Baccano!, Vol. 15 (light novel): 1710 Crack Flag

Baccano! Light Novel #15

by Ryohgo Narita

THE YEAR 1707 was the start of it all, when Maiza introduced playwright Jean-Pierre to an alchemist named Fermet who, in turn, introduced Maiza to the studyof alchemy. Two years later, Huey finds himself opening his heart more than heever expected to Elmer and Monica about his troubled past. The relative peace isinterrupted, though, by the arrival of an aristocratic envoy who claims to be searchingfor a criminal. Meanwhile, a series of new plays written by Jean-Pierre threatensto expose secrets the Mask Makers would rather have kept hidden forever...

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Manga, Mystery

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 2010

About the author

Ryohgo Narita (成田 良悟, Narita Ryōgo) is a Japanese light novelist. He won the Gold Prize in the 9th Dengeki Novel Prize for Baccano!, which was made into a TV anime in 2007.[1] His series Durarara!! was also made into a TV anime, which began airing January 2010


There are two traits found in most of Narita's works:
* Narita writes extremely fast, one volume a month if he wishes - with tons of spelling errors and missing words as a tradeoff. The editors like to leave them sometimes just for fun, though.
* His work titles often have an exclamation mark at the end (i.e. Baccano!, Vamp!, Durarara!!, etc.).

Kanji names: 成田 良悟 & 成田良悟.

Reviews

[Thibault Busschots · Rating 5 out of 5]

The count receives a visit from an aristocratic envoy who makes it clear that she’s just there for a murder investigation, and she requires the count’s cooperation. Though we immediately know that this is just a pretense. Because this is a town full of alchemists. There are rumors that they discovered something big, something powerful. If there’s anything aristocrats crave the most, it’s power. And they will do anything to get it.

Huey Laforet was a boy who felt shattered and broken. He wanted to destroy the world because the world destroyed him. But through his friendship with Elmer, it feels like he’s trying to glue himself back together. And then he does the unthinkable. He asks Monica out for a date.


This story is basically the memoirs of the playwright Jean-Pierre, building up to the play they’re going to perform in the town near the climax of the story. The playwright himself describes his memoir as the confessions of a sinner. Because he exposed a truth through his play, which had some very unexpected and disastrous consequences. The story is for a large part seen from his point of view, this really changes the mood and the pacing of the story. It’s quite nice to have a protagonist who doesn’t already know about immortality here. It puts things and characters we as an audience already know in a different and fresh perspective. And because of the previous novels set in 2002, we know from the start that this is going to be a treat.


The plot at first sight is a mystery story with political intrigue, which is quite good. But it’s the characters who shine the most in this book. We get to see a whole new perspective of Huey, Fermet, Monica and even Maiza. It’s the emotional impact of the character arcs that manages to steal the spotlight from a pretty strong plot. It also very much reveals who the biggest antagonist of the whole series is.


I quite enjoyed the part about how the rich were able to enjoy sorbet whenever they wanted, long before freezers were invented. It’s a very silly little detail, but these quick little history trivia moments do add something to the series as a whole.


These 1700s novels are really kicking Baccano back on track and making us finally see the bigger picture of this series. And what an emotional rollercoaster. Absolutely gut-wrenching and heartbreaking.

[RRed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatest of all eternity. Zenith of the medium. Hallmark of media. DIAMOND standard of storytelling. The apogee of creativity. Vertex of Invention. Crest of ingenuity. Acme of imagination. Pinnacle of innovation. Epic of epics. Legend among legends. PEAK among Peaks of fiction.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

1710 Crack Flag is the sequel to the 1705 volume. This volume once again focuses on the relationships between Huey, Elmer and Monica Campanella. As the three alchemy students get closer towards each other, their peaceful days are ruined when a battle-ship from the Dormentaires docks at Lotto Valentino. This volume also brushes on how Maiza, Fermet, Czes and Begg know each other, as well as how Maiza was introduced to Alchemy.

I must admit, it was hard to read this novel while worrying for a certain character at every turn. Having read both 2002 volumes, it was pretty obvious how the story was going to end. While there are plenty of times when I have been spoiled of a certain story's ending, it was interesting to read this knowing that the author intentionally spoiled the ending for the readers at an earlier book. But I guess it was alright since I still had no idea how it was going to happen, and for a while, the author had even lead the readers to believe that this book might have a happy ending, and that the aforementioned spoiler applies to the next 1700's volume, not this one.

Anyway, Lebreau is now my most despised character, and I hate him even more than Szilard and other antagonists from earlier books. Knowing that the next volume would be in his point of view, I have mixed feelings about it, since as much as I hate him, I want to know why he would do such things.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really, REALLY dislike a certain character after reading this book.

It really is interesting to see what the characters were like before they became immortal though. I especially want to see Sylvie and Gretto's backstory one of these days. The little mention it got was such a tease!

[barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

if it was me i would've saved her. like i'm just saying if it had been me i would have saved her sorry huey skill issue skill issue skill issue try harder L L L huey skill issue laforet. i love you monica babygirl i would've gotten you OUT of there

[Kayleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never would I have thought I'd be crying for Huey Laforet. What a fantastic addition to the series

[Scott Mattson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do enjoy the Baccano series. Especially when there are not lots of characters to try and follow. In Volume 15 we return to the 1700s. I wish I remember more about the previous novel from that time period. But this volume does explain a bit of what happened then. This volume tells the story of the immortals from the other volumes, from before they became immmortal. There are lots of interesting plot points and the characters are complex. My biggest problem, deals with how the story ends.

[Orizawa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still think about this to this day I don't think I'll ever stop, everytime I space out I end up thinking of this book. Rred's review perfectly captures how I feel about it. Man... I just love it so much everything about this series it's like it was written for me. I'm really grateful that I happen to read it.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some thoughts:
-Unreliable narrator Jean and fake out ending were great
-I love a tragedy... Monica, Huey and Elmer trio are a fav.
-Love learning more about Huey, I think he may be my fav
-cool use of the theme of plays and melding stories with truth

[Ricardo Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was going to give it 3 stars only but that twist at the end makes it worth it of at least 4.

[gigi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed reading this, which is more than I can say about 1705. Honestly, it isn't bad at all, I just don't really care for the 1700s plot.

Also, something has to be done about [REDACTED]. There's only so many genius‐that's-orchestrating-everything characters I can take.

[Ainin · Rating 5 out of 5]

istg lebreau when i get my hands on you.. 🔪🔪

[Stevie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the reason I’m depressed. All jokes aside it’s beautiful the twist at the end oml, this book had me crying and it takes a lot for me to cry at media

[Kac · Rating 5 out of 5]

＜ネタバレあり＞
フェルメートがモニカを殺したことが物語を盛り上げるためのもので少々わざとらしく感じたものの、この巻でひどく胸を打ったことには変わりはない。モニカの死は以前の巻にすでに知らされたことにもかかわらず、その経緯を知るときは心が痛んだ。読み終えたとき鬱の気分になった（笑）まあ、このエピソードがないと１９３０年代や２０００年代のヒューイたちも存在しないし、こんなよく出来た切ない話のおかげでこの巻はずっと心に残ると思う。

[Johnathon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goddammit, Crack Flag. Why? Why would you do this to me? Definitely the best Baccano book so far.

[Priya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fermet is pure evil...