Bullet Train (novel)
| Author | Kōtarō Isaka |
|---|---|
| Original title | マリアビートル (Maria Beetle) |
| Translator | Sam Malissa |
| Language | Japanese |
| Series | Hitman |
Release number | 2 |
| Genre | |
| Publisher | Kadokawa Shoten |
Publication date | September 2010 |
| Publication place | Japan |
Published in English | April 2021 |
| Pages | 465 |
| Awards | University Readers' Award |
| ISBN | 9784048741057 |
| Preceded by | Three Assassins |
MARIABEETLE (Japanese: マリアビートル, Hepburn: Mariabītoru) is a 2010 Japanese dark comedic thriller novel written by author Kōtarō Isaka and translated to English by Sam Malissa in 2021 as Bullet Train. The novel follows several hitmen aboard a Shinkansen bullet train, each on a different mission, interconnected in some way. It takes place after Isaka's novel Three Assassins (original Japanese title: Grasshopper).[1]
The novel was well reviewed, and it was adapted to the Japanese stage as well as an American film.
Plot
At Tokyo Station, Yuichi Kimura, a former hitman, boards the "Hayate" train on the Tōhoku Shinkansen bound for Morioka in order to take revenge against the teenage Satoshi Oji, who is referred to as "the Prince" by his friends. Kimura's six-year-old son, Wataru, is in a coma after the Prince pushed him off the roof of an apartment building for fun. However, the Prince knows exactly who Kimura is and actually lured him onto the train. When Kimura approaches, the Prince knocks him out with an improvised taser and ties him up. The confident Prince is a sociopath who likes to manipulate people, and when Kimura awakes, the Prince takes control of him, threatening Wataru's life; an acquaintance is watching over him in the hospital and will kill him if the Prince is harmed and unable to answer his phone.
Tangerine and Lemon, a skillful hitmen duo, just rescued the kidnapped son of mob boss Yoshio Minegishi, and they are returning the boy and suitcase of ransom money to Minegishi in Morioka. In addition, Minegishi's son was also killed when the two took their eyes off. At each station on the way, Minegishi's subordinates are also assigned to confirm the mission, and as it is, they will be purged by Minegishi, so the two are in a hurry.
Nanao, a murderer with no luck, gets a job from Tokyo Station to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station and get off at Ueno Station as an "easy job" from Maria, a middleman and work partner. When he tries to get off in Ueno, he happens to meet a murderer, a wolf, who has a connection with him. The wolf gets in the way and can't get off in Ueno, and he rubs against him in the car and kills him. He hides the wolf's corpse and tries to get off at the next Omiya, but bad luck comes again and he fails to get off.
Each of the three sets of hitmen escapes from their own crisis, and the prince takes action on the immobile Shinkansen to play with the adults.
Reception
Bullet Train received "Rave" reviews according to the book review aggregator Book Marks based on seven independent reviews.[2] It received a starred review from Publishers Weekly[3] as well as Booklist, where Christine Tran described it as "a twisty, darkly hilarious game of musical chairs that draws out the train's hidden army of assassins and a strong dose of Machiavellian justice."[4] Reviewers praised the fast pacing and the darkly comedic elements of the story.[5][6][7]
Accolades
| Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| University Readers' Award | Won | [8] |
| Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger | Shortlisted | [9] |
Adaptations
Stage
Maria Beetle was adapted as a stage play in Japan in February 2018.[10][11]
Film
The novel also inspired the Hollywood film adaptation, Bullet Train, directed by David Leitch and starring Brad Pitt. The film is set to release in 2022.[12]
References
- ^ van der Westhuizen, Sonja (March 29, 2021). "Interview: Kotaro Isaka | Crime Fiction Lover". Crime Fiction Lover. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ "Book Marks reviews of Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka, trans. by Sam Malissa". Book Marks. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
- ^ "Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka". Publishers Weekly. June 9, 2021. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ Tran, Christine (August 2021). "Bullet Train, by By Kotaro Isaka. | Booklist Online". Booklist. Vol. 117, no. 22. American Library Association. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022.
- ^ Hardyment, Christina (May 29, 2021). "Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka audiobook review — as fast-paced as the train itself". The Times. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ Powers, John (August 10, 2021). "5 Hit Men Board A 'Bullet Train' In This Fast And Fun Japanese Thriller". NPR. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ Siegel, Daniel J. (March 2022). "BULLET TRAIN by Kotaro Isaka Sam Malissa Trans Read by Pun Bandhu | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine.
- ^ "若者の活字離れなんてウソ？ 大学生主催の読書イベントが熱い！〈BOOKSTAND〉" [Is it a lie for young people to be aliterate? The reading event sponsored by college students is hot!]. AERA dot. (アエラドット) (in Japanese). The Asahi Shimbun Company. May 23, 2014. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ "Bullet Train". The Crime Writers' Association. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ "「最後はお客さんに嫌われて終わりたい」 舞台「マリアビートル」公開リハーサル | 映像化" ["I want to end with being hated by customers at the end" Stage Maria Beetle public rehearsal]. Book Bang －ブックバン－ (in Japanese). February 14, 2018. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ "平野良、谷口賢志らが繰り広げる"動く"密室劇！伊坂幸太郎の小説を舞台化した『マリアビートル』レポート│エンタステージ" [A "moving" closed-door play by Ryo Hirano and Masashi Taniguchi! Maria Beetle report set in Kotaro Isaka's novel]. enterstage.jp (in Japanese). February 14, 2018. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 12, 2022). "Bullet Train Moves A Week Later This Summer". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.