What do you think?
Rate this book
Baccano! Light Novel #4
バッカーノ！1932 Drug & The Dominos
運命は連鎖する。 まるでドミノ倒しのように――
錬金術師が作り出した新種の麻薬。
当時の技術では精製不可能なその薬をふとした事から強奪してしまった主人公ロット。
薬を奪還するめロットを追うルノラータファミリー。
ルノラータと抗争状態にあるガンドールファミリー。
ガンドールに亡き者にされた兄の仇を討とうとする少女イヴ。
イヴを利用してガンドールから逃げ切ろうとするロット……。
第９回 電撃ゲーム小説大賞＜金賞＞受賞作、「バッカーノ！」シリーズ第３弾！
錬金術師が作り出した新種の麻薬。
当時の技術では精製不可能なその薬をふとした事から強奪してしまった主人公ロット。
薬を奪還するめロットを追うルノラータファミリー。
ルノラータと抗争状態にあるガンドールファミリー。
ガンドールに亡き者にされた兄の仇を討とうとする少女イヴ。
イヴを利用してガンドールから逃げ切ろうとするロット……。
第９回 電撃ゲーム小説大賞＜金賞＞受賞作、「バッカーノ！」シリーズ第３弾！
328 pages, 文庫
First published October 10, 2003
19 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Ryohgo Narita
278 books383 followersRyohgo 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 7, 2023
Information is power. But the Daily Days newspaper company, which also serves as an information brokerage, is about to find out that power can also be a very dangerous thing.
Eve Genoard is looking for her missing brother, Dallas. The information brokerage leads her to the mafia organization that’s responsible for his disappearance.
An addict stole a whole stash of a new kind of drugs from the Runorata family. If they fail to reclaim their drugs, it’ll severely damage their reputation. But the addict lives in a rival mafia organization’s territory. Since the Runorata family is the much bigger criminal organization of the two, they think their rivals won’t dare to attack them when they flex their muscles as they enter their rival’s territory.
The Gandor family is being pressured and attacked by a much bigger mafia family. They know they don’t stand a chance if they fight them head-on. But they can’t afford to sit back and do nothing while another mafia family takes over their territory. So they call upon a friend to help them, the legendary hitman Vino.
One of the reasons why Baccano is so great is because every character, even a side character, feels like the hero of their own story. Eve in particular feels like the hero of this story. She’s looking for her brother who went missing after the events of the first book. While the addict Roy is the catalyst who sets these events into motion, it’s the sympathetic Eve who’s the glue that brings all these characters and their stories together.
My favorite part of this whole book is surprisingly the back story of a very minor character called Kate, the wife of a mafia boss. The way she talks about the job she loved becoming obsolete when the first talkies came out is simply mesmeringly beautiful. I even went and watched parts of the 1927 classic The Jazz Singer because of her story, to hear the historic words she so wonderfully described. This is just another reminder that history can be so fascinating when you tell it right.
Part of this story was animated so it feels a bit familiar for those who’ve seen it. But it also feels fresh because not everything was. Which is understandable as this story gets quite dark at times. We also deal with some aftereffects of the previous books, as actions do have consequences in this crazy world. I have to admit, it’s not at the same level as the previous books. Still a very fun romp though.
Eve Genoard is looking for her missing brother, Dallas. The information brokerage leads her to the mafia organization that’s responsible for his disappearance.
An addict stole a whole stash of a new kind of drugs from the Runorata family. If they fail to reclaim their drugs, it’ll severely damage their reputation. But the addict lives in a rival mafia organization’s territory. Since the Runorata family is the much bigger criminal organization of the two, they think their rivals won’t dare to attack them when they flex their muscles as they enter their rival’s territory.
The Gandor family is being pressured and attacked by a much bigger mafia family. They know they don’t stand a chance if they fight them head-on. But they can’t afford to sit back and do nothing while another mafia family takes over their territory. So they call upon a friend to help them, the legendary hitman Vino.
One of the reasons why Baccano is so great is because every character, even a side character, feels like the hero of their own story. Eve in particular feels like the hero of this story. She’s looking for her brother who went missing after the events of the first book. While the addict Roy is the catalyst who sets these events into motion, it’s the sympathetic Eve who’s the glue that brings all these characters and their stories together.
My favorite part of this whole book is surprisingly the back story of a very minor character called Kate, the wife of a mafia boss. The way she talks about the job she loved becoming obsolete when the first talkies came out is simply mesmeringly beautiful. I even went and watched parts of the 1927 classic The Jazz Singer because of her story, to hear the historic words she so wonderfully described. This is just another reminder that history can be so fascinating when you tell it right.
