Good news, Type-Lunatics! It seems that the upcoming Type-Moon project Fate/Apocrypha is due to be reincarnated as a novel. It was originally supposed to be an online game, and was most notable for having a number of, er, unconventional choices of historical figure to play the role of the Fate franchise’s signature servants. I’m talking Joan of Arc, Dracula, David (of Goliath-slaying fame), Spartacus, Frankenstein's Monster, and William-goddamn-Shakespeare. Just looking at some of the character concept scans (check out the gallery) makes one want to start scouring history books looking for their own custom servant.

An author is already lined up to write the book, and rather than Fate/Zero wordsmith Gen Urobuchi, Type-Moon have chosen Yuichiro Higashide, best known for penning visual novels like Ayakashibito, EvoLimit, and 2007’s Bullet Butlers. I’ve heard rather good things about that last one, descriptions of which seem quite in line with Type-Moon's lore-building sensibilities.

I’m actually rather happy about this change from online game to printed word. After all, what use is a servant based on one of history’s greatest playwrights in a game genre almost inherently hostile to conventional narrative? Plus, becoming a novel increases the chances of getting a gorgeous, Ufotable-produced anime adaptation.

Then again, Higashide’s contribution to Fate/Apocrypha prior to this relaunch was to conceptualize Jack the Ripper as a crazy loli with mother issues (see above). It could go either way!