86–SIXY, Vol. 1 (light novel) by Asato Asato

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is is too good to be true. The Republic of San Magnolia has been embroiled in a nine-year war with the Mechanical Legion – drones that fought for the destroyed Giadan Empire. To counter this threat, the Alba, the majority race in San Magnolia, created their own drones: the Juggernauts. They did this after banishing the Colorata, races that were non-Alba (that is, they did not have the silver hair or eyes of the Alba race), to the 86^e Sector as traitors to the Republic. But don’t worry, everything is fine….

Only one young woman, promoted to major despite her young age, knows that the propaganda is a lie. The Juggernauts are not drones. They are spider-like mechs designed to be piloted by the 86’s Colorata^e Sector known only as “processors” or, more colloquially, the 86.

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Major Vladilena “Lena” Milize is a Handler, a member of the Republic military who commands the Juggernauts in the battle against the Legion. Her position is just one reason why she knows the mechs are piloted by teenagers her own age or younger. These pilots are known by numbers or, more rarely, by earned names. If an Eighty-Six is a “Name Bearer,” that is, someone with a nickname, it means he or she has lived and fought well enough to survive where most other Eighty-Six fall.

Lena is reassigned to the Spearhead Squadron, an elite unit of Name Bearers, and makes contact with their leader, who goes by the ‘Personal Name’ Undertaker. Also known as the Reaper among the other 86, his real name is Shinei “Shin” Nouzen, and he is the captain of the squadron. Shin and the rest of the squad tolerate Lena’s nightly calls to talk to them, but they know something she doesn’t: no Eighty-Six ever survives the battlefield. They either die in 86^e Sector or fighting the Legion. Her words and kindness make her feel better, but ultimately mean nothing.

This issue comes to a head when Lena finds out has have bought into some of the propaganda – especially the part that says the 86 can earn back their citizenship by fighting in the war. In fact, they can’t, which means all her sweet promises of victory and attempts at kindness are nothing but patronizing, empty words.

Ashamed of her previous behavior, Lena begins trying to be a better person as a result of this revelation, surprising all of Spearhead. But no one is more surprised than Shin, who turns out to have a very personal bond with Lena. When she was much younger, Lena’s father took her to see the battlefield. He was killed, but she survived thanks to the help of a young man named Shourei “Rei” Nouzen: Shin’s older brother, who died some time later.

But that doesn’t mean he’s at peace. The Legion is more than drones and many ghosts haunt the battlefield. One in particular prevails on the Eastern Front…

…and he and Shin have a date with fate.

All characters are well drawn; the book could easily be used to teach character writing in schools, as the skill Asato uses in presenting her protagonists and antagonists is superb. Lena stars as a naive, kind young woman who must learn to place her money the hard way. Meanwhile, Shin’s brief coldness hides a little boy’s heart, frozen in pain, resulting in his mind being on the brink of madness. The rest of Spearhead Squadron emerge as highly individualized characters, but many do not survive this carnage masquerading as war.

Other Alba who lack Lena’s drive are also given vivid characterizations, though much of it is far less flattering than the heroine’s for obvious reasons. Her determinedly desperate ‘uncle’, a friend of her father, makes a particularly poignant impression as he tries to lure her into his hopeless position. It makes him all the more memorable, albeit not in a positive way.

The world is bleak, as the setting is a corrupt republic that sends millions of people to their deaths just based on the color of their skin. Alba citizens can pretend that the war is far away as long as the 86 are fighting and dying, but the truth is that their nation is already dead. The bright front they put on hides the head of a dead man and few are willing to admit that within the safe zones. Things get even bleaker when the Legion’s deadly secret is revealed, making this one of the scarier dystopias written in recent history.

But despite all that, there is hope. Perhaps a faint hope, but it is there. The book’s finale hints at the hope that isn’t explored until later in the series.

There are no politics present that don’t relate to the story.

Decapitation, death, mutilation, brain scans of the dead or dying, sexual exploitation, slavery, organ harvesting and human experimentation are just some of the gruesome things discussed in this book. There are also moments like peeking in on the girls while they’re bathing or contacting a man while he’s in the shower, although these are much lighter than the rest of the novel and help break up the otherwise somber tone. It’s not for small children, and you may need to talk to your teen before, after, or while they read the light novel.

Anyone who enjoys dystopias and wants a realistic story to chew on will want this book, while those looking at the next generation of human warfare will also find value in it. Romance lovers who enjoyed The Hunger Games I’ll find that this light novel will scratch the same itch, albeit in a very different way than Collins’ trilogy. Those who like anime or who like the 86 – Eighty-six anime will want to give it a try too. History buffs will find this book to be a hit, and if you want a novel to spark conversations about true history with your teenage or college kid, 86 – Eighty-six should do the trick. Horror readers will definitely want to get their hands on this book, because there’s plenty of horror in it!

It’s a good story with a happy ending after all the trauma and horror. The love story at the center keeps things from getting too dark and the series is thought-provoking and entertaining. Why don’t you buy it and give it a read?

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