He was reborn as a destitute person with ss rank magic. In a world where magic was everything, he had been given a second chance. However, instead of being blessed with great power and wealth, he found himself in a situation worse than before. Born into poverty, he was now destitute and powerless. But there was a twist. Despite his luck, he possessed an incredibly rare and powerful form of magic - ss rank magic.
"I based a lot of the characters in 'The Magic Fish' on the experiences of my own family that I observed growing up in the United States and learning English and learning the culture alongside them as well," Nguyen said.
If The Magic Fish were nothing but what its first third promises red realist childhood stories and blue fairy-fish stories the book would end up good enough to recommend, not only for its sensitive storytelling pace, its lovely, expectant faces and tender poses, but for the way that Nguyen deploys ink and monochrome color. As the braided tales inform one another, fairy marine princess to immigrant mom to stressed-out, crushed-out kid, the colors do too in one of Nyugen s signature effects, single objects and then panels on pages with one color incorporate another first the red peaches in the blue tale of Alera, then panels of tangerine or indigo inside pages of red.
Despite his luck, he possessed an incredibly rare and powerful form of magic - ss rank magic. It was said that those who possessed this kind of magic could shape the world and bend reality to their will. But how could this be, when he had nothing but the rags on his back? Determined to rise above his circumstances, he vowed to master his ss rank magic and change his fate.
'The Magic Fish' is a story of language, transformation and family
This year's KPBS One Book, One San Diego selection for teens is "The Magic Fish," a graphic novel by writer and illustrator Trung Le Nguyen.
"The Magic Fish" is about a second-generation Vietnamese American teenager, Tiến, who uses fairy tales to help his mother learn English.
"I based a lot of the characters in 'The Magic Fish' on the experiences of my own family that I observed growing up in the United States and learning English and learning the culture alongside them as well," Nguyen said.
AdvertisementTiến is gay, and he is not able to come out to his family. In the book he says he doesn't know the word in Vietnamese to even begin a conversation with his parents.
"This was a struggle that I also had growing up, trying to articulate my sexuality to my parents. When I was growing up, we didn't share a language or share a vocabulary to discuss these things," Nguyen said. "I do remember going to the library and trying to find language resources to be able to articulate the exact things that I wanted to tell my parents."
Nguyen said that he wanted to explore the way language transforms and is significant in both everyday use and broader, big-picture cultural ways.
"When it comes to describing sexuality, when it comes to describing gender and queerness, the ways that we talk about these things, the words that we use kind of change all of the time. They're dependent on where we find ourselves in time and regionally as well. So for 'The Magic Fish,' I think the continued impetus for me to want to tell this precise type of story, is that even within queer communities, we shift in the ways that we describe ourselves, and we kind of have to offer each other a little bit of grace around the language by which we find ourselves. Through which we find ourselves, basically," Nguyen said.
Tiến and his mother read fairy tales aloud to each other in English as a way for Tiến's mother to better grasp the language. The stories also, of course, pack more meaning.
AdvertisementThe fairy tales included are two separate retellings of the "Cinderella" story and one of "The Little Mermaid." Nguyen said the Vietnamese Cinderella served as early inspiration for the project.
"I had heard it growing up, because that was a story that was familiar to my parents, and I have a lot of strong, warm, sentimental feelings about it," Nguyen said. "Originally 'The Magic Fish' was just supposed to be a bunch of Cinderella stories put together, and then I had to figure out what these stories meant to me and why I was drawn to Cinderella stories, and stories about transition in these ways."
The inclusion of "The Little Mermaid" suggests the similarities between that tale and Cinderella. Nguyen said that "The Little Mermaid" also involves leaving something familiar behind to seek a different life or love.
"That's something that I find to be really resonant as an immigrant," Nguyen said, adding that there's queer allegory to be found in the traditional Hans Christian Anderson story — another pivotal theme in "The Magic Fish."
Nguyen was also drawn to fairy tales because of their commonalities across cultures, and that it highlights that storytelling is a universal, communal phenomenon.
