Talking with Chewy about the Halfway Point
Liar: So. Chewy. If I am looking at my notes correctly, and not numbers, chapter seven of ten marks the halfway point of the translation project.
Chewy: Yeah. I think that’s supposed to be really invigorating and gratifying, but I’m freaked out by the fact that I have as much ahead of me as I already struggled through.
Liar: Successfully struggled through. Gotta keep that in mind. It took more than Golden Week—he said, leading the interview—but it’s happening.
Chewy: Yeah. I guess considering it’s been stuck halfway through chapter one for six years, relatively speaking I’m translating at the speed of light. I’m upset that my time goal fell through when I realized I take a lot longer than I thought, but I think it’s going to be genuinely good quality in the end.
Liar: Yeah—the I Have to Rewrite The Mother 2 Novel Translation Blog would be less interesting than this one. And you might have to get another co-blogger.
Liar: Anyway, having completed the housekeeping, what do you think about the novel to this point? What do you think other people will think about the novel to this point?
Chewy: I can kind of see the reaction sort of mirroring that of MOTHER 3. Some people complained that it wasn’t Earthbound, and some loved the fresh new approach. So I think it’s going to be pretty split between the fans. Every time I think Kumi’s gone off the deep end and completely rewritten Earthbound’s story, she goes and outdoes herself, so I would rather people go into this knowing from the outset that it’s just a new approach, not an accidentally incorrect retelling. Personally, I like the changes. I’ve played the game so many times, it feels good to have new spoilers.
Liar: Spoiler alert: hamburgers.
Liar: Is there anything you can risk spoiling that you didn’t like? Most of the stuff we’ve been posting has been enjoyable (I hope), so did anything fall flat?
Chewy: Two words: Jeff Fetish
Chewy: I lost count of how many times she’s reminded me he has long, beautiful eyelashes
Liar: From what I’ve been reading I think it’s clear that Jeff’s long, beautiful eyelashes are the only thing keeping that idiot Ness from ruination.
Chewy: Well, to be quite frank, I just hope this novelization doesn’t spawn off strange fanfictions. Filtering fanfiction through other fanfiction can’t end well.
Liar: Jeff laughed confidently. He was a rock—whenever Chewy felt down about the translation project she knew he’d be there fixing broken antennae, his biceps rippling expectantly in the Fourside sun…
Liar: … But I guess you’re right. So, this is your first and only halfway point interview spectacular. Is there anything you’d like to say?
Chewy: Blog-wise, I hope the excerpts have been enough to tide people over. It’s a weird line to tread. Novel-wise, I’ve come to the conclusion that based on Kumi’s strange writing style and storyline eccentricities throughout the novel, this book probably has very little chance of any official publication in English. Once a pedophile showed up in the book, I thought back to how I came across the Magypsies in MOTHER 3 and thought, well, there goes NOA’s cooperation. North America’s censorship seems too tight to let some parts of this book fly.
Chewy: An interesting, and perhaps confusing aspect of media and entertainment in Japan is how there is virtually no line between what is aimed at children and what is aimed at adults. It’s a strange mix of contents, and I don’t think that publishers, etc. in the States are as forgiving with things that have no specific audience. Childish humor plus somewhat mature themes, in this case.
Liar: Well, I’m sure we’ll find some way to get this out there—when it’s done, that is. So enjoy your halfway-point end zone dance, give me some kind of internet high five, and then restore your nose to the grindstone.
Chewy: The glass is half full… the glass is half full… the glass is half full…
Liar: o/
Chewy: \o
\o/
I’m a bit worried about the fanfiction to come as well, haha, but my excitement over reading the final product outweighs that, ahhh. I’m so impressed you ever took this project on, Chewy. It’s very impressive.