86--EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 1 (light novel) (86--EIGHTY-SIX (light novel)) Kindle Edition

As I’m sure many others did, I was completed to read this series after watching the anime based on it. I would suggest to you to watch the anime first as the beautiful animation art, and mind blowing soundtrack add to the already emotional scenes. I’m not one to get to into the sadder, more depressive shows or books. I’m honestly not much of a reader at all. But the show was just so amazing, now holding a place at my #1 work of fiction of all time, that I just had to explore more of the world of 86. I listened along to the audiobook as I read this, sometime reading in my own, and sometimes just listening to the audiobook. I have never been driven to cry from a book/audiobook before. But the impact the show left on me clearly worked its way into my heart and still lingers there even when reading a story that I already know very well. There are differences but the anime adaptation is very true. That being said, I really prefer to novel itself. I’m excited to continue this story and plan to see it through to the end. It will be the first time in my life I’ve ever finished a book let alone an entire series of them. That’s just how amazing this story is.

And that’s not a bad thing or at least I don’t know if it is yet. It was refreshing to read a story that felt entirely standalone. There was a beginning, middle, and end. The End is a perfect ending. If there was never another entry in the series, I’d be satisfied because that’s how good it was. Race, war, mechs, politics and v some light romance. In a medium where everything is isekai or bordering that in order to officially get translated, this was an amazing change of pace.The mech designs are fantastic too.My only complaint with the story is it really could have used a glossary. The author tosses so many races and terms and nations at you that it is difficult to keep track of. And early on, because of this terminology, I somehow missed that they’re fighting against an “Evil Empire” that is already dead and I don’t recall finding how they know that or where it was mentioned. Just suddenly I picked up on they’re fighting AI that was still following their final orders.I’ll fully admit that by the end, I still don’t get the racial politics or the Five Hued Flag or the importance of any of that. I just know that Alba have silver hair, they invited other cultures in, eventually reduced said cultures to less than people. It’s a weird disconnect the author failed to properly get across.

While I haven't read book 2 I have seen the series and I don't feel one is better than the other which often happens. The anime goes in depth after the final battle of what the journey through legion territory and more in depth of the distant romance between shin and lena. The book has many more details but fails to convey the emotions of each individual.But to anime fans like me I think it's worth the read

The author does a very good job of building the world around the character. It is so thoroughly explained and builds the image very well.

The way the public reacts to the reality of the situation, how the authoura describes the treatment of the Colorata is gut wrenching and for me draws parelles to how Hitler's regime treated the Jews in WWII. The way the public reacts to the news pf the war reminds me of my fellow Americans and how they see the wars we've been involved ith for the past 19 years.How they ignore whats infront of them, how evrything is geared towards the war effort to the detriment of the soldiers and their families. However, it shows the otherside of that coin. The few whistle blowers who step forward and those who work silenty preserve the atrocities so that others would know the truth wheb the time comes.This book is well written and makes you really feel for the characters. There is a bit of flare that would be at home in shounen anime, not tht its a bad thing at all!

I was heavily invested in the story from the moment Asato mentioned real life events such as executive order 9066 (in the book it's called 6609). It was eye opening and it was a sudden jab at America. I'm American so I was intrigued to see another interpretation of Japanese internment camps. I know the author didn't have any intention on judging or hating America or any other nation and that's not what I'm getting at either. I think using history as a medium is powerful. What better event is there to base your story on than events that took place in real life? Anyway, the story takes a radical turn and the citizens of the Republic that aren't Alba (the pure race) are put into concentration camps where men, women, and children are forced into the military to die for their country.The best thing about this novel is that it doesn't glorify war. War is wicked. There isn't a single nation in our history that is pure and it's in war we see the most Atrocies acts of violence and racism.In the author's note Asato Asato makes it perfectly clear that he holds no ill will to any country and doesn't want to make it seem like he is judging a nation for their past deeds. On a side note...I think I need to look into garter belts...