The Crimson Labyrinth

Yusuke Kishi, The Crimson Labyrinth (Vertical, 1999) What do you get when you cross "The Most Dangerous Game" and Battle Royale? You get The Crimson Labyrinth, Yusuke Kishi's first novel translated into English. While it's a bit over the top at times, it's well-written and readable. The plot: a man with amnesia wakes up in a gully. Next to him is food, water, and a handheld game machine. Confused, he starts wandering until he meets up with another person, who is similarly suffering from amnesia and carrying the same provisions. Eventually, the two of them find others, and when all are gathered, they discover they're all trapped in some sort of reality TV-style game from which only some-- or one-- can emerge. They break into teams and, given hints by their game machines, begin playing cat-and-mouse with the other teams. It's genre writing in the sense that if you like this sort of thing, you're going to like this novel, but I think-- like both "The Most Dangerous Game" and Battle Royale (the book, not the aggressively mediocre film produced from it)-- The Crimson Labyrinth transcends simple genre writing in that Kishi writes strong, believable characters who have three dimensions, and does so without ever letting up on the action. He gives us an excellent, if a tad unbelievable, setting (though for all I know it really does exist) and then tosses these believable characters into it and lets them run wild. Good stuff, this. ****

I too have read Battle Royale, and several other Japanese books that were translated into English - Parasite Eve, Ring, and Dark Waters. Of all of these, I feel that The Crimson Labyrinth was the best. It kept my attention completely, I read it quickly over a few hours and could not put it down. I did enjoy Battle Royale a lot too. Another reviewer wrote that it seemed like a rip-off of BR, but I don't agree at all. Of course the themes are very similar, but I think the writing is actually much better in Labyrinth and the mystery throughout the book of what's behind the game is what really gives this the punch. The motivation for the game to me was far more realitic than that of the one in BR. Anyway, this is a fun, creepy, quick read. I will definitely read anything else translated into English by this author.

i absoulutly loved this book my bf bought this for me and i read it i a day it was really easy to read i had fun reading it and i will buy yusuke kishi's next book if they translate more of his work.i felt like i learned something everything about this book is exciting who doesn't love watching/reading about fighting for survial.its so sad.