental reconstruction utilized to quickly and efficiently draw upon cognitive heuristics that might normally be inaccessible in a depressive phase or even when euthymic or manic

Input is done on conscious attention and focus of the executive control system on certain aspects of the UI

This model can yield predictions and hypotheses that can be subjected to the scientific method

This model can predict the nature of some of the structures of the brain and their function

The selection pressure offered as an explanation for the evolution and development of conscious will also yield some hypothesis to be tested

This model is abductive in nature and need to pass critical tests and become highly corroborated considered to have the status of a true scientific theory

However even if the model isn’t robust, it still has some applications as a conceptual model to utilize in personal endeavors

Assuming this model to be true or suspending disbelief this model can be abstracted to form as an axiom or “single unit” in completely different model using in a form of mathematics and logic

If you reduce and classify all of human experience into a few manageable well-defined domains with (eg technology, engineering, science, culture, philosophy, medicine, math's, statistics... etc.)

Each domain can be abstracted to an axiom

These core axioms of human experience can be used to construct an easy to manage, modify and comprehend model of the totality of experience and to study the interactions of the axioms and any emergent properties.

Hopefully the model can provide an individual with a far greater and deeper understanding of themselves, others, society and the universe they live in.

The model also can be used to make and test predictions

As the model is based on axioms, the model itself can be changed in a similar way by removing axioms, adding new ones or changing existing ones potentially allowing for very powerful and complex simulations for exploring the big questions and even the small ones.

Theoretically with this sort of modelling. With the same axioms and the same rules of interaction and logic. People would be able to avoid a lot of the issues of subjectivity and post structuralism.

[setupedia]

Qualia Mind Review: Unlocking Peak Cognitive Performance

In a world where information flows at lightning speed and tasks demand sharp focus, maintaining peak cognitive performance is crucial. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a student, or a professional, mental clarity, focus, and creativity are essential for success. One product that has gained attention in the cognitive enhancement world is Qualia Mind. In this detailed review, we’ll explore what…

[ladyloveandjustice]

My Favorite New Manga and Graphic Novels I Read in 2023

It's time to take a look at the comics and manga I read this year! I read  a whopping 78 manga and graphic novels in all. Here's a link to my Goodreads year in books (the manga is at the beginning, the novels start with Siren Queen) and my storygraph wrap up.

I also read 36 novels! If you want to see my favorites, check out my reviews here!

And finally, I've got the continuing manga series I've enjoyed this year here, so check that post out too!

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

This is a tale about a first-generation Vietnamese-American boy struggling with coming out to his mother. He connects with his mother through fairytales-- she uses them to express her journey as an immigrant, and he uses them to explore his queerness and identity as a Vietnamese kid growing up in America. It's an absolutely gorgeous book full of Trung Le Nguyen's signature stunning art. The fantastical, ethereal fairy tales are weaved beautifully into the lives of the characters. The book explores how fairy tales can form connection, can express culture, can tap deeply into something real and true, and can offer tragedy and catharsis. The protagonist uses fairy tales to write his own story, and the ending is lovely and moving.

Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles by Mark Russell and Mike Feehan

You may know Mark Russell from his darker, socially aware re-imagining of the Flintstones, which made quite a splash on Tumblr with this post. Well, I had pleasure of meeting him at a local convention, and I finally got his comic re-imagining of Snagglepuss, also of Hanna-Barbera. He re-imagines the titular pink puma as a closeted gay playwright in the 50's dealing with McCarthyism. It's as wild as it sounds,but also really digs into the politics of the time, the struggle of standing against oppression and how art fights through suppression and censorship. It's tragic, hopeful, poignant and full of historical references. I enjoyed it ! Definitely be cautious if you're deeply disturbed by homophobia and suicide.

