Battle Royale

By: Koushun Takami, Yuji Oniki - translator

Narrated by: Mark Dacascos

Length: 19 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Battle Royale, a high-octane thriller about senseless youth violence in a dystopian world, it is one of Japan's best-selling - and most controversial - novels. As part of a ruthless program by the totalitarian government, ninth-grade students are taken to a small isolated island with a map, food, and various weapons. Forced to wear special collars that explode when they break a rule, they must fight each other for three days until only one "winner" remains. The elimination contest becomes the ultimate in must-see reality television.

A Japanese pulp classic available in English-language audio for the first time, Battle Royale is a potent allegory of what it means to be young and survive in today's dog-eat-dog world. The first novel by small-town journalist Koushun Takami, it went on to become an even more notorious film by 70-year-old director Kinji Fukusaku.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©1999 Koushun Takami; Translation copyright 2009, Yuji Oniki (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Great story, many flaws.

Battle royale is an absolutely amazing story. The original novel plays out quite differently from the film adaptation as expected, and even the character descriptions are rather different than how they were interpreted. Unfortunately, the translation seems to be a little awkward as it’s quite literal sometimes. What’s worse, Mark Dacascos is a horrible narrator for this book. Very unfeeling. If anything, I would suggest that they do a different translation and get a different narrator if they decide to put this book out again.

would have been better with a different narrator

This is one of my all time favorite books. It's thrilling, terrifying and emotional. The narrator is monotonous and emotionless throughout the entire book. Thank goodness I have a physical copy.

Long but worth it.

It helps that the author wrote in how many kids were left as the plot goes on. The narrator is slow and methodical but the story really pulls through. Over all, the benchmarks of character throughout the piece are really stand outs. The author really plays up personalities well.

worst ending ever

This book was amazing and had several twists and turns to it but, just hate the way that it ended. a could have ended a lot better or is there a second book?

Came for the horror stayed for the emotion

This story was so entertaining and I definitely plan on reading this again. It's amazing how the characters made me feel sorry for them and how some characters made me want to jump into the book and kill them myself

Poor narration, don’t get this version.

I was already familiar with the story having read the manga version and seeing the film. I wanted to see what the original story was like.
The story went as I expected with some areas having more detail than the other two versions and lacking in some areas that the manga version expanded upon.
I certainly recommend reading this book.
As far as this audio book is concerned, the performance was just awful. I’ve heard better performances from the morning weather man. The narrator was bland, dull, couldn’t pronounce the names right in any fashion, and the way he “screamed” was something that The Room would even have rejected.
Don’t get this version of the book.

If you liked the film, please listen to this

It's so much better than the film. It IS just as Gorey, but it is heartfelt and thoughtful too. 100 times better than the hunger games. Every student gets a moment for you to connect with them and mourn for them, even the ones you want to hate. The political commentary isn't lost on dystopia either... it feels very real. One of my favorite audible listens, I was riveted the whole time!

Violent Imagery masterfully written

Well read. Well written. Lots of twists and turns. I'm so glad it's a fictional story.

What hunger games wished it was

This book is fantastic from start to finish. It gets you deeply involved in 42 plus characters even if the main focus is only only on 3. If you liked the hunger games give this book a try and find out how you make a good story of children murdering each other and political intrigue.

the movie was amazing

but the book killed the movie. if a fan of the movies or first time reader you will know quickly why Battle Royal has such a cult following