All You Need Is Kill

Title: All You Need Is Kill

Author: Hiroshi Sakurazaka

ISBN: 978-1421527611

Publisher: Haikasoru

Copyright: 2009

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Range: 16+

Reader’s Annotation: Keiji Kiriya is a new recruit in the United Defense Force that dies on his first mission, but he mysteriously wakes up to repeat the battle over and over in a time loop.

Plot Summary: The earth is invaded by a species called “mimics” that eat the soil and regurgitate poison. No military has been able to defeat them or the biological spikes they hurl at soldiers. On Keiji Kiriya’s first sortie with the United Defense Force, he is killed in action. He wakes up to the day before the battle. Through a series these repeat days, Keiji figures out that he is stuck in a time loop. Taking advantage of the time and experience in battle, Keiji becomes a fierce pilot of his exosuit called a jacket. During one of the repeat battles, he catches the eye of a female fighter whose jacket is painted up in red. She too knows about what might cause the time loop. Can they work together to defeat the mimics and escape time?

Critical Evaluation: The first thoughts of this plot might make an evaluator think that it is another campy sci-fi pulp novel. When reading the book there are elements, the redeeming qualities are found within the characters. Keiji is a teenager, barely an adult, out of bootcamp. He is faced with the harsh reality of war. When stuck in the time loop, he overcomes the feelings of depression and apathy. He decides that he must become the best warrior he can be. It is that personal determination that is admirable in Keiji’s character. Interactions with other characters show the reality and high stress environments that soldier operate in.

Author Information: Hiroshi Sakurazaka was born in 1970. After a career in information technology, he published his first novel, Wizards’ Web, in 2003. His 2004 short story, “Saitama Chainsaw Massacre,” won the 16th SF Magazine Reader’s Award. His other novels include Slum Online and Characters (cowritten with Hiroki Azuma). Source: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/hiroshi-sakurazaka/61982790

Curriculum Ties: Theoretical Physics, Psychology, Physical Fitness

Challenge Issues: Violence; Language

Booktalk Ideas: Time Warp – A discussion or pitch could be given based on the idea of what one could do if they had an endless amount of tries on that day. Further moving into Keiji’s situation and story.