From the pen of the author of the legendary MONOGATARI novels comes another unique offering, available in English for the first time! The basis of an animated series, KATANAGATARI brings to life a swordless "swordsman" and a self-described "schemer" who embark on a quest to obtain twelve peculiar masterpiece blades. Featuring a gatefold color insert, beautiful interior art, and copious bilingual footnotes, this hardcover edition is the first of a quartet scheduled to collect the entire original run. Brimming with action, romance, and unexpected wisdom, often as tongue-in-cheek as The Princess Bride, and shot through with ninjas, samurais, and secret moves, Sword Tale is Musashi for a new generation and a gift for any fan of adventure.