Part of this story was animated so it feels a bit familiar for those who’ve seen it. But it also feels fresh because not everything was. Which is understandable as this story gets quite dark at times. We also deal with some aftereffects of the previous books, as actions do have consequences in this crazy world. I have to admit, it’s not at the same level as the previous books. Still a very fun romp though.
August 10, 2012
Set in New York, the Gandor family - now with the freelance assasin, "Vino"'s help - has to deal with the imposing Runorata (/shot for the wrong spelling)family and their dealings of drugs in the Gandors' territory. Eve Genoard has made a decision to leave for Manhattan to search for her brother. Roy has more than once found himself in trouble because of the side-effects of the drugs he takes, and his girlfriend, Edith, is forced to keep this a secret from the Gandors for her and Roy's safety. Meanwhile, Isaac, Miria and the Martillo family are busy with their own little "creation" at the honey shop, Alveare.
My favourite part is definitely when Luck got his head blown off at DD Newspaper, as well as when Claire revealed himself five minutes later. Eve Genoard annoys me, though, and I can't help but reinforce what I've said in volume 3 - Claire is my absolute favourite character in Baccano.
My favourite part is definitely when Luck got his head blown off at DD Newspaper, as well as when Claire revealed himself five minutes later. Eve Genoard annoys me, though, and I can't help but reinforce what I've said in volume 3 - Claire is my absolute favourite character in Baccano.
January 9, 2023
Once again, another great read from Ryohgo Narita. This one slowed the action down a bit from the Grand Punk Railroad but had some great character interactions.
Luck continues to be one of my favorites from the mafia characters!
Luck continues to be one of my favorites from the mafia characters!
June 9, 2025
man he really needs to stop trying to introduce normal people into the cast of crazies, all it does is bore me whenever we change povs
August 10, 2020
My ratings for this series will probably all be totally random between 3 and 4 stars depending on my mood.
Did I enjoy this more than books 2-3?
Not really sure, but as opposed to the previous ones, I wanted to rate this 4 stars somehow. (It really does depend on my mood most of the time.)
"Long story short, those guys aren't cut out to be mafia bosses. That's the straight-up truth."
It keeps going with the same overall atmosphere of the previous books, both because it's the same universe of course, but also because it's a similar structure. One that never fails to entertain me. 😆
It has a whole "this is going somewhere, not really sure where, but I know that eventually it will reach a conclusion based on all of these puzzle pieces" vibe to it. In this case in particular, it's the whole Ouroboros feeling, with how everyone's chasing someone else...
Before I started it, I thought I was done with whatever I saw in the anime (well except with the scene with Isaac and Miria in american indians costumes, if you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about), but I was pleaseantly surprised to realize more of it was included in the anime.
And now that I think about it, yes, the domino in the title should have been a clue. (Again, if you've seen the OAVs, you know. 😏)
Anyway. We're back in New York, in Prohibition era, with our mafia gangs, so it's more of the same blood as the first book than the Flying Pussyfoot books.
In terms of cast this time, I found the information brokerage to bring a new dynamic to the story. (And let's be real, they're the ones who actually drove the story where it went.) But the ones I really appreciated seeing more where the Gandors I think. 🤔
Just gonna say that the one scene where the Gandors are discussing what to do with Edith (not gonna say anymore so as not to spoil) is hilarious. (At least, for me it is.)
If anything, I'd say that this one is more about the human side of the characters than any of the (very few) previous books.
Also, as usual, you can probably read this as a standalone, but it's much better if you've read the previous ones because of events mentioned in it but also because some scenes about certain characters make more sense. And they end up being funnier too.
Did I enjoy this more than books 2-3?
Not really sure, but as opposed to the previous ones, I wanted to rate this 4 stars somehow. (It really does depend on my mood most of the time.)
"Long story short, those guys aren't cut out to be mafia bosses. That's the straight-up truth."
It keeps going with the same overall atmosphere of the previous books, both because it's the same universe of course, but also because it's a similar structure. One that never fails to entertain me. 😆
It has a whole "this is going somewhere, not really sure where, but I know that eventually it will reach a conclusion based on all of these puzzle pieces" vibe to it. In this case in particular, it's the whole Ouroboros feeling, with how everyone's chasing someone else...
Before I started it, I thought I was done with whatever I saw in the anime (well except with the scene with Isaac and Miria in american indians costumes, if you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about), but I was pleaseantly surprised to realize more of it was included in the anime.
