“I was so scared before but, now that I have a hand to hold on to, space suddenly looks much more beautiful to me”

• Aries Spring, Chapter 1

Kanata no Astra is a sci-fi series that has a lot of interesting ideas that are difficult to summarise without spoiling the narrative that constantly twists and turns. The characters are interesting, although at times they can feel a little bit flat; especially those who find themselves being less central to the main plot. Those who fall to the back become more clichéd, with their personalities being reduced to one or two basic characteristics and, while this can make remembering them easier, it also makes them feel less important. Even the more regular characters also find themselves falling victim to these aspects of their personalities, but the plot bolsters them.

Shinohara creates a narrative that has a lot of threads, with each leading to satisfying answers; especially when earlier events are shown to be of importance. This makes the overall narrative a satisfying read, despite a few issues which will be focused on later. The art style is also good for the genre and, while some of the planet designs can feel empty, it can be seen as echoing the main themes of Kanata no Astra. However, it is a shame that the landscapes aren't utilised more.

One of the biggest issues with the series is the relatively short chapter count for the type of story it is trying to tell. Establishing the sci-fi narrative, with unfamiliar mechanics and characters, is done well; with the lost-in-space plot allowing for a more gentle introduction. To create a fully functioning world in such a short space of time is definitely a strength of this series. However, this can also lead to a few exposition-heavy scenes later on in the story which can be a little stilted.

This isn’t helped by the number of plot twists and revelations that happen so closely together. Some are handled well but others can fall flat, making Kanata no Astra a rather inconsistent read at times. Part of the reason some fail is that there is very little time for the reader to comprehend a revelation before another is being made. This also causes the emotional impact to be lost. If given more time, then I am sure that most of the plot twists would have worked better than they do. By the time these flaws become apparent, however, the story is well-established and have less bearing on whether the series, as a whole, is enjoyable.

Overall, Kanata no Astra is an interesting sci-fi story that is an enjoyable read that rises above its flaws to deliver an intriguing story that asks some very interesting questions about how far humanity could go to survive.