Rating: 
Summary: Who do you trust?
Review: I have to begin by saying that this novel, hell this story can be viewed from two points of view. One: a reflection on the darker aspects of society. And secondly, a story about hope, trust, and faith. From the moment I picked this book up to the moment I closed the cover and put it back down (all of one day) I was captivated and held in thrall by the incredible story telling, the believable characters, and the incredible sense of reality that totally encompasses every last page of this book. Ok that may be a little over the top, but not by much. The setting alone caught my interest, a world controlled by such a level of fascism really frightened me, but more importantly the island, with its small microcosm of society featured by the 42 students really brought it all into brutal, paranoid, bloody, and sometimes faith filled reality for me.
One thing that I loved was that each character, no matter how long, or short they lived, felt like a person to me. They weren't just some body to add to the body count...ok maybe one or two.. But over all you had an idea of who the person was, and how they felt being shoved into this life or death situation. In this novel you can see the worst of society held side by side next those who by their sheer will manage to keep hope alive in this dreary world that fills the pages of this book.
Another great thing is the way that you are kept guessing through out the entire story. Who's telling the truth, who can you trust?, who will eventually turn on you and who will keep their word till the very end. I have not had the pleasure of reading a book this well written (and translated) in a very long time, and I have never read a book quite like this ever. I'm not saying that this book is a life changing experience or even a work that will change your views about some things in the world around you (even though they might, what do I know?) but I will say this, It will make you think and it will give you cause to pause and wonder.. What would you do.. If you found your self in... The Program.
Rating: 
Summary: Putting the Pulp back in Pulp Fiction
Review: Thanks to the likes of Vincent Vega and Mr. Wolf pulp fiction has become a completely acceptable art form. Unfortunately, the high level of violence is really the only thing that Takami's dismal book and Tarantino's brilliant movie have in common.
Based on the premise of an annually returning event in which a school class is transplanted to an evacuated area for a mutual killing spree that will leave a sole survivor, the author has produced 600 pages of pulp that has very little in the way of a redeeming value.
On top of the premise of a fictional dictatorial post-World War II Japan, this battle royale would be staged to remind its citizen's to live in mutual fear. Makes sense doesn't it.
Yet, while a proper execution upon these far-fetched ideas could have yielded an interesting novel in better hands, the author's creativity ended with finding this novel's basic premise. All is predictable, devoid of any sense of imagination and on top of that poorly written/translated.
A number of other reviewers have commented upon the brilliance of this work and made comparisons with "The Lord of the Flies" and "Brave New World". I am sorry, but I am afraid that this is just another sign of the inadequacy of the current "no child left behind" program.
Rating:
Summary: This is the Vol. 11 review page, right...?
Review: First, before I say anything else, let me say that I write this review while bearing the ELEVENTH volume in mind, as this page does have the cover of manga volume #11. I don't know why others are reviewing the novel (and why some are moronic enough to rank the movie above the manga/novel)...but whatever.
Have you seen the movie? Or read the novel? Are you willing to pick up only one Battle Royale manga volume among all of the ones you see on the shelves? Then make sure it's this one. Not only because the Kotohiki/Hiroki meeting is a much happier, slightly romantic alternative to the movie/novel one, but because...
Taguchi's art is gorgeously illustrated in these chapters, having some lovely dark and iconic pages of characters, a la Volume 8, to some extent. Volume 8 will still remain as the most chilling book, both in terms of artwork and story, but the word "grotesque" has much more than a minute part to play in this volume as well - it simply carries a less... promiscuous meaning.
This topical, character-focused, gloomy cover art is what all of the covers should be like in my opinion. But the latter ones to the highest degree, seeing as how they're in wind-up, hope-is-gone mode. I've seen the cover art for Volume 13, which is already released in Japan, and it's very disappointing. I was getting sick of constantly seeing boring happy shots of Shuuya - in fact, it's what deterred me from picking up the manga in the first place. However, this kind of cover art is not work that would bring someone completely foreign to Battle Royale into Battle Royale, but it doesn't need to be. Simplistic though this art may be, every little aspect of the front has meaning that is obviously dispersed throughout the book - the cross, symbolizing his "boy scout"-ness, his teardrop-like blood, symbolizing his fight with Kiriyama, his hopeless yet firm look into the light, symbolizing the [self-explanatory], and finally his expression, symbolizing gloom, maybe even repression. That's how I perceived it anyways and while others may not take scrutinize the cover to such a degree, I'm sure many will appreciate this.