The Summer Hikaru Died by Mokumokuren

A story about a teenage boy, Yoshiki, who realizes that his best friend and crush Hikaru has died and been replaced by a strange eldritch being who is imitating him. But, missing his loved one and desperate to cling to any piece of him, Yoshiki decides to keep on having a relationship with this mysterious entity. This book's horror is visceral and sublime, especially the bizarre, creepy, beautiful body horror involving the being who replaced Hikaru. It's an exploration of anxieties involving grief, relationships, and sexuality that hits just right, and the atmosphere layered with dread is top notch. I love me some messed up relationships and unknowable queer monsters, and this book delivers.

Chainsaw Man, Look Back and Goodbye Eri by Tatsuki Fujimoto

Chainsaw Man needs no introduction, but I did end up really enjoying the story of the doggy-devil boy hunting other devils. It got so tragic and intense at the end, with lots of great surreal horror imagery and darkly funny moments. I'm impressed it went so hard, though the random powers that kept piling up made what was happening hard to follow at times, especially in fights. I'm also enjoying the current weird arc starring a class-A disaster girl and the demon sharing her body.

Look Back

I really do enjoy how Fuijimoto writes messy pre-teen/teenage girls. They ring so true. The manga follows the fraught friendship between two girls as they create manga, exploring the struggle of art mixing with real relationships, and how someone keeps creating after tragedy. It's a little hard to follow at times (especially since I have to differentiate the leads based on hairstyle), but it's a good read.

Goodbye Eri

Probably my least favorite of the three, but it's a fun read- a weird ride that examines the thin line between fiction and reality in art and makes good use of Fujimoto's cinephile background and signature gaslight gatekeep girlboss characters.

Is Love the Answer? by Uta Isaki

The story follows a teenage girl, Chika, who has always struggled with not being attracted to anyone. When Chika enters college, she meets queer people all across the spectrum of asexuality, and starts exploring her own identity. As an ace, this is the best story about asexuality that I've read. It was a nuanced look at asexuality and queerness and all the variations. Chika's journey and how she found her community was moving and poignant. It's a honest, moving look at relationships and identity, and how complicated and hard to define both of those things can be. I loved the moments of Chika imagining herself as an alien to explore and cope, and how she bonded with people through magical girl shows and other geekery. My favorite new manga of the year, it really connected with me!

The Girl that Can’t Get a Girlfriend by Mieri Hiranishi

Oh girl, I've been there. This is a fun autobiographical comic about a butch4butch lesbian's struggles finding a partner in a word that favors butch/femme, and it's just an honest look at the messiness of loneliness and relationships. I also appreciate that crushing on Haruka in Sailor Moon and becoming a HaruMichi stan was the beginning the author's queer awakening because uh...same! She has taste, and is truly relatable.

Qualia the Purple: The Complete Manga Collection by Hisamitsu Ueo and Shirou Tsunashima

See my review of the light novel here for my general thoughts on the story, since it's adapted pretty faithfully. I do think the manga is overall the best experience though, because the illustrations break up the detailed explanations of quantum mechanics a bit, and it includes a bit of extra content that fleshes things out, especially withthe ending.

The Single Life: 60 year old lesbian who is single and living alone by Akiko Morishima

Just like it says on the tin, this focuses on a 60-year-old single lesbian. And definitely the shortest thing on here, since only one 30 page chapter is out.  It's a grounded story about a woman looking back on her journey to finding her identity, touching on sexism in the workplace and other challenges. It paints a portrait of a proudly gay elder who's still perfectly content being single and feels fulfilled by the life she had rather than regretting past relationships. I definitely want to see more.

Daemons of the Shadow Realm by Hiromu Arakawa

Arakawa's latest, the story is about a boy who lives in a small village with his little sister is imprisoned and has to carry out a mysterious duty...but then the village is attacked, supernatural daemons awaken, and everything he knows might be wrong. I'm enjoying this fun romp so far! It delivers an really nice plot twist right out the gate (and an excellent subversion of the usual shonen "must-protect-my-saintly-sister" narratives). It boasts Arakawa's usual fun cast and interesting world (and cool ladies). There's some slight tone and pacing issues in the first part- there's so much time spent explaining mechanics the lead doesn't really get to react to his life turning upside down. But it starts smoothing out by the second volume. I'm excited to see what's next!

