My New Life in the Kingdom of Wolves

Is this yaoi?

love love this book ... wish the ending is more tho.. an ending with both the Alpha King and Luna King having pups... and perhaps sequel book for Drew and Eli too where Arla and Lorenzo are in it too......

Your Review:  
This manga features a truly fascinating plot, which was quite common in 70s Western sci-fi but surprisingly absent in Japanese works until now.  

In the 70s, as ecological concerns such as ozone depletion, pollution, and extinctions began to surface, the vibrant sci-fi community took these issues and amplified them into apocalyptic scenarios, proposing solutions rooted in the space race and advancements in computation.  

The narrative often revolves around the idea that Earth eventually becomes uninhabitable, forcing humanity to venture into space in search of new planets to colonize. A recurring theme in these stories is a deep longing for Earth, even when suitable alternatives are discovered. No planet ever matches the blue beauty of Earth.  

"To Terra" delves into this longing, but it goes deeper—it's about a yearning for humanity itself. In "Terra," when humans leave Earth to allow it to heal, they also relinquish their free will. They acknowledge humanity's flaws and inability to make the right choices, submitting instead to a computer system known as SD—Superior Dominance.  

This represents total submission and repression, which is the true central theme of "To Terra." The manga focuses on those who cannot accept this repression, questioning the system, yearning for an ideal, and fighting for it.  

In this world, children are born through in vitro processes, selected by the computer, and raised by professional parents. At age 14, they transition into adulthood, marking the moment of significant repression—the adult exam, which involves erasing all past memories. Gifted children become leaders, while others simply become obedient members of society.  

During the adult testing process, a flaw may be detected, identifying the child as Mu. The Mu are humans with fragile constitutions but possess special mental powers. They can resist brainwashing and oppose the system, making them targets of Superior Dominance.  

The story begins with the main character, Jomy, a lively and intelligent boy preparing for his adulthood exam. He has already been identified by the Mu—an underground organization—as a potentially powerful member. Jomy proves to be exceptionally strong, possessing both remarkable mental abilities and a robust physical body. He becomes the leader of the Mu and takes on the mission of returning the Mu to Earth, symbolizing the fight for coexistence within human society.  

The concept that the Mu, the rebellious agents, are created by the very repression process itself is cleverly explored. The issue of acceptance of the Mu by humans is swiftly resolved, as repression and rebellion are inherently incompatible, shifting the focus from freedom for the Mu to freedom for all of humanity.  

The artwork is captivating, with stunning depictions of space battles, massive computers, and telepathic actions (resembling an astral or abstract plane).  

Additionally, the manga features an unusually large cast of characters without confusing the action or plot.  

Interestingly, the antagonist, Keith, becomes more compelling than Jomy at some point (a fact Jomy himself recognizes), undergoing significant development. Unlike the Mu, Keith embodies Superior Dominance yet manages to question the system from within.  

The pacing occasionally feels uneven, but this might stem from modern familiarity with many of the concepts presented in the manga. Much of this material had a profound impact in the 70s, becoming tropes that no longer evoke surprise or deep engagement when read today.  

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I went into this without any major biases or preconceived ideas, only reading it because the library had it and it’s from those sweet 70s. I briefly skimmed the synopsis and jumped in nearly blind. NO SPOILERS WHATSOEVER! Just sharing my brief take on its elements and such. I won’t explain half of the manga or anything like that. <br />

It’s a neat, concise little space opera that I found to be incredibly intriguing yet mediocre at the same time. Rating it around 4.60 – borderline bad. But still worth a read, in my opinion. Let me elaborate: <br />

This work excels in creativity and concept but falls short in execution. The writing is very hit or miss, being just as intriguing as it is boring. <br /><br />

- Characters are decent. They can be flat at times but remain intriguing at the very least. Even when they were lacking, I still wanted to see their "story." <br />
- Pacing is absolutely terrible. It's super slow and drags everything else down. This was the main reason for my boredom while reading it. It created gaps of days where I wouldn’t pick it up because I was so disinterested. Despite being short, it somehow manages to overstay its welcome more than it should. <br />
- Story: Very cool and interesting. The story beats hit, with plenty of genuine moments of mystery, suspense, and intrigue, along with a satisfying ending. However, this is still tarnished by the mediocre writing. <br />
- Art: While mostly just "fine," the highs are impeccable, thanks to the aforementioned cool concepts being displayed. Plus, I just love that classy 70s vibe. <br />
- Enjoyment: Ugggggggh. It bored and dragged constantly but was also so cool, making you want to know what happened next. This made for a mostly unbearable reading experience. High highs and low lows. <br /><br />

In conclusion: <br />
To Terra is a wildly creative adventure sci-fi 70s manga that is just as stellar as it is terrible. Despite its glaring flaws, it’s a painful yet very worthwhile read. If you like sci-fi stuff, GO FOR IT :)<br />\--------------------cynically shed--------------------------------------------------------------------|<br />
Bro, if you give this anything above a flat 7, you're tripping and tasteless. (That's most of these people who read it since its most given score is an 8.) <br />
How can you call this a masterpiece when the craftsmanship is so freaking shoddy? Stop lying to yourself. You can enjoy something mediocre; there's nothing wrong with that. (Which just means I’m better than you. And that’s already a known fact. 😈) <br />
JUST BECAUSE IT'S OLD AND INFLUENTIAL DOESN'T MEAN IT'S AUTOMATICALLY GOOD. Bias bimbos 🙄 <br />
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Beyond the rather 70-80's style/feel of the characters lies a deeper story realm. Terra e has an epic space opera sense to it, and it is, yet it isn't. The rules of space are acknowledged, circumferenced, yet the plot is kept tight. First off, I'll say there is an anime based on the manga and the reviews are quite applicable to the manga as well, though the anime carries out the sequence of events and some of the characters a little differently.

The storyline follows the characters of Jomy and Keith, though initially, the reader gets Soldier Blue's POV in the prologue. The POV is clearly delineated for the reader, which makes for ease of transition, and other minor characters' POVs are given throughout the story to keep the reader up to date on events. When the POV first switches to Keith, it may be a little confusing since the POV shifts previously were between pre-introduced characters. Also, there are time jumps, which require a little math. Most of the time the reader is informed of these jumps via the characters' ages, which appear mostly as asides - so the reader will have to do a little calculation. Thus to stay in the loop, make sure to pay attention to such things since it's easy to miss. In addition, since some of the characters age more slowly than others, without this tidbit of information, the reader may feel lost in the time jump.

The art is overall well done, with a futuristic style, yet a 70-80's feel to the characters sometimes. Yet even beyond this is the story itself. Taking place in the far, far, far, far distant future opens several realms of possibility, as well intriguing concepts regarding the use of technology and natural gifts, and yet humanity is still kept at the core. It changes direction so it's not easy to see where or how a character will end up. The characters themselves are interesting in that, despite some ideas they ponder, still they may act against what their thinking. Many characters are actually deeper than they might appear on the surface, particularly Keith. This makes it sometimes hard to tell which way the plot will lead. The ending/epilogue might be confusing but I think going back and looking at the events in the story earlier might clarify some of the confusion, making sure to pay attention to what the characters tell the reader about themselves, their hopes, and their plans.

Granted, sometimes the antics may seem over the top or somewhat unbelievable - yet still, the story incorporates it in such a way that the reader is able to maintain the suspension of disbelief to the very end.

Overall, Terra e (Toward the Terra) has copious elements of science fiction, different ways of perception, interesting characters, and a bit of mystery with a sprinkling of a few - just a few - unanswered questions.

Cardboard characters, excessive exposition that could bludgeon rather than enlighten, and a story more preoccupied with the illusion of depth than substance. It garners some goodwill through its unique panel composition and presentation, but this potential is tragically squandered.  

The first third of the story labors to introduce Jomy Marcus Shin, one of the two primary protagonists. We're fed details about his upbringing, the seemingly flawless society he inhabits, and the enduring conflict between the outcasts and the supercomputer intent on preserving the status quo. However, instead of organically developing characters and world-building, the narrative is bogged down by lengthy expository text—text that attempts to explain a world not particularly complex to begin with.  

Jomy is thrust into conflict abruptly, and after the death of a character we barely know, he inexplicably takes a backseat despite becoming one of the most powerful figures. The second part introduces Keith, a rival and the second lead, yet the same flaws persist. Time skips serve as lazy shortcuts to move characters from point A to point B without any meaningful connective tissue. The final third revolves around their confrontation and resolution, but by this point, it feels as though the story has run out of steam, culminating in a rushed conclusion and epilogue. While I've heard that adaptations fare better, this review pertains solely to the manga source material.  

There are intriguing ideas and concepts at play here, but in practice, engaging with them feels no more rewarding than reading a Wikipedia article.

I'm sorry; this manga isn't as incredible and revolutionary as you think it is.

Terra e... is certainly a promising manga, being a classic space opera written by one of the revolutionary Forty-Niners. I wouldn’t be lying if I said I was expecting a lot from it. However, many expectations weren’t met, and unlike Takemiya Keiko’s other works, this one went horribly wrong. And do keep in mind I am judging the original manga—not the anime.

The story begins about a millennium into the future, during a new time era known as Superior Dominance (S.D). Because humans had completely ruined Earth, they began using warp speed technology to colonize nearby planets in hope to one day return. The initial setting was nice, not totally unusual or unique to any sci-fi manga, but it certainly had its charms. Children were born into Ataraxia (the "Education World") with the expectation of becoming a predetermined, "cookie-cutter"-esque human. The problem is, that idea in general was played around with, but it was abandoned throughout the series, leaving it behind. A shame too because that could have been something else entirely.

Anyways, it continues; chronicling two characters and their lives for the next fifteen or so years. The characterization, in my opinion, was the weakest part of the entire manga. All of the characters were flat. Static. Literally: there was nothing likable about any of them, or something to make me emotionally attached. I could really think of one character who was an exception, and sadly, he wasn't even a main (and he too was scrapped early on). This wouldn't have been so bad if the manga did not try so hard to develop them. I mean, even though they spent (probably the good half of a volume) JUST focusing on the main character's "background", it didn't really give life to him. I believe that the story in general could have been only one volume long (rather than 3) if they did not focus so much on this characterization. In addition to that, it was very difficult to know where characters were situated, simply because the transitions between the different POVs (and yes, there were more than one) was completely nonexistent.

Needless to say, it was a very confusing read.

It wasn’t all that bad, however. The plot was very secure; I can tell that a lot of thought went into creating this story. And I know that it never trailed away from the main storyline, which made it pretty straight-forward (and no I am not contradicting myself by calling the story straight-forward and the actual schematics confusing). I’m not sure whether or not to call it fast-paced or not, simply because there were lots of time skips, but I found there wasn’t any complaints about the whole narration in general. And I don’t judge mangas on art (as it's very subjective), but if you’re a prospective reader wanting to know: it used simple devices such as thick lines during action scenes, or thin lines during more emotional scenes; a very 70/80’s style.

Well. Terra e... was an interesting experience. I think I had been hoping for a lot more (since this is by Takemiya Keiko!), but I don’t think I’d change a thing. There were good parts, and bad parts. Its ending was alright, but it left some questions unanswered (and no, I'm not talking about the super ambiguous epilogue). Its value and creativity, however, are extremely high for its time, which then brings my initial rating of a 6.5 to a 7.0. Frankly, I think this is manga for someone with a specific taste. So if you think you may like this, just try it out.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

When will we get the sequel???