And now that I think about it, yes, the domino in the title should have been a clue. (Again, if you've seen the OAVs, you know. 😏)
Anyway. We're back in New York, in Prohibition era, with our mafia gangs, so it's more of the same blood as the first book than the Flying Pussyfoot books.
In terms of cast this time, I found the information brokerage to bring a new dynamic to the story. (And let's be real, they're the ones who actually drove the story where it went.) But the ones I really appreciated seeing more where the Gandors I think. 🤔
Just gonna say that the one scene where the Gandors are discussing what to do with Edith (not gonna say anymore so as not to spoil) is hilarious. (At least, for me it is.)
If anything, I'd say that this one is more about the human side of the characters than any of the (very few) previous books.
Also, as usual, you can probably read this as a standalone, but it's much better if you've read the previous ones because of events mentioned in it but also because some scenes about certain characters make more sense. And they end up being funnier too.
March 25, 2013
I've been reading this series like in a marathon these past few days. I never thought I would love this series more than before but it turns out it's possible. I especially enjoy reading the parts that were included in the anime and knowing more about the characters than the anime had shown.
For me this book is actually worth more than 3 stars but not 4 stars. The reasons are: 1. Not enough Isaac and Miria; 2. Vino only appears after the mid part of the book (I don't know how I would feel when I read the books without Vino in it *sad*).
However there are some okay parts; this book focuses on Eve Genoard. At first I didn't really enjoy it because Eve was my least favorite character. When I watch the anime I often feel bored whenever I watch her part. However the book gives better understanding about her and she's not as simple as she seems on anime. Despite she will never be one of my favorite characters, I quite enjoy reading her parts. And then there's Keith. Reading this book makes me understand the Gandor Brothers better, especially Keith because Keith in the anime is more like a comical figure, but in this book I can see how powerful he actually is. I'm also able to see more of Vino's eccentric attitude (for example how he bought someone name's because he needed it to get married and, of all people, he bought a former assassin's name), and how good he is with Tick! They are the crazy killer duo!
For me this book is actually worth more than 3 stars but not 4 stars. The reasons are: 1. Not enough Isaac and Miria; 2. Vino only appears after the mid part of the book (I don't know how I would feel when I read the books without Vino in it *sad*).
However there are some okay parts; this book focuses on Eve Genoard. At first I didn't really enjoy it because Eve was my least favorite character. When I watch the anime I often feel bored whenever I watch her part. However the book gives better understanding about her and she's not as simple as she seems on anime. Despite she will never be one of my favorite characters, I quite enjoy reading her parts. And then there's Keith. Reading this book makes me understand the Gandor Brothers better, especially Keith because Keith in the anime is more like a comical figure, but in this book I can see how powerful he actually is. I'm also able to see more of Vino's eccentric attitude (for example how he bought someone name's because he needed it to get married and, of all people, he bought a former assassin's name), and how good he is with Tick! They are the crazy killer duo!
October 10, 2017
It should be said first and foremost that I adore this series. So if that is all you need as far as the question on if you should read this volume of Baccano!, then read no further and go pick up this installment. I use the word installment because I don't even view these books as separate stories. Which works since Drug & Dominoes starts practically at the same time that The Grand Punk Railroad: Express wraps up. Baccano! is just one long, crazy story filled with coincidences and over the top characters that his been chopped up into different sections that just happen to be in book form.
I am a huge fan of the anime and Drug and Dominoes is where the books starts to depart from the story that was covered there. The not-in-the-anime characters introduced in this volume are Roy: the drug addict, Edith: the lady love of Roy, Begg: the sad immortal chemist, Kate: the wife of Keith Gandor and a unnamed dual katana wielding Mexican girl in a mariachi costume.
For me the stand out among them is Kate. I was shocked at what a subtle, powerful affect her character would have on me as a reader. Her explanation as to why a normal woman like her loves or would even be interested in a dangerous man like Keith really resonated with me. Her back story shows that Narita really did his homework when it came to the finer details of 1930's America. I hope we see more of her and Keith in future volumes.
Now out off all of the characters introduced in the anime, I'd have to say that Eve Genoard had the biggest changes to the anime adaptation. I always felt she was more of a supporting character just used to tell the questionable end of Dallas' story. However, what I see of her in this story changes my mind. She is a strong character who is able to shed off her demure demeanor when push comes to shove. While I still think she is naive, I now know that beneath that naivety is noble bravery.
Special character shout outs go to Vino and Luck Gandor. Vino is of course always fun to watch or read and he is by far my favorite character. Luck really surprised me in this story with how kindly he treated Eve and his fight with Gustavo had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I didn't think it possible, but I enjoy Luck even more that I did prior to reading Drug and Dominoes. Which, by the way. was a lot.
