SAC: White Maze

Continuing the "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex" novel series, Volume 3: "White Maze," is anything but ordinary and predictable. The plot development was awe-inspiring and beautifully balanced, as if meticulously measured yet natural. Scenes were not overly packed and focused with the Tachikomas like in Volume 2: "Revenge of the Cold Machines." Yet there was enough of everything to please all fans.

"White Maze" returns to the one-story mode as in Volume 1: "The Lost Memory." I find that the one-story mode is more aesthetically pleasing rather than applying the 3-stories-in-1 method. But depending on the individual circumstances, I can't exclusively rule out the multi-story method.

As I mentioned in my review of "The Lost Memory," the english translation lies on the mediocre side. Quality is still left in tact because of everything else it has to offer. Out of the three volumes currently available, "Revenge of the Cold Machines" does to best job as far as translation goes. "The White Maze" is sprinkled with simple errors such as spelling mistakes. I almost feel compelled to take the position of editor.

Be that as it may, "White Maze" has plenty to offer. The cover art for the SAC novels are vividly stunning and so fluid. It would be difficult not to find beauty behind the art which embodies the profound characters and plot.

As far as I know, no word has yet to be announced for a possible fourth volume. As I closed "White Maze," I felt a sense of satisfaction and thrill that was suddenly replaced by a feelings the urge to read more SAC only to be remedied with the release of future novels.