Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind: Vol. 2

by Hayao Miyazaki

Synopsis
In a long-ago war, humankind set off a devastating ecological disaster. Thriving Industrial societies disappeared. The earth is slowly submerging beneath the expanding Sea of Corruption, an enormous toxic forest that creats mutant insects and releases a miasma of poisonous spores into the air. Nausicaa, a compassionate young princess, and her allies battle to heal a wounded world and its inhabitants.

Nausicaa, a gentle but strong-willed, young princess, has an empathetic bond with the giant Ohmu insects, who open their hearts to her. In her quest to create peace among empires fighting over the world's remaining precious natural resources, will Nausicaa be able to interpret the Ohmus' urgent warning about the southern forest? And what of the war which rages all around her?

Review
The war in this story is really not as important as it seems. It's the plot, not the story. But regardless, different parties in this war are introduced: the Dorok tribes, who have priests who lead them, and it seems they have advanced technology, which they use to their advantage in war. Using information that Kushana's back-stabbing brothers have given them, they're using the distraction of war to sneak in and colonize the periphery countries.

Nausicaa is such a nice person, she tries to help anyone, regardless of what side they're on. She even risks her life to help a tortured baby ohmu. Apparently, there's some prophecy about her, that she will help save the world. That's too bad, using things like prophecies. They're overused now, and quite cliche.

The last important thing that happens is we meet the brother of the Dorok emperor, someone who is clearly evil, who will likely be an antagonist to Nausicaa.

This is a really good series, but it's only building up to its greatness. It'll probably take a couple more books to get into its stride.

Final thought: I have to read the next book!