"A Certain Magical Index Omnibus" "A Certain Magical Index Omnibus" is a collection of light novels written by Kazuma Kamachi and illustrated by Kiyotaka Haimura. The series is set in a fictional world where magic and science coexist and follows the adventures of Touma Kamijou, a high school student with a special ability called Imagine Breaker. The omnibus edition combines multiple volumes of the light novel series into one volume, making it a convenient way for readers to enjoy the story without having to purchase each individual volume. It is a popular format for light novel series that have a large number of volumes, as it allows readers to catch up on the story or revisit previous arcs. The story of "A Certain Magical Index" is set in Academy City, a technologically advanced city where students with supernatural powers, called ESPers, attend specialized schools. Touma Kamijou, the protagonist, possesses the Imagine Breaker, a power that can nullify any supernatural ability or magic.
Because these materials emerge from religious, social, political, and cultural worlds generally unfamiliar to western readers, the editors have curated the collection, providing introductions to orient readers to the worlds of magic, witchcraft, and the eastern Slavs.
Nods to actual historical witchcraft belief and its persecution lend period color if not profound elements to works as disparate as Harry Potter and American Horror Story. In the Russian lands where men predominated among persecuted sorcerers and Ukrainian areas where women predominated among the accused , magical specialists and ordinary people used herbs, potions, spells, and charms to heal individuals, to tell the future, and to make members of the opposite sex lust after them.
Touma Kamijou, the protagonist, possesses the Imagine Breaker, a power that can nullify any supernatural ability or magic. Touma finds himself caught up in the conflicts between magicians, ESPers, and various other factions as they seek to control or protect the secrets of the city. The omnibus edition of "A Certain Magical Index" allows readers to delve into the complex and interconnected world of the series.
Witchcraft and Magic in Russian and Ukrainian Lands before 1900
When you think of a witch, what do you imagine? Probably what comes to mind is not a Russian trapper in far eastern Siberia with a set of written spells tucked into his belt, meant to win him success in hunting and trapping and seducing women. And not an Orthodox priest who equipped himself with a spell meant to win the love of his superiors. Equally far from stock images of witchcraft is a military recruit who, in the mid-eighteenth century, at the acme of the Enlightenment, offered to assist the Russian imperial authorities with a bit of herbal magic that would “cover the Prussian king and his entire army with fog and release water and capture the king alive.” Yet all of these cases emerge from the historical record of Russian witchcraft trials.
Magical practice was widespread in the Russian and Ukrainian lands, and we can document the actual spells and rituals practitioners used. In the Russian lands (where men predominated among persecuted sorcerers) and Ukrainian areas (where women predominated among the accused), magical specialists and ordinary people used herbs, potions, spells, and charms to heal individuals, to tell the future, and to make members of the opposite sex lust after them. Women sometimes resorted to magic to abort unwanted pregnancies or to fend off abusive husbands or masters. And still, others sought magical advice for malevolent ends or believed themselves to be the victims of a bewitchment.
When you think of a witch, what do you imagine?
Authorities condemned such witchcraft as evil, criminal, and demonic. However, their ideas about witchcraft were very different from those that circulated in Catholic and Protestant Europe. Orthodox regions didn’t develop mythologies about the Black Sabbaths and satanic orgies that spiced up European witch lore.
Witchcraft and magical belief are alive and well in popular culture today, both as a growing religious denomination and as an endlessly fascinating topic of scholarly works, novels, movies, and television shows. Nods to actual historical witchcraft belief and its persecution lend period color if not profound elements to works as disparate as Harry Potter and American Horror Story. But those historical referents are most commonly drawn from the Anglo-American past. Occasional works take up material from the rest of Europe. But who knows anything about witchcraft belief or persecution further to the east, in the Orthodox realm of Russia and Ukraine?
