Andrew Hodgson (translator)

Andrew Hodgson (born 15 January 1994), also known by the online alias Reading Steiner,[3] is a British professional Japanese-to-English translator often working with J-Novel Club and PQube Games. His output encompasses numerous forms of Japanese media, including light novels, manga, video games, and art books. Some of his most notable works include Steins;Gate, In Another World With My Smartphone, Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris, Infinite Dendrogram, and Rance X: Showdown.

Andrew Hodgson
Born
Andrew Hodgson

(1994-01-15) 15 January 1994 (age 30)[1]
Other names
  • Reading Steiner
  • Steiner
OccupationTranslator
Years active2014 – present
Websiteabhodgson.com

Career

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Hodgson participated in various fan translation projects for several years before, in 2011, joining a group that was working on localizing Steins;Gate.[3] After the release of the fan translation patch, several members of the group, including Hodgson, were approached by JAST USA about an official release.[3][4] Steins;Gate would become Hodgson's first officially credited work.

In 2017, following his work on several additional video game projects, Hodgson approached J-Novel Club after learning that they had licensed the Occultic;Nine light novels, another entry in the Science Adventure franchise of which Steins;Gate is a part.[5] Immediately after joining the company, he began work on In Another World With My Smartphone, and took over translation for Infinite Dendrogram shortly after.[5]

Hodgson worked briefly with the now-defunct Sol Press, translating the first volume of Harem Royale: When The Game Ends in 2018. After the company's forfeit and closure, he characterized its leadership as inexperienced and uncommunicative.[6] In 2021, Hodgson announced he was beginning work on Rance X: Showdown.[7]

In June 2022, Hodgson joined PQube full-time as their Localisation Coordinator, and became the Head of Localisation Operations in October.[8][9]

Personal life

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Hodgson has one younger brother and one younger sister.[10][11]

Works

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Light novels

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Title Year Original author(s) Notes Source
In Another World With My Smartphone 2017 – 2023 Patora Fuyuhara Up to Volume 27 [12]
Infinite Dendrogram 2017 – present Sakon Kaidou [13]
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: The Wayward Journey 2018 – 2020 Yoshinobu Akita Up to Volume 6 [14]
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Isekai 2020 Carlo Zen, Tappei Nagatsuki, Natsuya Semikawa, Natsu Hyuuga, Katsuie Shibata, Hoko Tsuda Case 05 only [15]
Seabed Audio Novel Collection 2022 – present [16]

Manga

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Title Year Original artist Notes Source
Harem Royale: When The Game Ends 2018 Higa Yukari Volume 1 only [17]
Infinite Dendrogram 2019 – present Kami Imai [18]
Loner Life in Another World 2020 – present Bibi [19]
Shed that Skin, Ryugasaki-san! 2020 – present Kazutomo Ichitomo [20]
My Dad's the Queen of All VTubers?! 2020 – 2022 Wataru Akashingo [21]
Steins;Gate 0 2021 – 2022 Taka Himeno [22]
Tokyo Interstellar Immigration 2022 – present Madoguchi Moto [23]
Robotics;Notes TBA Asakawa Keiji [24]

Video games

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Title Year Platform(s) Notes Source
Steins;Gate 2014 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, iOS, Android [25]
Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni 2015 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Vita [26]
Dies irae: Amantes Amentes 2016 Microsoft Windows [27]
Dies irae: Interview with Kaziklu Bey 2018 Microsoft Windows [28]
Our World is Ended 2018 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch [29]
Baldr Sky 2019 Microsoft Windows [30]
Raging Loop 2019 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Android [31]
SeaBed 2020 Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch [32]
Seven Days 2020 Microsoft Windows Murasaki route only [33]
Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris 2020 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One [34]
Eiyu Senki: War Wonder 2021 Microsoft Windows, Android [35]
Mamiya: A Shared Illusion of the World's End 2021 Microsoft Windows [36]
Rewrite+ 2021 Microsoft Windows [37]
Maglam Lord 2022 PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch [38]
Metal Max Xeno: Reborn 2022 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch [39]
Evenicle II 2022 Microsoft Windows [40]
Hello Lady! 2022 Microsoft Windows [41]
Super Bullet Break 2022 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch [42]
Anonymous;Code 2023 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch [43]
Rance X: Showdown TBA Microsoft Windows [44]
Rewrite: Harvest Festa TBA Microsoft Windows [45]
Omega Labyrinth Z Cancelled PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4 Release was blocked by Sony [46]

