After Light Novels like Detective Ai and his mysteries or the discovery of a new world with Ascendance of a Bookworm, we present you today a corrupt society, in the middle of war. Morals, ethics and principles will not necessarily be at the rendezvous in the Republic of San Magnolia… This work is written by Asato Asato, drawn by Shirabii. Released in France since December 2021 published by Maho Editions. It was entitled to an anime adaptation from April 10, 2021 to March 19, 2022 for 23 episodes. 86 (Eighty-Six) was originally intended to be a simple one-shot for a Light Novels competition. However, it found itself at the top of the podium, allowing it to become a series.
A Light Novel during the apocalypse
A world at war where you fight for your homeland and ensure your survival with weapons controlled by artificial intelligence. That was without counting this little quote: "no one dies, at least officially." We learn that among the 85 districts composing the Republic of San Magnolia, an 86th exists. Without rights, these humans treated as mere animals are forced to fight for a republic that does not even consider them. These brave warriors are harnessed to "Juggernauts", mechanical spiders, supposed to be unmanned. We will follow the epic of the Spearhead Squadron, with Lena, a young commander with long silver hair, desperate to put an end to this bloody war. 
A seemingly perfect republic
As soon as the book opens, we come across a quote from Léna, immediately giving the theme of the work. What to expect the worst ignominy when reading. The composition of the chapters gives the impression of "reading a movie" rather than having a book in your hands. There is a strong staging to be able to immerse yourself in the universe. The work deals with very strong subjects, especially on racism, with the Albas and the Coloratas, of the human "races". We deal with a very sensitive subject in a fictional context, allowing to show the realities and horrors of war as well as the corruption of the human being at its height. The Albas go so far as to demonize their neighbor for their own comfort. Forget morality to be the "winner" of history, convince themselves of being right so as not to have to be confronted with the bitter reality, which would make them lose their minds. Why not let them die for us? After all, we are superior, right? It is the idea that the Albas will build themselves over the years, even torturing for their own pleasure. Here we see the baseness of the human being closing his eyes and plugging his ears to be able to fulfill his most vicious desires. The quinticolor flag of San Magnolia claims the values "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, Justice, Nobility", we see the deconstruction of all these values through the chapters, showing once again a desire to perpetuate ideas already lost for a long time. "The flaw of modern democracy is that it is not able to make a decision before the situation is critical," said Shin, captain of the Spearhead Squadron. He has a front-row seat to the Grim Reaper, he sees the world beyond what the high-ranking people could claim to know. He shows with this, how there is no will to improve things as long as it does not directly affect those concerned. One feels an old sadness turning into indifference through helplessness. What could he do when reason is trampled on to give way to illusions? San Magnolia: An ivory fortress staining itself with the blood of the damned, aboard their travelling coffins.
Reality vs. Ideals, Fate vs. Hope
Turning the pages of the book is the equivalent of diving into the deeper and deeper abyss without ever seeing the end of it. We learn manipulation, despis, disgust, infamy. On each page, we wonder if one of the characters we like will not be killed. This is a real strength of the work, we care about what might happen to them, we do not want them to die, they do not deserve it. This emotional attachment keeps us in suspense, to go until the final denouement to hope to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The discussions between Lena and the Spearhead Squadron are also fascinating, the light novel is extremely good at showing the naivety we have when we are not directly confronted with the problem. Ideals are all well and good, but they remain what they are, ideals. Our heart knots at certain times, we do not wish it to happen but it would be infantile to think that it would never happen. If Shin represents destiny, Lena represents hope. One has accepted what is happening to him, while the other wants all that to change. During their discussions, we feel this tension between two people who are in two opposite worlds. Lena tries to convince them, to tell herself that it is possible to turn the situation around. As a reader, we will tend to share Lena's vision. The complexity of their relationship, however, does not prevent them from having moments where they chat as they should, like teenagers of their age in a peaceful world. 
Shin and Lena even goes so far as to breathe new life into Shin, pulling him out of his apathy, showing the human fragments that remain inside him. But with such dark power, death often whispers in his ear. That's the problem, can we really understand the torture he suffers on a daily basis? They are the Eighty-Six, this is their history and their destiny. This Light Novel brilliantly tells the story of a corrupt society in a context of war with endearing and morally ambiguous characters. The action is not lacking and we are always trying to know what the future of the Eighty-Six will be. Available for purchase: Volume 1 Volume 2