Superman: Space Age by Mark Russell and Michael Allred

This is a retelling of Superman set throughout the late fifties to early eighties that has Superman interact with the political and social upheaval of the time and question his own role in things. It explored the Superman mythos through a lot of cool new angles, and has a good Lois (why yes she would break Watergate) which is how I always measure a Superman adaptation. My one complaint is, while I liked some of the things it did with Batman, the ending with the Joker was pretty weak. The ending of the overall comic will also be bizarre for anyone not uses to how weird comics can get, but I think I dug it.

#DRCL by Shin'ichi Sakamoto

A manga retelling of Dracula that focuses on Mina as the protagonist and imagines the characters at an English prep school. It adds a lot of  diversity to the characters  and has exquisite, evocative art. I'm curious where it will go and what it  intends to do with all it's changes (especially Lucy), because right now it's mostly vibes and creepiness and the direction isn't clear.

[the-yuri-librarian]

Hi..... if you don't mind, can I ask, your top 10 (or top 7) favorite GL media (can be books/ manga/manhwa/baihe/ anime/movies/tv series)? And why you love them? Thanks if you want to answer....

I don't mind at all! In fact, putting together a top ten has been on my to do list for a while but I haven't done it yet because it seems real daunting. But, I'll try my best here. Spoiler alert, my #1 spot is a tie. I love both titles and I can't pick between them:

1a. Pulse (manhwa):

Premise: Mel is an expert surgeon at an esteemed hospital, and she is happy with where she is in her life. Her work is fulfilling, she has tons of sex, and everything seems to be generally going her way. But, she has no real emotional connections. Mel believes that love is a foolish game, so instead of dating with any real seriousness, she chooses to bounce from hook up to hook up. But, that all changes when Mel meets Lynn. Lynn has a fatal heart condition and desperately needs a transplant. But, she wants Mel to be the one to perform the surgery. As Lynn entangles herself in Mel's life, the stone of Mel's heart begins to crack....

Why I love it: the story in Pulse is incredible. Mel's character arc is perfectly developed, and her backstory is very interesting when you finally get there (she's also very hot lol). Lynn is equally well developed, fighting for her life while also contemplating it's value. The ups and downs of their relationship is gripping, and the ending left me in tears. I do think there is a pretty major flaw in the story near the end, but I won't get into it here as I plan on doing a review after I reread it in February. CW: sexual assault. It is a bit of an age gap but not a huge one. Also this is very spicy

1b. Love Thy Neighbor (manhwa):

Premise: Doyeon seems to be perfect. She has a large group of friends, a perfect GPA, and is sailing through med school with ease. But, she has one problem: her neighbor keeps her up at night. Whether it is debt collectors pounding on the door at all hours of the day, or the neighbor crying into the night while the TV plays, Doyeon can't get any sleep. Eventually, the debt collectors get physically aggressive, and Doyeon has no choice but to pull her neighbor into her apartment to save her. The neighbor, a woman named Jin Joo, ends up staying at Doyeon's apartment for her own safety. This is all fine and well, but why is Doyeon starting to have sex dreams about her?

Why I love it: so, three things here right up front: 1. there is also an age gap in this story (which I think is a coincidence), 2. It is very spicy and 3. it is incredibly toxic (to the point that consent between the two characters becomes murky) and not for the faint of heart. With all that out of the way: I love this story. Doyeon is so incredibly interesting as a character (and might be a genuine sociopath); all she wants to do is be loved unconditionally and she never gets it and that internal tension is incredible. The plot is also very dramatic, and it makes it HARD to put it down (also I've read through season 1 like 3 times in 4 months). I literally count the days between chapter releases. I didn't think I would enjoy a psychological drama so much but this one really knocks it out of the park. This drama has the effect of, murky consent aside, making the sex scenes electric. They are so well written, carrying significant narrative weight while also being genuinely very hot. There is this constant battle for control between our romantic leads that leaks into their sex, and it's just chef's kiss. I cannot stress enough how much I love this story. Season 2 just started releasing a couple weeks ago so now is an excellent time to jump on board. (PSA: if anyone my mutuals or followers starts reading this PLEASE send your live reactions to my DMs I will love you forever I wanna talk to someone about this story so bad)

