^Ripper's Anime Page

In the last week, I was given the opportunity to reread a few books from my old library, including a rather interesting one for our subject.

Jules Verne, a late 19th century French author, known as one of the first true science-fiction writers, wrote a short novel called les Indes noires (Black India).

The main antagonist in the story is Silfax, an old miner that was given the charge to cause prevention firedamp explosions in mines. Jules Verne gave the English name, fireman and translated it as homme du feu. Sounds familiar, doesn't it.

What's more, the fireman was given another nickname: the penitent, because his long robes with a hood gave him the appearance of a monk. Doesn't it sound an awful lot like what Zekka's clone is wearing?

Lastly, Silfax thought he had been given by Nature itself the charge to keep an eye and defend a coal vein, because it was a gift from Nature itself. It rather sounds like the Biovouivre's scientist's speech to Zekka about his genes and the necessity of protecting them.

Add to it the fact Verne is consistant with the French 3rd Republic theme, and I think we can say a source of Kishiro's inspiration was discovered.

Am I completely astray or does it sound reasonable?

First, welcome to the forum!

It sounds very familiar. That is the thing with Yukito, you can find lots of references in his books. And one of my favorite things to do is to look closely to the images and look for hidden band logos, historical refences or characters from his earlier works.

And the things you said about Homme de fue makes Venus Republic even more interesting.

Indicible wrote:In the last week, I was given the opportunity to reread a few books from my old library, including a rather interesting one for our subject.

Jules Verne, a late 19th century French author, known as one of the first true science-fiction writers, wrote a short novel called les Indes noires (Black India).

The main antagonist in the story is Silfax, an old miner that was given the charge to cause prevention firedamp explosions in mines. Jules Verne gave the English name, fireman and translated it as homme du feu. Sounds familiar, doesn't it.

What's more, the fireman was given another nickname: the penitent, because his long robes with a hood gave him the appearance of a monk. Doesn't it sound an awful lot like what Zekka's clone is wearing?

Lastly, Silfax thought he had been given by Nature itself the charge to keep an eye and defend a coal vein, because it was a gift from Nature itself. It rather sounds like the Biovouivre's scientist's speech to Zekka about his genes and the necessity of protecting them.

Add to it the fact Verne is consistant with the French 3rd Republic theme, and I think we can say a source of Kishiro's inspiration was discovered.

Am I completely astray or does it sound reasonable?

lots of parallels between zekka and sechs, insofar as characters are both struggle with their status as derivatives (of some 'original'). in zekka's case, yk is using venus as a stand-in for certain scenarios in late capitalism, wherein every register is exploited. as opposed to the strain of collectivism jupiter respresents, etc.

at any rate, in zekka's case, one can sell the rights to one's own genes, thus making your body the bearer of genetic information it actually has no rights over.