Kousun Takami's notorious high-octane thriller is based on a irresistible premise: a class of junior high school students is taken to a deserted island where, as part of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are provided arms and forced to kill one another until only one survivor is left standing. Criticized as violent exploitation when first published in Japan -- where it then proceeded to become a runaway bestseller -- Battle Royale is a Lord of the Flies for the 21st century, a potent allegory of what it means to be young and (barely) alive in a dog-eat-dog world.

# posted by Gerry Canavan @ 7:16 PM  |