3. Qualia the Purple (manga)

Premise: [Redacted]

Why I love it: so this is by far the weirdest love story I have ever read, and it is terribly sad. How far would you go to save the person you love most? The lengths Yukari wuld go to save her love are endless, and her desperation is what makes this tale worth reading. I really don't want to say too much here because this story is best experienced knowing as little about is as possible before you start reading it (also why I didn't include a premise). As a heads up: this story is deeply philosophical and may make you cry. Be sure to read the afterword

4. Nevermore (webtoon)

Premise: Lenore and Annabel Lee both wake up on a distant shore with no memories of who they are. Chased by bizarre spirits, they flea until they stumble upon Nevermore Academy. Here, they are told that they are dead, and that they are here to compete for a second chance at life. Also, they can turn into ghosts with superpowers. As they being to move through the trials, it becomes increasingly clear that their previous lives were deeply tied together. But the question remains: what are they to each other?

Why I love it: the real allure to this story is the mystery. Who is Lenore? Who is Annabel Lee? What is the truth behind Nevermore Academy? The list of questions is never-ending. Also, Lenore is an incredibly charming protagonist, whose quick wit and determination makes it impossible to not cheer for her. The is also inspired heavily by Edgar Allen Poe's work and the gothic literary tradition (and aesthetic). In fact, Lenore's name, as well as Nevemore Academy's name, comes from the poem "The Raven," and Annabel Lee is named after the famous poem of the same name. Coincidentally, both this story and the poem "Annabel Lee" take place "in a kingdom by the sea." As a literature nerd, this is a HUGE plus for me. Especially recommend this story for those who like to try and figure out what's going on before the characters do (so, if you were in the red string brigade while The Magnus Archives was airing this is a must read)

5. Her Tales of Shim Chong (manhwa)

Premise: This manhwa is a historical, girls' love retelling of classic Korean novel The Tale of Shim Chong. It tells the story of Shim Chong, a beggar who is desperately trying to make ends meet to feed her and her blind father, and the soon-to-be second Madame Jang, who has been sold into marrying the Chancellor to give her family a better position. After a chance encounter, they build a friendship -- and eventually more -- that transcends class boundaries. But not everyone is happy with the Chancellor's new wife, and Chong's presence is far from welcome in the royal palace. When the Chancellor falls into a mysterious coma after the wedding night, his children make plans to oust Madam Jang, and it may be up to Shim Chong to save not only their relationship, but their lives.

Why I love it: I think the premise of this story is so so romantic; it drives me crazy. Madame Jang is essentially trapped by the narrative, and Shim Chong is the only one who is able and willing to break her out. The premise creates the perfect setting to critique not only the historical politics of Korea, but also the treatment of women within Korean culture (disclaimer: I am far from an expert here but I think the theme is very prevalent). It is also probably the only yuri I've read so far that would qualify as magical realism, which ties in to the folktale setting with ease. There is not a lot of physical affection in this story, but when it's there, it's so sweet I can't help but swoon. If you like historical fiction, I would recommend starting here out of everything on this list (or start with the next entry).

6. Goodbye, My Rose Garden (manga)

Premise: Hanako is a Japanese woman who has come to England in search of her favorite author. In the meantime, she looks for work as a maid and is eventually hired by a noblewoman named Alice. But, Alice has an unbelievable request for Hanako: she wants Hanako to kill her. Hanako immediately begins trying to find out why Alice wants to throw away her life, and as she does she finds a hidden side of the noblewoman kept deep under wraps...

