Ashes and foam
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Description
Book Introduction
The mermaid refuses to turn into bubbles
I fell in love with a witch
The eighth work in the Safe House short series, Kim Cheong-gyul's light novel "Ashes and Bubbles" is the winner of the 2019 Summer Original Story Contest hosted by Safe House.
The story, which went through intense revision for about a year and a half, was completed as a work filled with various fun and meaning by pointing out the problems that women in our society are facing right now through the combination of the motif of the fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" and queer romance.
Mari, a priestess who has been asked to serve the island village her entire life, and Sua, a mermaid who cares for the islanders, are in danger of disappearing into ash and foam each time they fall in love.
Through the two protagonists' efforts to stay by each other's side just a little longer, we get a glimpse into the many faces of love: a source of happiness and unhappiness, a cause of destruction and a driving force for change.
I fell in love with a witch
The eighth work in the Safe House short series, Kim Cheong-gyul's light novel "Ashes and Bubbles" is the winner of the 2019 Summer Original Story Contest hosted by Safe House.
The story, which went through intense revision for about a year and a half, was completed as a work filled with various fun and meaning by pointing out the problems that women in our society are facing right now through the combination of the motif of the fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" and queer romance.
Mari, a priestess who has been asked to serve the island village her entire life, and Sua, a mermaid who cares for the islanders, are in danger of disappearing into ash and foam each time they fall in love.
Through the two protagonists' efforts to stay by each other's side just a little longer, we get a glimpse into the many faces of love: a source of happiness and unhappiness, a cause of destruction and a driving force for change.
- You can preview some of the book's contents.
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index
Ashes and Foam · 6p
Author's Note · 168p
Producer's Note · 172p
Author's Note · 168p
Producer's Note · 172p
Into the book
I hope the waves are calm today too.
It was impossible to take my eyes off the transparent tail that changed color every time I moved.
The lower half of the body above the tail was covered with scales that were as black as the night sea, but also emitted colorful lights like the tail.
I reached out and touched it without realizing it, and it was smooth and hard.
As the shaman stroked the scales as if possessed, the auspicious being that had emerged from the sea burst into silent laughter.
My face burned with embarrassment for touching her so carelessly, but the moment I saw her brightly smiling face, I felt as if the heat had spread throughout my body and I became extremely hot.
Has anyone ever smiled at me like this? My heart trembled and I felt like I was going blind.
--- p.17
Because shamans are the ones who connect people and the sea, they are not allowed to mingle with people.
Rather than a person, it was no different from something precious and important, like the giant pine tree in the center of the village or the well next to it.
I thought that being treated like that was inevitable, something I had to endure and overcome.
…I thought that the pain, loneliness, and even sadness I felt as a shaman and as a person alone were all foundations for my growth.
It had to be that way.
--- p.24
“Do you like me that much?”
"huh.
More than my life.
“I will love you forever.”
“There is no eternity.”
“I’ll let you know I’m here.”
…this time we will never break up.
The voice telling her to run away, that sorrowful sound that had grown distant as she sank into the water, unaware of what was happening to Marie, could still be heard from time to time.
This time, I will never leave Marie alone.
He grabbed Marie's face as she walked away and kissed her.
"love you."
--- p.61
Was that person worthy of death? Whatever the man's thoughts, he kindly walked Marie home anyway.
The man had only hugged her and stroked her a little, but hadn't done anything special yet, and it might have been okay until the end.
But would the fear she felt disappear just because the man quietly left her alone? And really, would nothing have happened in the end?
It was impossible to take my eyes off the transparent tail that changed color every time I moved.
The lower half of the body above the tail was covered with scales that were as black as the night sea, but also emitted colorful lights like the tail.
I reached out and touched it without realizing it, and it was smooth and hard.
As the shaman stroked the scales as if possessed, the auspicious being that had emerged from the sea burst into silent laughter.
My face burned with embarrassment for touching her so carelessly, but the moment I saw her brightly smiling face, I felt as if the heat had spread throughout my body and I became extremely hot.
Has anyone ever smiled at me like this? My heart trembled and I felt like I was going blind.
--- p.17
Because shamans are the ones who connect people and the sea, they are not allowed to mingle with people.
Rather than a person, it was no different from something precious and important, like the giant pine tree in the center of the village or the well next to it.
I thought that being treated like that was inevitable, something I had to endure and overcome.
…I thought that the pain, loneliness, and even sadness I felt as a shaman and as a person alone were all foundations for my growth.
It had to be that way.
--- p.24
“Do you like me that much?”
"huh.
More than my life.
“I will love you forever.”
“There is no eternity.”
“I’ll let you know I’m here.”
…this time we will never break up.
The voice telling her to run away, that sorrowful sound that had grown distant as she sank into the water, unaware of what was happening to Marie, could still be heard from time to time.
This time, I will never leave Marie alone.
He grabbed Marie's face as she walked away and kissed her.
"love you."
--- p.61
Was that person worthy of death? Whatever the man's thoughts, he kindly walked Marie home anyway.
The man had only hugged her and stroked her a little, but hadn't done anything special yet, and it might have been okay until the end.
But would the fear she felt disappear just because the man quietly left her alone? And really, would nothing have happened in the end?
--- p.72
Publisher's Review
I shouldn't love you, I can't help but love you
'To become ashes', 'To become bubbles'.
It is an idiom meaning that something has gone to waste.
For Mari and Sua, the main characters of "Ashes and Bubbles," this expression is more than just a metaphor.
They are literally willing to turn to ashes and bubbles.
It's about risking your life for the happiness of the one you love, but the reason the situation is so extreme is because Mari and Sua are such contrasting beings that you could say they're on opposite sides.
Marie is a shaman who lives on the island. She prays to the sea god to ensure the islanders' safe journeys.
