The Unseen Scars of War: A Dissection of Dehumanization in 86—EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 1

The concept of a “bloodless war” is, we are often told, the ultimate triumph of technology, a sterile, sanitized conflict fought by machines, for machines, with human lives preserved. But what if this notion is merely a convenient fiction, a collective delusion perpetuated to preserve a fragile societal peace? This is the unsettling question that Asato Asato‘s 86—EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 1, with illustrations by Shirabii and expertly translated by Matthew Rutsohn, thrusts upon its audience. It is a work that peels back the veneer of technological advancement to reveal the raw, bleeding core of human prejudice and the profound cost of selective blindness.

The Hypocrisy of a ‘Casualty-Free’ Conflict

The Republic of San Magnolia, a nation cloaked in the patriotic colors of red, white, and blue, boasts of its war against the Giadian Empire’s unmanned Legion drones. Their own autonomous Juggernauts, they claim, have rendered combat casualty-free. Yet, the brutal, visceral truth lies beyond the eighty-five fortified sectors: in the “nonexistent” Eighty-Sixth Sector, where young men and women, stripped of their names and humanity—dubbed the Eighty-Six—are forced to pilot these “unmanned” machines into a hellish, suicidal struggle. This immediate revelation of systemic hypocrisy is a searing indictment of how easily a society can rationalize its atrocities when the victims are conveniently categorized as “non-human.” Asato Asato crafts a chillingly plausible scenario, forcing us to confront the uncomfortable echoes of historical prejudices that persist under new guises. The narrative’s strength lies in its unflinching portrayal of this engineered oblivion, where an entire population is not just oppressed, but actively erased from the collective consciousness.

Bridging the Abyss: Empathy Through Shared Turmoil

At the heart of this poignant narrative is the unlikely connection forged between Major Vladilena “Lena” Milizé, an idealistic handler from the “pureblood” Republic, and Shin, the stoic and battle-hardened commander of an Eighty-Six unit. Their interactions, primarily through a long-distance communication system, form the emotional and philosophical fulcrum of the story. Lena, initially a symbol of the Republic’s misguided benevolence, is slowly but irrevocably confronted with the horrific realities her society denies. Through Shin’s terse, often brutal dispatches from the front lines, she experiences the visceral impact of their “unmanned” war. We witness Lena’s gradual awakening, a painful transition from abstract empathy to a profound, personal understanding of the Eighty-Six’s plight. The audiobook, masterfully narrated by Suzie Yeung and Alejandro Saab, particularly elevates these exchanges, with their nuanced delivery lending gravitas to every whispered doubt and defiant declaration. The narrators imbue their characters with an emotional depth that makes the chasm between their worlds feel both vast and intimately traversable.

The Unromantic Reality of the Battlefield

86—EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 1 does not romanticize war. It presents the battlefield not as a stage for heroism, but as a crucible of suffering, where the young are forged and broken. The pacing is deliberate, oscillating between the sterile, bureaucratic halls of San Magnolia and the dust-choked, blood-soaked realities faced by the Eighty-Six. The narrative refuses to shy away from the psychological toll of constant combat, the quiet despair, and the grim determination that characterize Shin and his squad. It is a testament to Asato Asato‘s skill that we become deeply invested in these characters, their backstories hinted at with a subtle hand, their present struggles painfully immediate. This is Science Fiction that delves into the very core of human endurance, questioning what remains of one’s identity when stripped of everything else. The intellectual rigour applied to the moral quandaries is commendable, preventing the story from devolving into a mere action spectacle.

A Profound Reflection on Humanity’s Perils

Ultimately, 86—EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 1 is far more than a genre piece; it is a powerful polemic against the dangers of systemic prejudice, the seduction of manufactured truths, and the profound cost of turning a blind eye to injustice. We emerge from this first volume with a deep sense of unease, haunted by the realization that the mechanisms of dehumanization depicted within are not so far removed from our own history, or indeed, our present.

This initial installment is a compelling read for those who seek Science Fiction that challenges, provokes, and explores the darker facets of human nature and societal constructs. It is particularly recommended for readers who appreciate narratives rich in character development, ethical dilemmas, and an unflinching gaze at the brutal realities of war. Those drawn to works that dissect propaganda and the insidious nature of discrimination will find much to ponder here. We leave its pages not merely entertained, but profoundly encouraged to reflect on the unseen, unheard cries that echo in the margins of our own comfortable existences.