Reviewed by Ian Lipke
The first part of this book is a story of hunger for power, of ambition in the raw, of naked corporate greed. The book is based on the elite technology industry in Japan and tells the story of six high achievers who have beaten all opposition to compete for a highly moneyed position with one of the country’s leading businesses. The Final Six creates for itself a unique place in the corporate thriller genre by “blending multiple themes with a dark, locked-room structure and a focus on thought and mind over shock and fear”.
Shogo Hatano is a candidate for the award, the winner of which will be decided by company observers of the candidates interacting with each other. Hatano is convinced that one of the six will defeat all other opposition. Her confidence is shattered when, on the eve of the final debate, the candidates are informed that they must choose one of their number to achieve the goal. This is an unethical ploy which ignores accepted practice.
The atmosphere is highly charged yet each candidate obeys the conduct mores of a well brought up person until that is, they find envelopes containing devastating secrets about each other. Hereto innocent minds become suspicious and turn on each other. This change in personality is fascinating to observe. Even the lovers, whose affection for each other never got above lukewarm, fall victim to the envelope disaster. One noteworthy feature is shown in the quality of the violence. While physicality threatens to erupt it never reaches that level.
More astute readers may note that parts of the book have a translation rhythm. This is likely to be recognised in the dialogue and its pacing. Regarding the latter, an additional feature which most readers fail to recognise is the building of the storyline while the pace increases. Intrigue and skulduggery are to be discovered at various levels of refinement.
Part Two is more traditional than Part One. It is also boring. It begins with the name, Kimihiko Morikubo. The reason for the name is anybody’s guess. One could assume that this is the ‘I’ of the initial part of Part Two – and work on. However, the name ‘Shima’ continues to appear. So, who is she? There follows the rather silly discussion with Maki Suzue, that leads to good things on the employment front for this lady. Part Two contains some of the most confusing writing anywhere in the book.
The final part of the book has been described as ‘essentially exciting’. I find this positive description very difficult to support. Part One is an exercise in powerful, creative writing. I see the second part as very different – in fact, underwhelming.
The Final Six
(2026)
by Akinari Asakura
Sphere
ISBN:978-1-4087-2508-5
$34.99; 286pp