Kiriyama easily takes the cake as the coolest (as well as the coldest) character in the manga/novel, despite him being the least developed and the weirdest in the movie. If there's one thing I could have asked more for in the novel it would be more of Kiriyama's backstory. Which we do get, and when you get to the end, there's a cliffhanger that hints at the possibility of there being more...
Kazuo. Kiriyama. He kills, but not out of hatred, odd idealism, sadism, psychosis, stupidity, or the like...but out of a simple and logical willingness to play The Program. No volume released so far makes this clearer, and based on what I've read in the novel, it's not likely to be made more clear in the future; automatically making this and the subsequent book a must-buy for Kiriyama enthusiasts (such as myself).
Giffen's humor also helps a bit. Of course, I'm not entirely positive the guy intended his DBZ, Batman, and Boy Scout remarks&references to be funny, perhaps just a mere "Americanization", but this guy's irreverence towards some of the original lines make me laugh. 'Specially as a longtime DBZ fan.
Here, in this volume, the manga series truly begins the "countdown" segment of Battle Royale. The punks, hoes, conceited morons, and other extraneous (but interesting and fun) characters are gone. They're all gone.
Order this, now. You're a fool if you don't; a fool who deserves his ey-...oops, almost let a spoiler slip =).
Rating: 
Summary: A Game of Death
Review: Originally submitted for a literary competition, Koushun Takami's *Battle Royale* was hotly contested and eventually rejected in the final round, condemned for its caustic blend of violence, satire and pulp-extravagance. If anything, this reaction helped assure its bestseller status in Japan - uproar always sells copy - and the novel's shelf-life was then immeasurably augmented by the ensuing film-adaptation and comic serialization (...I saw issues of it crowding manga-bins in Thailand). Stateside, however, *Battle Royale*, in any form, existed as a media-indefinite, praised throughout the cyberverse by those 'in the know' but unavailable through any mainstream outlet. Thankfully this has changed, with the primary text now translated and sleekly packaged for round-eyes, and the movie slated for a `special edition' Region-One release date.
The story itself is a *Lord of the Flies*-style update, cynically embellished with the hallmarks of tech-dystopia. In essence: forty-two schoolchildren are shipped to a remote location, provided weapons, and ordered to kill or be killed, thrive or die, until the last is standing. In Takami's alternative universe, Japan has devolved into a totalitarian dictatorship; the 'game' of *Battle Royale* keeps the mainland inhabitants in line and also provides an exciting gambling venture for those in power. As for the children involved? The author employs the pivotal theme of William Golding's mid-20th century masterpiece, in that under extreme circumstances, human beings face a psychological choice: to become the beast (or at least to ~mimic~ it), or to rise above. *Battle Royale* thus chronicles the individual decisions of these schoolchildren. Some choose the beast. Others struggle to retain their basic human dignity. Some choose death, others love - and damn the consequences. And the rest do their best to simply survive, as the clock ticks down and the territory of the killing ground diminishes every six hours. For in this game of death, there is only one possible survivor.
The premise of *Battle Royale* is irresistible, with great potential...almost too much potential. In the hands of a lesser author, the story could easily spin out of control, descending into bloodbath extremes and overt melodrama; and in the very least, losing its focus among the multitude of players and total range of situations. Takami's overall control of his concept - establishing the rules early on, and concentrating primarily on a select group of characters, with brief digressions for the minor players - is commendable on a sheer technical level; and the skill in which he develops, and disposes, of these schoolchildren makes it easy to see why *Battle Royale* sparked controversy and gained a strong following upon its release. The concept of children murdering children, and some gleefully and/or efficiently at that, is uncomfortable to those who envision peace and prosperity as the principal goal of the human race: it's not surprising that *Battle Royale*, for some, inspires a knee-jerk reaction of negativity before a page is turned. Yet there is more here than typical grindhouse exploitation. The concept of love under extremities is the primary thematic nucleus of the novel, developed carefully and powerfully; and Takami wisely sets the protagonist view on Shuya, who feels the exact same way as most (sane) people would. "They won't do it... impossible..." he constantly reflects at the beginning, honestly believing it so until graphically proven otherwise; and for the remainder of the contest he strives to survive without playing the game, as much out of spite for the evil propagating it as his own moral code.