In this first of its kind collection, the editors have assembled a set of primary source documents on witchcraft belief and practice in the regions that today make up Russia and Ukraine. Many of the materials have never been published in any language before. The texts range from the earliest mentions of witchcraft in the medieval Kyivan chronicles to reports from the early modern Muscovite court about magical attacks on members of the royal family to physicians’ assessments of outbreaks of demonic possession in the nineteenth-century countryside.
Orthodox regions didn’t develop mythologies about the Black Sabbaths and satanic orgies that spiced up European witch lore.
With a particularly rich selection of sources documenting legal conceptions and formal prosecution of accused witches, the collection engages with issues that have contemporary as well as historical relevance. The documents force the reader to consider the deadly power of imaginary ideas when given real world authority. They push us to examine the kinds of “truth” elicited by harsh interrogation and torture. And they encourage us to expand our expectations about how societies are ordered through exposing the imaginary “other,” the witch, that they most feared. The comparison of Ukrainian and Russian traditions reminds us that mental constructs assume radically different shapes in different cultures. It also underscores the extent to which ideas are malleable, not set in stone, and can alter, for good or for ill, over time and place.
Because these materials emerge from religious, social, political, and cultural worlds generally unfamiliar to western readers, the editors have curated the collection, providing introductions to orient readers to the worlds of magic, witchcraft, and the eastern Slavs.
*Featured image: M. V. Nesterov, For a Love Spell, 1888.
This book was published under Cornell University Press’s NIU Press imprint. Find out more.
Valerie A. Kivelson is Thomas N. Tentler Collegiate Professor of History and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of History at the University of Michigan. She is the author of Cartographies of Tsardom, Desperate Magic, and Autocracy in the Provinces. See all books by this author.
Christine D. Worobec is Distinguished Research Professor Emerita at Northern Illinois University. She is the author of Possessed and Peasant Russia. See all books by this author.
It provides an in-depth exploration of the characters, their abilities, and the intricate plotlines that unfold throughout the story. The series combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, and action, creating a unique and engrossing reading experience. The "A Certain Magical Index" omnibus editions also include illustrations by Kiyotaka Haimura. These illustrations bring the characters and the world of the series to life, providing visual representations that enhance the reading experience. Overall, "A Certain Magical Index Omnibus" is a comprehensive and convenient way for readers to immerse themselves in the captivating story of Touma Kamijou and his adventures in Academy City. With its unique blend of science and magic, complex plotlines, and engaging characters, the series has garnered a dedicated fanbase and continues to captivate readers worldwide..
Reviews for "A Certain Magical Index Omnibus: Analyzing the Themes of Friendship and Loyalty"
1. John - 2/5 - I found "A Certain Magical Index Omnibus" to be quite disappointing. The plot was confusing and convoluted, with too many characters and subplots that didn't come together coherently. It felt like the author was trying to cram in as much information as possible without fully developing any of it. Additionally, the pacing was uneven, with slow sections that dragged on and abrupt jumps to new events. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and frustrated with this omnibus.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - I couldn't get through "A Certain Magical Index Omnibus." The writing style was dry and lacking in depth, making it difficult to connect with the characters or become invested in the story. The world-building felt underwhelming and the explanations were often confusing, leaving me lost and disinterested. The dialogue was also stilted and forced, making it a struggle to continue reading. It's safe to say that this series just wasn't for me.
3. Mark - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "A Certain Magical Index Omnibus" but unfortunately, it fell short. The story seemed interesting at first, but as I delved deeper into the book, it became clear that the pacing and characterization were quite weak. The main character lacked depth and development, and the supporting cast felt underutilized. The action sequences were also underwhelming and lacked excitement. Overall, I was left feeling bored and unengaged throughout my reading experience.
4. Jessica - 2/5 - I struggled to enjoy "A Certain Magical Index Omnibus." The narrative was confusing and hard to follow, often jumping between different storylines without clear transitions. The world-building lacked depth and was inconsistent, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. Additionally, the constant introduction of new characters without proper development became overwhelming. I had high hopes for this omnibus, but unfortunately, it wasn't able to deliver on its promises.