Comments on: Battle Royale in the schools!

By: nickmamatas

nickmamatas — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:19:38 +0000

The translated text has been substantially revised for this new edition.

By: Samuel Erikson

Samuel Erikson — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:09:22 +0000

While I think it is an important work, the original translation was absolutely terrible. I hope Viz has hired a new translator.

By: Eric Searleman

Eric Searleman — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:38:49 +0000

When I was in high school, we had to read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It was a welcome relief from The Red Badge of Courage and The Grapes of Wrath. And I agree… reading lists should be updated more frequently.

By: Seth

Seth — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:57:59 +0000

It would be nice if more of the novels stamped down on malleable minds were underrated within this culture, rather than so ridiculously overrated they’ve become lost in their own packaging, like an enormous gag giftbox with a tiny dimestore ring inside.

In addition to Lord of the Flies, Battle Royale also sounds like it contrasts with the rapidly calcifying Ender’s Game, which will eventually sneak its way into the dogeared ranks, I think. Its body count ranges all the way from fatal public shower beatings to xenocide, of course, and while it is as slavishly devoted to hierarchical oppression as all of Card’s stuff, we do get a little taste of exploration of the questions Battle Royale seems to tap more deeply in a broader field.

By: Jerel

Jerel — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:59:29 +0000

Hey, I’m an English teacher! And I think that…you’re absolutely right. Frankly, I’ve been waging a fight to remove Catcher from our school’s curriculum, because I think it’s dull. “Holden is the voice of a generation”? If I were a baby boomer, I wouldn’t want a whiny wanker like Holden speaking for me. And if I wanted teen angst, I’d go read the 5th Harry Potter book, where at least things happen.

Anyway, this sounds like a great book. I’d much rather put this next to Lord of the Flies and talk about the conflicting opinions about humanity’s chance for redemption. Don’t know if this would ever get past my principal, since “we teach the classics!” at our school, and while this may be a classic in its genre and/or in Japan, I’m sure that wouldn’t be good enough for her. Alas…