There are several aspects that elevate *Battle Royale* above the genre of pulp. The first and foremost, IMO, is the masterful development of the characters. It has been six months since I read this novel, and I still have vivid images of the main players: battle-scarred Shogo with his shotgun; the chillingly psychotic Kazuo Kiriyama; prey-turned-predator Mitsuko (perhaps the saddest character of the lot); the stoic and utterly focused martial-arts master Hiroaki Sugimura. And Tahara Sakamochi, of course. I've rarely seen a more villainous portrait 'come to life' from the printed page. The environments and action, although only adequately described, do take hold the mind's eye, and I can correlate these characters with some very poignant - and brutal - moments, attaining the hallucinatory power of the inner-cinema.
Another aspect is developed more powerfully in the film, being a satire on the repressed, media-drenched, violence-devouring Japanese culture. Although *Battle Royale's* 'game' is inconceivable, at least for the present, let us reflect on the state of modern television: how many murders occur on a primetime night? How many children are watching CSI and/or any number of its clones/competitors at this moment? Rape, exploitation, death - these are primal triggers for easy cash - and it's only going to get more explicit. This book barely hints at competition-as-entertainment satire, but inspires enough internal thought about the matter that, when coupled with the psychological trauma/adaptation that this sort of situation might create, makes *Battle Royale* a worthy read in its own right.
Along with the violence, of course - there is enough triune-stroke here to satiate even the most rabid gore-hound.
The translation suffers from grammar-errors and awkward transitions, and I think they were going a little too much for the 'punchy' effect, but Takami's raw material more than makes up for the occasional blunder...and the ending, in a word: incredible. *Battle Royale* is powerful, compelling material, some of the best pulp on the market.
Four and 1/2 Stars.
Rating:
Summary: The best book ever written!
Review: I have read so many books, but this has to be my favourite. The author almost makes you feel sorry for the deaths of the students, and you almost feel as though you are there. If you were on an island, forced to kill maybe a twin brother or sister (Not that anyone had to) or maybe a girlfriend, your best friend, someone like that, what would you do? You can bet your life someone in the book did it. Whether you'd kill your friends (Kazou), hide out (Megumi), or try to stop the violence (The lighthouse girls) someone did it. There may have been a few problems with translation, but you can't help liking it. Everything is described in detail, and some would feel as if the character is a friend. You can cry, you can laugh, or you can wish you'd never payed the $10.85 + p&h, but you need to read this book!
Rating: 
Summary: That's right. This book sucks.
Review: I had heard of the movie Battle Royale a long time ago, but never had the opportunity to watch it. On a recent trip to a large Japanese book shop I noticed this novel and decided to give it a go.
Ultimately, this was a very disappointing book.
The premise is interesting, but hard to swallow. In an alternative reality where (presumably) the outcome of WWII was different, Japan is a facist dictatorship known as the Greater East Asia Democratic Nation (or similar). The 'Program' is a government initiative where a junior high class is selected at random to participate in a kill or be killed Battle Royale. It is later explained that the Program was created to instill paranoia in the population. After all, if a class of school kids can turn on their best friends in such a violent way at the behest of the government, then how can anyone be trusted?
This premise may have sustained a good read in the hands of a more capable author. Unfortunately Takami creates an unwieldly mess.
Takami's first mistake is having such a large cast of characters. The class size is initially 42 or so and Takami attempts to write a backstory for each student. The end result is that you do not connect with any of the students.
Takami then goes on to create such unbelievable characters that any attempt to suspend disbelief is impossible. These kids are meant to be 15 or 16 years old yet they have the capability to build bombs using amonium nitrate and sophisticated detonators. They can program mobile phones, hack into government websites, hotwire cars and much more. These are pretty smart kids.
