Author’s Comments

Hello, this is marble.

Thank you for reading Despite My Fear of Heights, the Space Princess Still Loves Me! That is, assuming you’re reading this commentary after finishing the whole novel. If you skipped the actual book to read these notes, well, I don’t blame you. I do the same thing. It’s funny how sometimes reading an author’s thoughts about their work can catch your attention than the work itself, isn’t it? Perhaps it’s because sometimes art can feel like a curtain behind which the human created it hides and, no matter how pretty the embroidery on the fabric, we still want to know what it covers…

Anyways.

This isn’t the first time I’ve come up with a silly light novel-style title and written an entire book from it, and it probably won’t be the last. Frankly, I’m impressed with myself for sticking to the title’s gimmick as long as I did. I’ve never written comedy before, and finding the right balance between creating jokes/humorous set-ups and the romance was a real challenge for me. Hopefully, this wasn’t painfully obvious to you, the reader. Also, I’m not afraid of heights myself, so I wanted to make sure the humor focused more on the absurdity of Annin trying to hide his fear of heights (a choice he made) rather than the fear itself (something he didn’t choose).

In the end, I discovered that making Annin suffer due to the consequences of his choices was what I found funniest. As I was writing some of the final chapters, I was thinking a lot about the concept of hubris and tragic flaws in Greek comedies/tragedies. I was also thinking about how funny I found Mesousa’s suffering in Pani Poni Dash. Sorry, Annin, for delighting in your emotional tribulations. At least I gave you a happy ending.

Speaking of influences, I personally always like to know about what works inspired other artists, so please allow me the indulgence of sharing some of the ones that had an impact on Space Princess.

First of all, Shikimori-san Isn’t Just a Cutie (both the anime and Keigo Maki’s incredible drawings in the original manga and on Twitter) has been giving me brainworms for years. Something about the way Shikimori-san treats Shikimori herself feels almost seminal to me; maybe it’s the kind of inherent respect it projects for her due to her cool side or something? Whatever it is, I was often thinking of it while writing Space Princess. I also spent a lot of time listening to OP for the anime, “Honey Jet Coaster” by Nasuo. 

There’s also: This Art Club Has a Problem!, which helped solidify my fondness for established-relationship romances (there's probably a bit of Usami in both Annin and Nelle); My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Level 999, which refreshed my fondness for shoujo-style gestures of love; Liz and the Blue Bird, which inspired the ending of chapter 4; The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses, which pushed me to reach for absurd yet grounded comedy; Darling in the Franxx and Ano Natsu ga Matteru, whose crimes against blue-haired childhood friends I am always seeking to counterbalance in the grand arc of the universe.

Most importantly, at a foundational level, I have to acknowledge Nisekoi and its archetypal perfection, Chihayafuru and Taichi’s never-ending yearning, and Akagami no Shirayuki-hime and its mature yet doki doki-inspiring romance I’m always aspiring to emulate. I don’t think I will ever escape the shadows Chitoge, Taichi, and that one scene where Zen kisses Shirayuki in the garden and she collapses—which I stole for the finale, as you may now recognize—have cast on me.

To close, thank you to my friends who served as beta readers (you know you who are). I’ve literally never edited any of my writing as much as I did Space Princess, and it’s thanks to you and the dopamine hits of reading even your critical feedback that this book exists and is as good as it is, however good that may be. Thanks also to Rumikazo (VGen), whom I commissioned for the cover art.

Alright, that’s enough from me. Once again, thanks for reading Despite My Fear of Heights, the Space Princess Still Loves Me! I hope you enjoyed Annin, Nelle, and my inability to write a regular school romance. I realized when I finished that they’d spent more time in not-Harajuku, outer space, and not-Project West Wind than in school. Oh well.