All in all: this was a very enjoyable, quick read. I am excitedly looking forward to what happens next on Baccano!
I am a huge fan of the anime and Drug and Dominoes is where the books starts to depart from the story that was covered there. The not-in-the-anime characters introduced in this volume are Roy: the drug addict, Edith: the lady love of Roy, Begg: the sad immortal chemist, Kate: the wife of Keith Gandor and a unnamed dual katana wielding Mexican girl in a mariachi costume.
For me the stand out among them is Kate. I was shocked at what a subtle, powerful affect her character would have on me as a reader. Her explanation as to why a normal woman like her loves or would even be interested in a dangerous man like Keith really resonated with me. Her back story shows that Narita really did his homework when it came to the finer details of 1930's America. I hope we see more of her and Keith in future volumes.
Now out off all of the characters introduced in the anime, I'd have to say that Eve Genoard had the biggest changes to the anime adaptation. I always felt she was more of a supporting character just used to tell the questionable end of Dallas' story. However, what I see of her in this story changes my mind. She is a strong character who is able to shed off her demure demeanor when push comes to shove. While I still think she is naive, I now know that beneath that naivety is noble bravery.
Special character shout outs go to Vino and Luck Gandor. Vino is of course always fun to watch or read and he is by far my favorite character. Luck really surprised me in this story with how kindly he treated Eve and his fight with Gustavo had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I didn't think it possible, but I enjoy Luck even more that I did prior to reading Drug and Dominoes. Which, by the way. was a lot.
All in all: this was a very enjoyable, quick read. I am excitedly looking forward to what happens next on Baccano!
November 14, 2018
This is the volume where the story gets different from that in the anime adation. In the Lightnovel the attack on the Daily Days was much more longer and complex and also involved more characters... The anime made it appear as if that attack played before the Flying Pussifoot incident but that apparently wasn't the case.
The new characters introduced include Eve Genoard who bored the crap out of me in the anime but I liked her a bit more in the novel... she still has that whiny lawful good attitude and I don't understand what she likes so much about her useless brother.
Another new character introduced is a Mexican assassin fighting with two katanas. I thought of her as quite loud and annoying at the beginning but she turned out to be funny and now we finally have a sword fighting Baccano characters, yeah!
Another new character is Henry, who works for the Daily Days and used his information broker knowledge to try to make things more chaotic and violent - sounds quite familiar for Narita readers, riiight?
Well, he tried because boss ass bitch assassin Claire entered the stage and taught him a lesson
In that case, let's go catch a night train. Find out what the guys who got killed were feeling through an in-persona simulation. Get a good, solid feel for power - You can pay in terror
Claire has absolutly zero chill and you know what else gets a good, solid feel for power? Chanés underwear in their wedding night
The new characters introduced include Eve Genoard who bored the crap out of me in the anime but I liked her a bit more in the novel... she still has that whiny lawful good attitude and I don't understand what she likes so much about her useless brother.
Another new character introduced is a Mexican assassin fighting with two katanas. I thought of her as quite loud and annoying at the beginning but she turned out to be funny and now we finally have a sword fighting Baccano characters, yeah!
Another new character is Henry, who works for the Daily Days and used his information broker knowledge to try to make things more chaotic and violent - sounds quite familiar for Narita readers, riiight?
Well, he tried because boss ass bitch assassin Claire entered the stage and taught him a lesson
In that case, let's go catch a night train. Find out what the guys who got killed were feeling through an in-persona simulation. Get a good, solid feel for power - You can pay in terror
Claire has absolutly zero chill and you know what else gets a good, solid feel for power? Chanés underwear in their wedding night
May 16, 2019
This book is the last I believe that is covered by the anime, though with some key differences.
In a way, I think this might be why I've enjoyed it most of the Baccano! volumes so far. I was aware enough of how things might go, but didn't know everything, and so spent less of my time reading "waiting for the good bits" as it were, so enjoyed everything that much more.
Of course, this volume proves to be as chaotic as ever - with both characters from previous volumes, and new faces, all mixing together. there are a number of crossing plot threads, involving gang-turf wars, drugs and Eve looking for her lost brother. Another strength of this volume is how all these stories build up to one converging point, which acts as a great finale.
In a way, I think this might be why I've enjoyed it most of the Baccano! volumes so far. I was aware enough of how things might go, but didn't know everything, and so spent less of my time reading "waiting for the good bits" as it were, so enjoyed everything that much more.
