Read or Die

"Papermaster" redirects here. For the former Senior Vice President of Devices Hardware Engineering at Apple Inc, seeMark Papermaster.

R.O.D: Read or Die(Japanese:リード・オア・ダイ,Hepburn:Rīdo Oa Dai)is a Japaneselight novelseries written byHideyuki Kurata,published underShueisha'sSuper Dash Bunkoimprint.Read or DiefollowsYomiko Readman,codename "The Paper", an agent for the (fictional) Special Operations Division of theBritish Library.There are currently 11Read or Dienovels. In volume 11, a note stated that the series would end with the upcoming volume 12. In June 2016, it was announced via Twitter that volume 12 would be released in August, and that there would be a volume 13.

Read or Die
Cover of first light novel volume
リード・オア・ダイ (Rīdo Oa Dai)
Genre	Action,spy,thriller
Manga
Written by	Hideyuki Kurata
Illustrated by	Shutaro Yamada
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA:Viz Media
Magazine	Ultra Jump
Demographic	Seinen
Original run	December 18, 1999–May 18, 2002
Volumes	4
Light novel
Written by	Hideyuki Kurata
Illustrated by	Taraku Uon
Published by	Shueisha
Imprint	Super Dash Bunko
Demographic	Male
Original run	July 14, 2000– present
Volumes	12
Manga
R.O.D Rehabilitation
Written by	Hideyuki Kurata
Illustrated by	Choko Fuji
Published by	Shueisha
Magazine	Super Dash & Go!
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	February 25, 2012–December 25, 2012
Volumes	1
Related
Read or Die(OVA) Read or Dream R.O.D the TV

Along with the novels, Kurata scripted the officialR.O.Dmanga illustrated by Shutaro Yamada, which was originally published inUltra Jumpmagazine and later printed into four paperback volumes, andRead or Dream,a manga illustrated by Ran Ayanaga set in the same universe asRead or Die.

The popularity of theRead or Dienovels and manga resulted in the production ofan OVA adaptationin 2001, which was directed byKoji Masunariand produced bySME Visual Works.In 2003, Aniplex producedR.O.D the TV,a 26-episode animated television series, which served as a sequel to theOVAand introducedRead or Dream's characters to those fromRead or Die.

A manga calledR.O.D Rehabilitationillustrated by Choko Fuji was published in 2012 in theSuper Dash & Gomagazine, and collected in one volume. The story tells of a city created by Bibliomania, Bibliopolis.

Plot

Read or Dietakes place in analternate historyworldwhere theBritish Empirehas remained a majorsuperpower.The Empire's continued existence is guaranteed by theBritish Library(Đại anh đồ thư quán,Daiei-toshokan),an external intelligence agency working within the actualBritish Library;its Special Operations Division (the BritishSecret Intelligence Service,more widely known as MI6) is also often mentioned, despite Kurata's editors (erroneously) telling him it no longer existed.

The series followsYomiko Readman,also known as "The Paper", asuperhumanagent of the Library's Special Operations (possessing a "double 0" certification that denotes a "license to kill", as in theJames Bondseries, although she rarely invokes it). In both the novels and manga, her adventures alternate between doing missions for the British Library and helping young novelist Nenene Sumiregawa.

Only the first novel and first manga have similar stories, involving rescuing Nenene Sumiregawa from a vicious kidnapper. Otherwise, the novels, manga, and animated versions of the stories have divergent plotlines. While characterizations are usually consistent even when storylines are not, some characters have different origins in different versions of the story, or do not appear at all.

Characters

See also:List of R.O.D characters

British Library

TheBritish Libraryis an institution devoted to the promotion of literacy and the greater glory of the British Empire. More than a mere library, the British Library is a powerful political organization with branches all over the world. The organization is led byGentleman(ジェントルメン,Jentorumen),an old man of extreme longevity and the power behind the throne of the British Empire.

TheBritish Library Special Operations Division(Đại anh đồ thư quán đặc thù công tác bộ,Daiei-toshokan Tokushu-kousakubu)is the secret enforcement branch of the British Library. Based in a giant underground complex concealed beneath the Great Court at the British Museum, the Special Operations Division employs a number of agents with special powers and runs operations all over the world to fight book-related crime and terrorism, and to acquire rare works for the Library. Their slogan is "Peace to the books of the world, an iron hammer to those who would abuse them, and glory and wisdom to the British Empire!"

• Yomiko Readman(Đọc tử ・リードマン,Yomiko Rīdoman)is a half-Japanese,half-Englishpapermaster(Chỉ sử い,kamitsukai),an individual with theabilityto control and influence paper. A substitute teacher in her spare time, she is the 19th British Library agent to earn the codename "The Paper"(ザ・ペーパー,Za Pēpā).Her name is a play on her nature as a bibliomaniac—the verb "to read" in Japanese is pronounced yomu.
• Joker(ジョーカー,Jōkā)is the acting head of the Special Operations Division. A stereotypical Englishman, Joker's coolheadedness and silver tongue are his primary weapons. Though outwardly loyal and humble, Joker secretly wishes to be the actual head of the Division as it would allow him to gain control over the whole country.
• Wendy Earhart(ウェンディ・イアハート,Wendi Iahāto)is a half-Indian, half-English girl. She joined the Special Operations Division at 19 years old, and soon became Joker's personal secretary. She is earnest and devoted, but clumsy and still an "in training" assistant.
• Jiggy Stardust(ジギー・スターダスト,Jigī Sutādasuto)is the Special Operations Division's resident scientist, an aging man whose knowledge of paper is unrivaled. He developed the combat-use paper(Chiến đấu dụng chỉ,sentōyōgami)Yomiko uses.
• Nancy Makuhari(ナンシー・ mạc trương,Nanshī Makuhari)is a 26-year-old agent; in the novels, Joker recruits her in China. Codenamed:"Miss Deep"(ミス・ディープ,Misu Dīpu),due to her special power of "Diving" which allows her to become intangible and pass through solid objects. However, "Diving" can be suppressed through the use of paper charms(Ngự trát,ofuda).Nancy does not appear in the manga, and has a different origin in the anime where she is one of two clones ofMata Hari.
• Drake Anderson(ドレイク・アンダーソン,Doreiku Andāson)is a veteran of the American special forces turned mercenary, employed by the Special Operations Division as a field support operative for their agents. Drake is a hardened, no-nonsense soldier who, though lacking any kind of special powers, is incredibly strong and possesses considerable combat experience. Anderson has a young daughter named Maggie, whom he cares for deeply (Maggie Anderson is not to be confused withMaggie MuifromRead or Dream). He is also kind-hearted and will not harm children, even if it goes against the mission.

Dokusensha

Dokusensha(Đọc tiên xã)is the series' main antagonist, a secret organization based inSichuandevoted to Chinese supremacy and led byChina(チャイナ,Chaina).Known as Grandma(おばあさん,Obaa-san)to Dokusensha's high-ranked agents, China is a "little girl" who, like Gentleman, has lived for a long enough time to know the hidden history of humankind.

Supporting characters

• Nenene Sumiregawa(Cận xuyên ねねね,Sumiregawa Nenene)is a world-famous Japanese author. Her debut novelKimi ga Boku o Shitteru(Quân が phó を tri ってる)was written when she was just 13-years-old. Nenene became acquainted with Yomiko when she worked briefly as a substitute teacher at the latter's school. The two would meet again and soon become good friends after Yomiko rescues Nenene from a crazed fan who tried to abduct her.
• Donnie Nakajima(ドニー・ナカジマ,Donī Nakajima)is Yomiko's deceased mentor and lover. He was the agent who held the title of "The Paper" before Yomiko, he died at her hands under mysterious circumstances, yet Yomiko recalls that she killed him with her power. She now wears his glasses in his memory, and believes that reading through them enables him to continue reading as well.
• Faust(ファウスト,Fausuto)is a prisoner of the British Library. Like Gentleman and China, he has lived for hundreds of years and, because of it, Gentleman trapped him to hide certain secrets.

Media

Light novels

No.	Release date	ISBN
1	July 14, 2000	4-08-630002-8
2	October 25, 2000	4-08-630014-1
3	March 23, 2001	4-08-630026-5
4	July 25, 2001	4-08-630040-0
5	December 21, 2001	4-08-630062-1
6	July 25, 2002	4-08-630087-7
7	December 19, 2002	4-08-630105-9
8	July 25, 2003	4-08-630136-9
9	February 25, 2004	4-08-630169-5
10	July 23, 2004	4-08-630192-X
11	February 24, 2006	4-08-630280-2
12	August 25, 2016	978-4-08-630765-9

Manga

TheRead or Diemanga series was written byHideyuki Kurata,illustrated by Shutaro Yamada, and published inShueisha'sUltra Jumpfrom December 18, 1999 (January 2000 issue) to May 18, 2002 (June 2002 issue). It was later collected into fourbound volumesbyShueishaand later licensed for translation and release in North America byViz Media.

Volume list

No.	Title	Original release date	North American release date
1	Mr. Woo's Woes	October 19, 2000 4-08-876082-4	March 21, 2006 978-1-4215-0248-9
Episodes 1-8 Postscript
2	Ancient Chinese Secrets	June 19, 2001 4-08-876175-8	May 16, 2006 978-1-4215-0257-1
Episodes 9-15 Episode 16: Bonus Chapter Postscript
3	Reading Can Be Deadly	January 18, 2002 4-08-876263-0	July 18, 2006 978-1-4215-0508-4
Episodes 17-23 Author's Note
4	Dear Deadly Diary	July 19, 2002 4-08-876329-7	September 19, 2006 978-1-4215-0509-1
Episodes 24-30 Postscript

OVA

Main article:Read or Die (OVA)

Based on theRead or Diemangaseries, the OVA series was directed byKoji Masunariand animated byStudio Deen.It was released from 2001 to 2002 in Japan, and was distributed outside Japan in 2003 byManga Entertainment.The story, featuring characters such asYomiko Readmanand Joker, is a continuation of theRead or Diestoryline, taking place a few years after the events of the manga.

Anime

Main article:R.O.D the TV

R.O.D the TVis a 26-episodeanimetelevision sequel to theRead or DieOVA, animated byJ.C.Staffand produced byAniplex,directed byKoji Masunariand scripted byHideyuki Kurata,about the adventures of three paper-manipulating sisters, Michelle, Maggie and Anita, who become the bodyguards ofNenene Sumiregawa.Its official title ofR.O.D -THE TV-is a catch-all acronym referring to the inclusion of characters from both theRead or Dienovels,mangaandOVAand theRead or Dreammanga, which revolves solely around the Paper Sisters.

Reception

The manga was positively received. Caitlin Donnovan ofThe Mary Sueargued that the manga was "pretty gross" and said the characters were "way less empowered" than inR.O.D the TV,and criticized it for including kidnapping, near-rapescenes,sexual assault,and gore.

External links

• R.O.D.:Shueisha's information page on the novels.(in Japanese)ArchivedNovember 26, 2013, at theWayback Machine
• Read or Die(light novel) atAnime News Network's encyclopedia