The child of a shaman will become the next shaman, so she must be married to a man someday.
But Marie falls in love with a woman, not even a human, but a mermaid.
The islanders do not tolerate the relationship between the two.
Even after Sua, a mermaid, gains people's trust by appearing as a human, the coldness between the two persists.
Marie develops a hatred for humans, but Sua, who was born for the sea and those who depend on it, maintains a warm gaze.
The two perspectives eventually come into conflict, and Su-ah, who controls water, and Mari, who controls fire, have no choice but to cancel each other's powers at a crucial moment.
But my heart is too deep to give up.
I would do anything for someone who looks at me and shows me affection, even though I am isolated from others.
Mari and Sua's sensual language, which describes the time spent with each other, delicately portrays how their souls were stolen by the alluring other.
Even though their personalities, abilities, and surroundings all seem to be holding them back, Mari and Sua push forward with the hope that there will be a breakthrough somewhere.
What you gain when you protect yourself and help others
《Ashes and Bubbles》 tells the story of the lives of minorities and the weak under the guise of a fantasy romance.
A young woman who loves her own sex.
If you fall into just one of these categories, you will be subject to all kinds of contempt.
Needless to say, the situation of the main characters who fit all three categories is beyond words.
The feeling of being attracted to an attractive person is natural, and age and gender cannot be changed at will.
Still, rude men look down on Mari and Sua, and neighbors who enjoy gossiping distance themselves from them, spreading rumors that the two are shameless.
These are things that happen because you just live the way you were born to live.
Marie and Sua do not try to become someone other than themselves.
It's useless to focus on things you can't change.
The two focus on 'How can I make the other person happy as I am?' rather than 'Why was I born this way?'
Perhaps it was thanks to this that the unique composition of Ashes and Bubbles was created.
In each chapter, Marie and Sua struggle to maintain their love against similar backdrops of adversity, but with each new chapter, they reveal different possibilities for themselves.
Thus, an interesting story was born, with small changes and unexpected endings waiting for each new chapter.
No matter how much Mari and Sua try to change, their individual limitations will ultimately lead them to become nothing but ash and foam. Andersen's fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" is famous for its ending, where the mermaid turns to foam. However, in the actual story, the mermaid wishes happiness for the prince she loves and his consort, the princess, and is promised immortality.
It was a consolation to have cared for others even though I knew it would not be repaid.
The two main characters of "Ashes and Bubbles" go one step further and comfort someone even though they themselves are full of wounds.
If we could see for ourselves how we got there, we might be able to reach out to others again.
'To become ashes', 'To become bubbles'.
It is an idiom meaning that something has gone to waste.
For Mari and Sua, the main characters of "Ashes and Bubbles," this expression is more than just a metaphor.
They are literally willing to turn to ashes and bubbles.
It's about risking your life for the happiness of the one you love, but the reason the situation is so extreme is because Mari and Sua are such contrasting beings that you could say they're on opposite sides.
Marie is a shaman who lives on the island. She prays to the sea god to ensure the islanders' safe journeys.
The child of a shaman will become the next shaman, so she must be married to a man someday.
But Marie falls in love with a woman, not even a human, but a mermaid.
The islanders do not tolerate the relationship between the two.
Even after Sua, a mermaid, gains people's trust by appearing as a human, the coldness between the two persists.
Marie develops a hatred for humans, but Sua, who was born for the sea and those who depend on it, maintains a warm gaze.
The two perspectives eventually come into conflict, and Su-ah, who controls water, and Mari, who controls fire, have no choice but to cancel each other's powers at a crucial moment.
But my heart is too deep to give up.
I would do anything for someone who looks at me and shows me affection, even though I am isolated from others.
Mari and Sua's sensual language, which describes the time spent with each other, delicately portrays how their souls were stolen by the alluring other.
Even though their personalities, abilities, and surroundings all seem to be holding them back, Mari and Sua push forward with the hope that there will be a breakthrough somewhere.
What you gain when you protect yourself and help others
《Ashes and Bubbles》 tells the story of the lives of minorities and the weak under the guise of a fantasy romance.
A young woman who loves her own sex.
If you fall into just one of these categories, you will be subject to all kinds of contempt.
Needless to say, the situation of the main characters who fit all three categories is beyond words.
The feeling of being attracted to an attractive person is natural, and age and gender cannot be changed at will.
Still, rude men look down on Mari and Sua, and neighbors who enjoy gossiping distance themselves from them, spreading rumors that the two are shameless.
These are things that happen because you just live the way you were born to live.
Marie and Sua do not try to become someone other than themselves.
It's useless to focus on things you can't change.
The two focus on 'How can I make the other person happy as I am?' rather than 'Why was I born this way?'
Perhaps it was thanks to this that the unique composition of Ashes and Bubbles was created.
In each chapter, Marie and Sua struggle to maintain their love against similar backdrops of adversity, but with each new chapter, they reveal different possibilities for themselves.
Thus, an interesting story was born, with small changes and unexpected endings waiting for each new chapter.
No matter how much Mari and Sua try to change, their individual limitations will ultimately lead them to become nothing but ash and foam. Andersen's fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" is famous for its ending, where the mermaid turns to foam. However, in the actual story, the mermaid wishes happiness for the prince she loves and his consort, the princess, and is promised immortality.
It was a consolation to have cared for others even though I knew it would not be repaid.
The two main characters of "Ashes and Bubbles" go one step further and comfort someone even though they themselves are full of wounds.
If we could see for ourselves how we got there, we might be able to reach out to others again.
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: May 31, 2021
- Page count, weight, size: 176 pages | 164g | 102*182*13mm
- ISBN13: 9791191193114
- ISBN10: 119119311X
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