Of course, this volume proves to be as chaotic as ever - with both characters from previous volumes, and new faces, all mixing together. there are a number of crossing plot threads, involving gang-turf wars, drugs and Eve looking for her lost brother. Another strength of this volume is how all these stories build up to one converging point, which acts as a great finale.
April 12, 2023
3.5 - 4
My least favorite so far though there are several characters here that I find very interesting and cool. This being a Japanese light novel from the 2000s, there's some stereotypes here when it comes to some of the non-white characters but it's not as awful as it really could have been.
Following now somewhat of an aftermath from the events in the Flying Pussyfoot, Drug & Dominos sees a shift in power and tales of people going against their best judgements for people they deeply care about.
The tale is more episodic and open-ended than the last three volumes and the resolutions are only satisfying for a handful of the characters as it's clear that the majority of them still have plots cooking.
On to Vol. 5!
My least favorite so far though there are several characters here that I find very interesting and cool. This being a Japanese light novel from the 2000s, there's some stereotypes here when it comes to some of the non-white characters but it's not as awful as it really could have been.
Following now somewhat of an aftermath from the events in the Flying Pussyfoot, Drug & Dominos sees a shift in power and tales of people going against their best judgements for people they deeply care about.
The tale is more episodic and open-ended than the last three volumes and the resolutions are only satisfying for a handful of the characters as it's clear that the majority of them still have plots cooking.
On to Vol. 5!
October 31, 2017
Genialne, genialne i jeszcze raz genialne. Uwielbiam twórczość Ryohgo Nairy; styl pisania, fabułę i bohaterów, których kreuje. Autor zaskakuje, śmieszy i rozwija różne postaci. Pokazuje nam okrutny świat, w których mimo wszystko jest jeszcze miejsce na honor, miłość, przyjaźń itd. Bohaterowie potrafią być okrutni, ale nadal pozostaje przy nich reszta godności, szacunku wobec drugiego człowieka i w tej części rodzina Gandorów jednoznacznie udowodniła, że pomimo całego zła wciąż istnieje dobro.
Naprawdę cudowny tytuł, cudowny tom :)
Naprawdę cudowny tytuł, cudowny tom :)
October 18, 2022
I wanted to like the Baccano! series. The concept seems great. But if you look at my history I find them just so-so. Not bad, just not great. This one is no different for me. There are a few moments I rather like interspersed with sections that I would rather just skip. But I don't know where one of those good moments is going to be so I read it all.
For those of you who are bigger fans -- I believe I shall leave it to you. I need to spend my time reading things I enjoy more than things I can set down so easily.
For those of you who are bigger fans -- I believe I shall leave it to you. I need to spend my time reading things I enjoy more than things I can set down so easily.
August 24, 2018
Went into this expecting it to be a stand-alone, but it starts a bit before the events of volumes 2 and 3. The cool thing is the characters we met back then arrive in the train midway through this one.
Ryohgo Narita is hands down my favourite LN author. This volume focuses a bit more on Gangster organisations in New York, Drug trade and information traffic. And all that with the traditional back and forth between points of view and timelines. Awesome series!
Ryohgo Narita is hands down my favourite LN author. This volume focuses a bit more on Gangster organisations in New York, Drug trade and information traffic. And all that with the traditional back and forth between points of view and timelines. Awesome series!
December 10, 2017
意外与巧合的要素不是很多，总体来说并没有TV版好
October 31, 2018
I think this is probably my favorite book out of the entire Baccano series so far.
December 13, 2018
One of my favorite Baccano! books, I don´t need to say anything more
March 12, 2019
An OK installment, but it doesn't have a lot of immortal stuff. Plus, few of the best characters appear or if they do it is brief.
January 24, 2022
Exceptional
January 22, 2024
Definitely not the best of the 3 arcs so far, but much better than it's portrayed in the show (and it's no wonder, considering at least half of what's here was cut out from the show!)
January 20, 2025
man i love the 1932 storyline
December 30, 2013
Relectura de año nuevo porque yolo. La novela que debería de haber sido animada y por priorizar personajes no pasó. El enfrentamiento entre Gustavo y los Gandor, la agencia de información y Henry, quien quería conocer de Vino y ale, se le apareció, Roy y Edith con el tema de las drogas, Eve y Luck, sobre el Dallas en el agua, y Begg, el alquimista titular de este volumen.
Lo más lindo fue saber más del mayor de los Gandor, Keith, y la relación que tiene con su esposa Kate.
Lo más lindo fue saber más del mayor de los Gandor, Keith, y la relación que tiene con su esposa Kate.
December 29, 2012
Simultaneously expands the scope of the series while developing old characters. Wow. Never seen anything quite like it.
February 9, 2023
Score: 8
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews