9th Elsewhere
Table of contents |
Production History
9th Elsewhere is a webcomic created by Caroline Curtis and Courtney Caryl in January of 2003. After several months of co-writing, due to constraints raised by one living in America and the other in Japan among other things, Ms Caryl stopped contributing to the webcomic and Ms. Curtis became sole writer as well as artist.
Chapters
- Yonder
- Lucidity
- Porcelain
- The Rhythm
- Circadian Child
- Transitory Phase
- Positive Chaos
- Moths are Wooly Butterflies
- Figments of my Imaginary Nation (incomplete as of 10th March 2005)
Plot Synopsis
"A story about second, third or even ninth chances, 9th Elsewhere is a window on the bizarre world of dreams, on those who write and those who inspire the act of writing. Carmen Cinea, an aspiring young writer, has been through so many foster homes and tried so hard to adapt to each she has lost her sense of self in the process. Eiji, an unorthodox and charming muse working for O.R.M.Y! (Organized Response Musing Yes!) has one more chance to successfully inspire a mortal before he's banned from working for the divine realm.
Are they each other’s best and worst chances? Yes!
Will things go horribly, terribly awry? Of course!
Can you expect your recommended dose of angst and winged, chartreuse hippos? Naturally!"
-official description of storyline.
9th Elsewhere is heavily inspired by Jungian psychology (The chapters roughly correspond with Jungian theories of the layers of the psyche), and draws heavily on David Mitchell's novels, particularly number9dream with which it shares numerous elements and motifs.
Character Guide
Main Characters
Carmen Cinea-- the main heroine of the comic, this young girl hopes to be a writer. She has been through entirely too many foster homes and has self-confidence issues, to say the least. It is her subconcious that, by and large, houses the plot of this manga.
Eiji-- Caring, chaotic, and childlike are all adjectives that could be used to describe this half-breed muse. He is the self-titled Muse of Slackers. He also hates potatoes. Eiji is optimistic and determined when it comes to Carmen's problems, but not so good at dealing with his own. He is trying desperately to help Carmen realize her full potential--not just her creative side, but her personal happiness. Yet Eiji has his own share of problems to tackle, including being underqualified to deal with Carmen...or is he?
Supporting characters
Dorian Gray--While it is unsure if he is THE Dorian Gray, this muse is the top operative at his ORMY office. He is a first rank muse, in contrast to Eiji, a lowly fifth rank muse. Bossy, conceited, yet seemingly competent, he is eager to document and research everything he sees in Carmen's dreamscape.
Eiji's mother-- this woman with the coal-black wings doesn't just bake Eiji tuna casseroles and give him advice--she knows how to manipulate chaos for musing purposes. She and Eiji have family dinners often, from which Unagi, Eiji's enigmatic and as-of-yet unseen father, is absent.
Singha-- this "deer/lion/antelope" mythical creature is actually a powerful assistant given to Eiji. He sleeps most of the time, which enables him to connect directly with Carmen's dream.
Sir Bubbles-- a giant, affable whale, who was originally a toy trapped inside a bar of soap Carmen encountered in one of her many foster homes. Her memory of the whale is now trapped within a layer of her subconcious.
Raphael-- explicitly named after the Ninja turtle, not the painter, this little chick hatched during a farm storyline in Carmen's dreamscape.
Betty I-IX-- a series of cows in the farm storyline.
Crea (for Creativity)-- one of the embodiments of Carmen's subconcious (a "figment".) She is cheerful, supportive, and appears to mostly paint (with very thick tea, not oil or ink).
Optimism-- another of Carmen's figments. This character is wispy, almost insubstantial. She is very small compared to the other dream figures.
Dissent--the symbol of Carmen's sense of strong disagreement, probably also a figment.
Elora-- underpaid and overworked, she is an intern at ORMY, the main center for muses. She seems to watch out for Eiji, yet is also frustrated with his "slacker" qualities.
Explanation of Muses
Muses in this world are different than the traditional muses. They use a variety of techniques. Direct visitation through the artist's subconcious in dreams is employed in this storyline.
ORMY is an acronym for "Organized Reponse Muse Yes!" as noted in the plot synopsis. A branch office of this organization deals with Carmen's case. Universities of Musing are located all over the world.
External links
- 9th Elsewhere home page
- 9th Elsewhere Forum
- 9th Elsewhere LiveJournal Community
- 9th Elsewhere review, Review Gods, 2003
Categories: Web comics | Manga