Why I love it: this story is so romantic, and tense, and dramatic that it has become critically acclaimed - and for good reason. The depiction of historical views on homosexuality are really well done and is juxtaposed well next to Hanako's sapphic awakening. I really think that this yuri is a must read, not just because of the romance, but because of the historical perspectives portrayed within. I wish I could say more but it's been a while since I've read it, and I plan on rereading it and posting a review sometime within the first half of this year

7. Mage & Demon Queen (webtoon)

Premise: In a world where demons and humans are at constant war, Malori has survived childhood and become a powerful mage..... because she is totally in love with the Demon Queen, Velverosa. In fact, Malori would do anything to spend time with her, and she means anything. Day after day Malori climbs the Demon Queen's tower to try and win her heart, and day after day she is defeated. Will the Demon Queen ever love her? Or, will Velverosa be slain before their relationship has time to blossom?

Why I love it: ONE OF THE ROMANTIC LEADS IN THIS STORY IS A TRANS WOMAN (it's Vel lol). But also: this is by far the funniest yuri I have ever read. Whether is is on the cheesy side or the genuinely hilarious side, the humor in this story is baked all the way through, giving it an adorable charm. Additionally, Vel's slow decent into love is so fucking adorable that I often find myself going back to reread her confession; it's just so sweet. If you like a wholesome, light hearted story, or are a big fan of RPGs or isekais (it's not one but it's close enough), then you MUST give this a read. I'm afraid Webtoons.com is putting it behind a paywall soon (against it's creator's wishes), but you may be able to find it else where possibly.

8. Sunstone (American comic)

Premise: in this erotic romcom, Lisa is a writer and, more importantly, a submissive. Ally is a well-experienced programmer and considers herself a dominatrix. They have one thing in common: they have never done BDSM in real life. One day, they meet in a virtual chat room and become fast friends. This friendship evolves as they begin exchanging DMs, and eventually they decide to meet up. They hit it off just as well in person as they do online, and their one time sexual encounter becomes much more, changing their lives forever.

Why I love it: this comic features probably the most realistic depiction of a BDSM relationship - and BDSM sex - that I have ever seen. The characters are complicated, and messy, and so human that you can't helped but be sucked into their lives. It also features one of the most romantic confessions I have ever experience in yuri. Just top notch writing from top to bottom, while also treating the subject matter with dignity and care. The writer has a lot of experience with BDSM in real life, and it really shows with the way the series treats consent, safe words, and after care. If you've never read this story, you need to change that asap. You're really missing out.

9. Whisper me a love song (manga)

Premise: On her first day of high school, Himari watches a band play at the opening ceremony, where she immediately "falls in love" with the lead singer. The next day, she runs into that singer, Yori, and tells her so. Yori's response is unexpected: she says, "I love you, too." Quickly, and awkwardly, Himari realizes that her platonic feelings are being met with Yori's romantic feelings. As their friendship develops, she begins to wonder: what does it mean to love someone?

Why I love it: I really love music, especially rock and punk music, so a romance story based around a musician is automatically going to appeal to me and this one is no exception. Himari's struggle with her sexuality feels so real, and Yori's determination to win Himari's heart naturally compels her internal conflict forward until she has to decide. This manga is so so so cute, especially considering Himari's puppy dog like energy, and this story is almost guaranteed to make you swoon. It is ongoing and getting an anime this year, so please read it and support the official release!

10. Bloom into You (manga)

Premise: Bloom into You tells the story of high school freshman Yuu, as she discovers herself and tries to gain an understanding of "love," which all of her friends seem enamored with. She has never had someone who felt special to her in that way, though she desperately wants to. This all changes when she meets sophomore Nanami, who has also never fallen in love. As they get to know each other, Nanami begins to fall in love with Yuu, though Yuu does not understand why. At the same time, Yuu thinks her chest may be starting to flutter, a feeling that she has longed for but still does not understand...

