Yukikaze

Yukikaze (Sentō Yōsei Yukikaze) is a Japanese military science fiction novel series written by Chōhei Kambayashi, initially published as short stories and later compiled into a volume by Hayakawa Publishing in 1984. Set in the early 21st century, it depicts the war between humanity and an alien invader known as the JAM. The JAM arrived via a hyperspace portal in Antarctica, and after being repelled, humanity established bases on the JAM's homeworld, 'Fairy'. The protagonist, Rei Fukai, pilots the advanced AI-equipped fighter jet 'Yukikaze', and serves in the Fairy Air Force (FAF)'s Special Air Force (SAF) reconnaissance squadron, 'Boomerang'. The series is renowned for its realistic aerial combat sequences, and its exploration of human-machine relationships and the philosophy of war. In addition to the novel series, it was adapted into a five-episode OVA by GONZO and Bandai Visual (2002-2005), winning the Tokyo Anime Award for Original Video Animation. It is a highly regarded work amongst science fiction enthusiasts for its unique style and profound themes.