So, the introduction to the evaluate copy of this e-book I acquired, written by Fonda, says that she was impressed to jot down this e-book because of a sport the place story concepts needed to have the phrases ‘in house’ added on the finish.
Outcome: Samurai in house!
The e-book is precisely that. Set on Aquilo, a frontier-type world the place lives will be forfeit on the finish of a piece contract, Isthmus Isako’s occupation is to go and ship the coup de grace to the unlucky.
The e-book manages to take a weary and battered warrior who has been too lengthy in her job and but carries it with satisfaction and honour. She is regarded by many as the most effective of the most effective, with a formidable fame and somebody who has educated a lot of these youthful than her. However now – in her fifties, divorced and with a daughter changing into an grownup, she is realising hat she is reaching her restrict. Outdated wounds ache, she suffers with insomnia, her ‘traitorous knees’ are an indication that she can’t maintain doing this job without end. She is considering that when her newest long-term contract finishes, she might nicely take ‘the lengthy stroll’ out into the frozen wastelands exterior the protection of her metropolis’s atmospheric bubble and die.
These plans are destroyed when she finds that, with out warning, Forest Greves, her CEO at Astrocom, takes the stroll himself. Such occasions, although uncommon, would usually imply that her contract ends and she will be able to get one other or grow to be a ronin, an murderer for rent, wandering the world with out contract and subsequently the goal of anybody who sees match to take her on.
Nevertheless, she finds that her contract has been transferred to Savannah Minto – one other CEO, at Satellite tv for pc Communications – one thing uncommon, however attainable, and that she is obligation certain to proceed her work, regardless of this particular person representing all the pieces she doesn’t imagine in. They comply with do another job earlier than Isako retires with honour.
As a part of her new contract, Isako is instructed of a scenario that Minto want to flip to her personal benefit. Dragonfly Martim – a younger man Isako educated as an apprentice – has gone lacking. Isako feels responsible that she has not stayed in contact with him, regardless that he’s now an atier (bodyguard) for a rival CEO at Southern Continent Fuel Manufacturing, and vows to search out out what has occurred to him. Suspicion falls upon Martim’s ex-boss, Sandbar Uchi, director of SoCon GasPro and identified for his ruthlessness, and Isako’s ultimate process is to search out out whether or not he’s responsible or not.
Are you able to be sympathetic a few character that’s at her most simple a stoic killer? It’s not straightforward – ideas of cuddly Daleks from elsewhere present how this might all go incorrect – and but Fonda manages it.
With such a set-up it’s clear that Fonda is intentionally utilizing iconic tropes right here – the murderer dedicated to her job, with appreciable expertise and respect amongst her friends, but damaged and weary. She follows her Code of morals and ethics, as a result of that has been her life. Curiously, regardless that her job is terrible, it’s accepted that ‘resigning’ individuals for the great of the colony must be executed, as a service – in spite of everything, previous non-working members of society are simply utilizing up restricted assets. “Resigning is simply part of life, probably the most significant method to give again to society while you’re now not in a position to contribute in different methods” is a standard maxim.
After all, beneath the floor of this well-ordered and dutiful society, which feels very Blade-Runner-like, there may be additionally an underclass right here that Isako has to work with. Fonda explains this through the use of Rain Kob, an ex-colleague and pal of Isako’s, now a ronin, that Isako brings in to assist her together with her investigations. On Aquilo all is just not as ordered and scientific as you may count on. The dynamic between Kob and Isako assist present that Isako is greater than her skilled manner would recommend. The character is extra nuanced than she first gave the impression to be.
The e-book takes a left-turn about midway by means of, when the narrative modifications from being focussed on Isako to being about Martim. Going over the identical occasions as we’ve got with Isako, his point-of-view provides a distinct perspective to what we’ve got beforehand seen by means of Isako. It’s a daring transfer.
Though the e-book has some well-written (and messy!) motion scenes, I used to be happy that they don’t seem to be the e-book’s total focus. Final Contract additionally exhibits that battles are fought not simply with a sword, but additionally on the board – there’s numerous company shenanigans which have simply as a lot import as Isako’s extra bodily actions, even when they’re cold. In addition to this, the latter a part of the e-book offers with the revelation of a science-fictional Large Secret that explains what has occurred up to now after which goes on to take care of penalties of this occasion.
In abstract, Fonda delivers what I anticipated from that introduction. While the ending could appear a little bit too handy, the e-book on the entire manages to mix sword-fighting fight with political wrangling to nice impact.
It looks like The Final Contact of Isako is a e-book written for enjoyable, a science fiction story that respectfully pays homage to the morals and ethics of previous Asian tradition, samurai motion pictures and cyberpunk comedian books. While it’s at instances slightly bleak, there’s little doubt that it’s an entertaining learn, with some attention-grabbing surprises alongside the best way.
© 2026 Mark Yon
Hardback | Orbit UK Books
THE LAST CONTRACT OF ISAKO by Fonda Lee
Might 2026 | 528 pages
ISBN: 978 035 6526 713
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