Why I love it: so there was no way that this wasn't making the list, right? It is the standard for high school yuri, and for good reason. Yuu and Nanami are perfect for each other, and Yuu's slow decent into love is incredible to watch. If you have never read yuri and you want to know where to start, the answer is right here. It is, in fact, required reading. If I were to teach a semester long university class on yuri (a fantasy situation I think about alot), this would be the first story I would assign. The romantic tension is mesmerizing, the supporting cast is top tier, and the ending is immensely satisfying. There is also ace/aro representation, arguably in the main character and canonically in the supporting cast. I am currently doing a live blog/analysis of Bloom into You if you want to follow along with me, though I am very behind on it (I swear I'm gonna continue it, and I'm sorry to my followers :( the new year has not been kind to me lol).

I have done reviews and analysis of some of these series, and have borrowed summaries from those posts. I am linking those down below in case you haven't read them. However, if you read the Qualia the Purple review before reading the manga I will find you:

Her Tales of Shim Chong Review

Qualia the Purple Review

Bloom into You Ch. 1 Analysis

Bloom into You Ch. 2 Analysis

Edit: I just realized that you asked for girls lov books too, so I guess that is going to have to be a separate post....

[yasinaraphat]

Qualia Life Review: The Ultimate Supplement for Optimal Living

[genkinahito]

Enja, Aimaina Rakuen, A Foggy Paradise, Qualia, Cinderella Girl, Tokyo Sounan, NO SENKYO NO LIFE, Japanese Film Trailers

Welcome to the third and final trailer post of the week. You can find the first trailer post here and the second trailer post here. This week, I wrote about the Shinji Somai film Typhoon Club being released on Blu-ray by Third Window Films. Expect a review on the day of its release. I’m back on films and watched a lot of European works this week. They included Last Year in Marienbad (1961)…

[yurimother]

Classic Yuri Sci-Fi Story 'Qualia the Purple' Released in English

On December 13, Seven Seas Entertainment published Hisamitsu Ueo's seminal Yuri science fiction light novel Qualia the Purple (Murasakiiro no Qualia) in English under its airship imprint. The publisher will also release a complete omnibus of Sirou Tsunashima's manga adaptation in June 2023.

Seven Seas describes the light novel:

Junior high schooler Marii Yukari sees all humans, aside from herself, as robots through her vivid, purple eyes. Yet even with such a strange perspective on the world, her classmates treat her like an unassuming, strange girl, including Manabu “Gaku” Hatou, her sole friend. Yet strange things start occurring around Yukari, and when she is recruited into an underground organization due to her unique talents, Manabu finds herself tangled up in a realm of dangerous experiments and quantum physics unlike anything she could have ever imagined! Yet is her friendship with Marii enough to save them both from whatever awaits them in the scientific underbelly of the world?

Qualia the Purple was initially released in 2009 under Kadokawa’s Dengeki Bunko label. The series is notable for being one of the first Yuri stories to include hard science fiction concepts and elements. It is a precursor to modern sci-fi Yuri like Otherside Picnic and Last and First Idol. The series is highly reviewed and well-regarded for its characters and plot.

Sirou Tsunasami, who illustrated the original light novel, created a manga adaptation of Qualia the Purple. The manga was serialized in Dengeki Daioh from 2011 until its conclusion in 2013. Kadokawa publishes three volumes of the manga in Japanese. Seven Seas will release the full manga series in a single omnibus volume, Qualia the Purple: The Complete Manga Collection, on June 13, 2023.

You can check out Qualia the Purple in English digitally or in paperback today: https://amzn.to/3YYwjC3

Reading official releases helps support creators and publishers. YuriMother makes a small affiliate commission from sales to help fund future coverage.

[gotjacobian]

went to the asian grocery store and learned they have some of the “instant hotpot” meals I constantly watch this one channel* review on youtube. spent entirely too much money to buy like 6 so I could finally have some qualia to leverage my review-watching experience against.  *dancingbacons, a channel I doubly have feelings about because I was watching it for months before googling and discovering the (unseen, unheard except as a pair of hands) channel owner is some form of transmasc, and the recurring “dining partner” is his girlfriend/wife(?). There are constantly people being rude about it in the video comments.  I was sad it took me so long to find out - I don’t know a lot of people at that specific intersection of identities, personally or in media. I definitely feel some parasocial solidarity.