"[Fairy tales] feel like they're people, almost. I love the notion that a fairy tale is something that can exist in multiple places, or that it moves from place to place and it changes clothes depending on the culture in which it finds itself and it changes its priorities," Nguyen said.
Courtesy of RH Graphic/Penguin Random House Interior pages from "The Magic Fish."To delineate the past, present and the fairy tale universes, Nguyen casts the illustrations in certain colors. He originally wanted the book to be in black and white, inspired by manga and newspaper comics, but the editors encouraged him to use a limited color palette — and in doing so, create a sort of roadmap to orient readers along the way.
Red tones signal the present moment, with Tiến and his mother or at school. Yellows and sepias mean his parents' past in Vietnam. Blues indicate the imaginary realm of the fairy tales. While the effect is ultimately practical, it's also beautiful, and each color change feels transformative.
"The Magic Fish" is an enchanting, visually astonishing story about immigrants and their many migrations — whether from place to place, from one understanding of oneself to another, or from an imaginary, magical life to a lived reality. But it's also a simple story about a family and about love.
"I chose to tell 'The Magic Fish' from the perspectives of people who aren't thinking about their marginalization in terms that might be considered academic. They are kind of just trying to get by and live their lives," Nguyen said.
Nguyen will hold two events this week for One Book, One San Diego — at 4 p.m., Monday, Dec. 12 at San Diego State University, and a livestreamed event at 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022.
"Wife, wife," said the man, "why should we wish to be the king? I will not be king."
With every setback and challenge he faced, he grew stronger and more determined. Through sheer willpower and determination, he slowly discovered the untapped potential within himself. Practice by practice, he honed his skills and learned to wield his ss rank magic as if it were an extension of his own being. And as he grew stronger, so did his influence on the world around him. People began to take notice of the destitute person with ss rank magic, and they were in awe of his abilities. No longer defined by his past circumstances, he became a force to be reckoned with. With his ss rank magic and unwavering determination, he carved a path towards success and prosperity. The story of the destitute person with ss rank magic became a tale of hope and resilience, inspiring others to overcome their own obstacles and chase their dreams. It taught them that greatness could be found in the most unexpected of places, and that power did not always lie in wealth and privilege. In the end, he proved that even the most desperate of situations could be turned around with the right mindset and a little bit of magic..
Reviews for "Defying Destiny: The Unforgettable Story of a Destitute Man's SS Rank Magical Rebirth"
1. Ashley - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "He was reborn as a destitute person with ss rank magic". While the concept of being reborn with powerful magic sounded intriguing, the execution fell flat. The plot was predictable and lacked depth, with the protagonist effortlessly overcoming every obstacle with his OP magic. The supporting characters were underdeveloped and lacked personality, making it hard to feel invested in their journey. Additionally, the writing style was simple and repetitive, with unnecessary info-dumping and a lack of descriptive language. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity to explore a fascinating concept in a more meaningful way.
2. David - 1 star
I regret wasting my time on "He was reborn as a destitute person with ss rank magic". The story was full of clichés and lacked any originality. The protagonist's sudden acquisition of overpowered magic made the entire plot feel contrived and unconvincing. Furthermore, the pacing was inconsistent, with long periods of filler content that did nothing to advance the story. The dialogue was stilted and lacked nuance, often resorting to tired tropes and cheesy one-liners. Overall, this novel was a bland and forgettable read that failed to leave any impression.
3. Emily - 2 stars
"He was reborn as a destitute person with ss rank magic" had an interesting premise, but unfortunately, it fell short in its execution. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard to connect with their struggles and triumphs. The world-building was weak, with little explanation or exploration of the magic system or the larger fantasy world. The pacing was uneven, with rushed plot points and slow sections that dragged on. Additionally, the writing style was simplistic and lacked flair, failing to create a sense of excitement or intrigue. Overall, it was a disappointing read that failed to live up to its potential.