Finally the villian (nemesis, or whatever) is a 15 year old t-1000 Terminator, more or less. As a child, Kazuo Kiriyama was involved in a car accident which killed both parents. He sustained injuries including a splinter lodged in his brain. The doctor removing the splinter also removed a cluster of nerves which left him totally devoid of any emotion. Kazuo decides to participate in the game and quickly goes about killing most of his classmates. The thing is, this kid is just about indestructable. He survives torrents of gunfire without sustaining any injuries, can withstand a bomb explosion which doesn't even mess his hair, can dodge bullets like Neo (he can even dodge bullets while driving). The result is simply a disconnection between reader and book.
Also, the writing is poor. I am not sure whether this is due to the author or the translator, but too often sentences begin with 'That's right...' which becomes annoying. And conversation limited to "?" or "..." which is just being lazy.
In all, this book has more style than substance.
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't let you put it down...
Review: When I bought this book, I was expecting it to be thrilling, suspenseful, and very, very bloody. Well I was right, but it was also so much more.
The book let you get into the minds of the characters...you felt what they felt. You felt sorry for some of the ones that were killed. The drama added with the violence was an even blend that didnt get messy. As I was reading, I didnt want to put it down. The chapters get so interesting you must know what happens next. You will be guessing the ending throughout the entire book, and I recommend this book to anybody. It is probably my favorite book.
Rating:
Summary: Simply wonderful
Review: I'm an avid reader and a shopaholic(of books) at Amazon(and I'm from the Philippines even) but I've never written a single review for a book no matter how I deemed it wonderful.
Battle Royale is different though; it compelled me to start typing here. This books is simply wonderful and I want my testimony to add to the ever growing list.
Granted, the text was a bit poor; whether or not the Japanese version was originally like that or was corrupted by translation, I don't know. The emotions, reactions and details weren't that specific and seemed rush. There were times that the descriptions would simply bore and I would skip all these.
What's then is so great about Battle Royale? Frankly, I don't know. I just feel lightheaded and satisfied whenever I'm reading it.(I even threw aside the growing pile of homeworks just to be able to finish it.)
One is probably the characters. The class is brimming with different personalities, from a perfect robot, to a porn-star to a queer. There are characters you would feel attached with that reading them die would feel so sad.
Another is the logic in the novel. I probably wasn't that critical, but I deemed there were barely any flaws in the entire system. Ideas came in and went, almost none being far-fetched. The connection from one event and location to another would simply bring you to say "Ah!"
The third one is human relations present in this film. Especially the last chapter, but I'll not get into detail :)
The last one is that there are instanced when I expected something which I thought was "sneaky" and expected very few to notice it. This event happens, and then another thing turns out!
There are probably more reasons, but I couldn't articulate them quite well. One thing though: the story isn't that deep.
But then, I don't really care ^^. So to you reading this review, but this book immediately. It'll truly be worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Good story, but worst translation ever seen...
Review: I knew that Tokyopop's translators have been mistranslating their mangas for years, but this one, Battle Royale vol. 8 is the worst one I have ever read!!
Before I bought this volume, I had bought Tokyopop's other mangas like Vampire Game, Petshop of Horrors... Each of them has same problem. OK, I can understand that a lot of Americans might not find the jokes in the mangas funny because of the cultural differences, so they had to change characters' conversations in order to satisfy the readers. But if Tokyopop does samething too often, I will say Tokyopop are disrespecting original authors' rights. In this volume, the translator changed almost 95% of all the conversations, even the most slightest detail. Although the "new" content is not "that" different from the original one, but these modifications already spoil the whole story. For example, in the last page, after Souma Mitsuko raped(?) and killed Yuichiro, what she said to Yuichiro's corpse in the original version was, "If I am pregnant, I will give birth to your child." In Tokyopop's version, the translator changed it to, "Thanks, guys. It was fun while it lasted. Sorta...Hmm...I wonder how many people saw me naked?" All right. "If I am pregnant, I will give birth to your child." Is this sentence that hard to understand? Do readers have to know Japanese culture well in order to understand it!? The translator totally changed Mitsuko's personality by modifying her mumble. I can't see why the translator had to do this! I suggest those who like this story and haven't read volume 8, take Japanese version or French version if you can read in Japanese or French. This volume will piss off anyone who has read other versions before.
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