Art books

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Title Year Original Artist(s) Notes Source
Dragon’s Crown: Official Artworks 2019 George Kamitani [47]
Shigenori Soejima & P-Studio Art Unit: Art Works II 2019 Shigenori Soejima [48]
Mikulife: KEI’s Hatsune Miku Illustration Works 2020 KEI [49]
Sengoku Rance Hardcopy Edition Booklet 2020 Alicesoft [50]
Street Fighter Memorial Archive: Beyond the World 2021 Bengus, Kiki, Kinu Nishimura, Akiman [51]
Rance Quest Magnum Hardcopy Edition Booklet 2022 Alicesoft [52]
Nioh & Nioh 2: Official Artworks Hardcover TBA [53]

References

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  1. ^ "Andrew Hodgson - (@DistantValhalla) - Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Currently updating my spreadsheet of LN translators, where in the UK were you born? — This sounds like a very ominous spreadsheet but sure, Northumberland". twitter.com. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Going From Fan to Professional Game Translator and Back Again". Kotaku. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  4. ^ "dokupied podcast - 03 (ft. Reading Steiner) - Visual Novel & Anime Industry Discussion, SciADV News, and More!". dokupied podcast. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Interview with LN Translator Andrew Hodgson (Steiner) – English Light Novels". englishlightnovels.com. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  6. ^ "What Happened to Sol Press?". Anime News Network. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Whale's out of the bag, how's this for a comeback? I'm translating Rance X, a finale 3 decades in the making. This bad boy's hovering around 4mil moji, the longest single script I've seen in my life. Wish me luck, cause I'm sure as hell strapped into this for the long haul". twitter.com. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Promotions! Come Oct 1st, I'll be Head of Localisation Operations at PQube, overseeing the Asia brand and moving to evolve our marketing. Translators of all language pairs, reach out to andrew.hodgson@pqube.co.uk with your portfolio and rates! Let's work on fun games together!". Twitter. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  9. ^ "At the end of the year, I'll be moving south to join @PQubeGames full-time as their Localisation Coordinator. I'm stepping back from translation myself to assemble the best teams I possibly can. It's my goal to shake things up and ensure quality at every step of the process!". Twitter. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  10. ^ "When my brother was 6 or so, I convinced him he'd contracted a disease called "magnetitis" that was slowly turning him into a magnet. I used to put metal stuff like forks closer to him when he wasn't looking. I feel like it's my job as an older brother to be this way". twitter.com. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  11. ^ "I also have a younger sister btw". twitter.com. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  12. ^ "In Another World With My Smartphone (Light Novel)". J-Novel Club. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Infinite Dendrogram (Light Novel)". J-Novel Club. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: The Wayward Journey (Light Novel)". J-Novel Club. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  15. ^ "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Isekai (Light Novel)". J-Novel Club. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Seabed Audio Novel Collection". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Harem Royale - When the Game Ends (manga) - Anime News Network". www.animenewsnetwork.com. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Infinite Dendrogram (Manga)". J-Novel Club. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Loner Life in Another World Vol. 1 | Kaiten Books". Kaiten Books. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  20. ^ "Shed that Skin, Ryugasaki-san! Vol 1". Kaiten Books. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  21. ^ "My Dad's the Queen of All VTubers?! Vol1". Kaiten Books. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  22. ^ "STEINS;GATE 0 VOLUME 1 – PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE | UDON Entertainment". Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  23. ^ "Tokyo Interstellar Immigration". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Robotics;Notes". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Steins;Gate". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  27. ^ "Dies irae: ~Amantes Amentes~". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  28. ^ "Dies irae: ~Interview with Kaziklu Bey~". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  29. ^ "Our World Is Ended". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  30. ^ "Baldr Sky". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  31. ^ "Raging Loop". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  32. ^ "SeaBed". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  33. ^ "Seven Days (Murasaki Scenario)". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  34. ^ "Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  35. ^ "Eiyu Senki: War Wonder". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  36. ^ "Mamiya -A Shared Illusion of the World's End". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  37. ^ "Rewrite Plus". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  38. ^ "Maglam Lord". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  39. ^ "Metal Max Xeno: Reborn". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  40. ^ "Evenicle II". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  41. ^ "Hello Lady!". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  42. ^ "Super Bullet Break". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  43. ^ "Anonymous;Code". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  44. ^ "Rance X: Showdown". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  45. ^ "Rewrite: Harvest Festa". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  46. ^ "Omega Labyrinth Z". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  47. ^ "Dragon's Crown: Official Artworks". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  48. ^ "Shigenori Soejima & P-Studio Art Unit: Art Works II". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  49. ^ "Mikulife: KEI's Hatsune Miku Illustration Works". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  50. ^ "Sengoku Rance Hardcopy Edition Booklet". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  51. ^ "Street Fighter Memorial Archive: Beyond the World". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  52. ^ "Rance Quest Magnum Hardcopy Edition Booklet". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  53. ^ "NIOH & NIOH 2: OFFICIAL ARTWORKS". Andrew Hodgson. Retrieved 23 January 2023.