Thanks to barnesandnoble.com for the image.

A young woman named Akari Mizunashi arrives on Aqua and lands in the city of Neo-Venezia, an exact replica of the old Italian city of Venice, famous for its canals and the gondoliers that navigate them.  Akari’s goal is to be an “Undine,” a traditional gondolier who shows sightseers around the city.  She apprentices with the Aria Company, under the guidance of a “prime” Undine, another young woman named Alicia.  Their boss is President Aria, a large intelligent Martian cat (blue-eyed cats are considered good luck for ships).  Akari meets Aika, an Undine student from another company, and the two become friends while learning their craft.

THE LOWDOWN:  Aqua is a laid back, slice-of-life drama that doesn’t so much have a plot as it does a series of episodes.  Although Aqua seems sedate, it is imaginative and the reader has incentive to keep turning the pages because there is usually a surprise around every corner.  The best example of this is the magical chapter, “The Kingdom of Cats,” a wonderful adventure rich with the scent of children’s fantasy literature.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  When it comes to the creation of imaginative realms and scenarios, manga rivals science fiction and fantasy literature.  Aqua is no exception to that, and readers looking for shojo sci-fi will find this an inventive treat.

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