Tegami Bachi, Vol. 1, 1

by Hiroyuki Asada

A New York Times best-selling sci-fi fantasy series with heart.

Amberground is locked in darkness. A man-made star casts only a dim light over the land. The pitch-black wilderness is infested with Gaichuu--colossal insects with metal exoskeletons. The Gaichuu make travel between the cities of Amberground extremely dangerous. But thankfully the Letter Bees, a brave corps of messengers, risk their lives in order to keep the hearts of Amberground...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1421529130
• ISBN13: 9781421529134
• Release Date: September 2009
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Length: 204 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

I love this series so much.

I've started reading this and honestly it is so great. I was just trying to grab random manga and see if I could get into anything— got this and I ended up falling in love. 11/10 recommend this series.

Fun Read, LONG Chapters

Tegami Bachi Letter Bee Volume 1 is a pretty good read with a sort of "prelude" chapter and then a chapter 1 introduction to the story. The prelude is pretty interesting and introduces a character and the cover character as a young child. The world revolves around the delivery of letters with some supernatural elements. Letters can be anything from items and objects to even children and people as seen in this volume. The second chapter starts off with the main character and his pursuit of becoming a letter bee and hoping to find certain people. It ends pretty well and exciting and the ending preview of the next chapter makes it something that I cant wait to read. This is a relatively new offering from VIZ Media and was in Shonen Jump for a few issues of that magazine. It was probably taken out because of the fact that the chapters span close to 100 pages. Regardless, its all worth it and is a pretty decent read. Its not like other series where you are turning pages so swiftly but its also not dull enough where you rather read something else. The volume is read in the traditional format, has some pretty nice look art with clean sound effects and translations as well. Enjoy it and pick this up.

Lovely and extremely entertaining

A simply beautiful manga with creative characters. I just loved the idea of guns and heart bullets. Its a story of a young boy whose mother gets kidnapped into the man made sun. He becomes a packages is to be sent to his art by a letter bee AKA Tegami Bachi Gauche Suede. Lag (the main character) touched by what the letter bees goes through to bring letter, decides to become a letter bee himself. The story is very heartwarming and touching. Each story is filled with care and love that is not uncreative at all. Hiroyuki asada is a really great mangaka and don't judge this book by the cover. The art ic clean and at first may take a little getting use to but it is very unique and will grow on you. I at first was also wary because i'm pretty picky with books because of the art sometimes. Trust me, it will instantly become your one of your favorite series. In fact it's getting to be pretty popular and their is even an anime being made. I suggest you get your hands on this book now or you'll regret it. :D

This may be another gem

Story overview: In a land of perpetual night (called Amberground), there is no sun. The world is heated from something called Spirit Amber, which is a source of energy that is buried deep beneath the ground. Light (low as it is) seems to come from either the stars in the sky, or a small man-made sun that hovers above the capital, Akatskui (which is restricted only to the "elite" and those with a special Capital Crossing Pass). An eighteen-year-old man named Gauche Suede, along with his dog, Roda, travel from place to place to deliver messages. This position is called a Letter Bee (basically, they are a postal service). Gauche comes across a town that has been burned down, and to his surprise he finds a package in the form of a young boy (named Lag Seeing). On their journey, both Gauche and Lag inadvertently (and in a strange way) exchange glimpses into each other's hearts. They form a bond, which five years later, brings Lag to go off on his own to become a Letter Bee himself. However, that is not Lag's main goal. You see, the elite of Akatskui captured his mother, and now he seeks to find a way into the Capital. Gauche promised Lag that he would look into the issue, but there was no word from him over these past five years (after Lag was safely delivered to his aunt). Therefore, Lag goes out to have an interview to become a Letter Bee. In the process, he comes across a strange animal-like girl who he ends up helping, which causes him to miss his interview. But in doing so he gains one of the Letter Bee requirements, a "dingo" (a companion, usually a dog, that has a contract with the Letter Bee). My thoughts: There is a lot I left out in the overview above, but I did not want to give away too many spoilers, even if I did, there is not enough room to list all that went into this story. One of my requirements for a great story is that it has to have heart. This has that and more. I was refreshed to find a manga with artwork in the elegant and clean style that I appreciate so much. But that's not all. I love the characters, and a story about a dark world without any sun? It can't get any better for a speculative fiction buff. I am thoroughly looking forward to reading the next one once it comes out. Things to consider: This is rated "Teen" from Viz Media, but honestly, I can see it being appropriate for younger. There is the typical action violence, but it is done without any gore, and there were no inappropriate nude or sexual scenes. The closest was where Lag sees that Nichi is a girl, but this was done in good taste. Now, I cannot say anything for the series as a whole (as they are not yet released in the US), but this one gets a preteen (tween) safety stamp from me. James D. Maxon Author of,[...] Manga and speculative fiction reviewer: [...]

Beautiful Art and Intriguing Story

I was first introduced to the Anime of this story, and decided to go looking for the Manga. I'm so glad I did! The art and the characters grabbed me from the beginning and now I am hooked and have to follow along with the story of Lag Seeing on his quest to become a Letter Bee. In this alternate reality world of Amberground it is always night. Man has made an artificial sun that shines over the capitol city, were only the rich and powerful are allowed. 7 year old Lag Seeing awakes to find that his Mother has been taken to the capitol and he is now a package for the postal service, the Letter Bees (often just shortened to Bees) to deliver to his aunt. The events during his own delivery lead Lag to decide that he one day will become a Bee to find his abducted Mother and the Bee who risked his life for Lag's, Gauche Suede. The people he meets along the way all impact Lag in some way, and have a charm of their own. Hiroyuki Asada had created a beautiful work and I am eagerly awaiting what happens next!

Amazing story! Interesting and lovable characters :D

I enjoyed reading this volume so much. I love the characters. The story is interesting and the art beautiful. I like the idea of a "dark" world where good people succeed and progress in spite of the struggles and difficulties. I love Lag Seeing's characters and Niche. Can't wait 'til next volume's out!