The Last Contract of Isako - by Fonda Lee (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

★ AN INSTANT USA TODAY AND INDIEBESTSELLER! ★

A battle-worn corporate samurai undertakes one last mission on a merciless planet where death is always a mere breath away, in this standalone science fiction epic from the author of the modern fantasy classic Jade City.

LIVE BY THE CODE. DIE BY THE KNIFE.

Isako is a legendary swordswoman, but every legend must come to an end. When her long-time client unexpectedly retires, she plans to follow--to walk out into the frozen wasteland of their planet with her head held high and her family enriched by her death. But when she's offered a final mission, she can't refuse, especially when she realizes who lies at the center of it all: Martim, her last--and worst--apprentice, who's somehow made his way to the top. As she's thrust into a world of corporate espionage and shadowy secrets, what she uncovers could forever change humanity's existence among the stars.

The Last Contract of Isako is epic science fiction like only Fonda Lee can write it--set in a world where money trumps loyalty, the elite have the power to extend life or end it, and one woman in the twilight of her calling must decide what's ultimately worth living--or dying--for.

Review Quotes

"The Last Contract of Isako is riveting, not least because of how it plays with its chosen genres, blending them aesthetically while neatly inverting their defining themes and grafting them onto a core samurai narrative. The author's skill in writing action and character is on full display here."

--New York Times

"This brilliant space opera from Lee instantly immerses readers on the planet of Aquilo. Lee enhances her vivid worldbuilding and riveting plot with evocative prose. Readers will be left hoping for future visits to this gorgeously crafted world."

--Publishers Weekly (starred)

"Lee's latest stand-alone is an homage to those lost in the fallout of nefarious capitalist schemes. This complex space opera is a fast-paced ride of espionage and ruthless corporate samurai, featuring a delightful 50-something protagonist." --Library Journal (starred)

"Lee's layered world building and surprising twists in this unusual dystopian setting will keep readers on edge as Isako moves from her years-long, work-obsessed isolation to reconnecting with family and friends prior to her (planned) demise. This standalone samurai sf stands out."--Booklist (starred)

"Fonda Lee is an auto-buy in any genre! Lee brings the impeccable world building of the Green Bone Saga to the stars, telling a story that is complex, ever-shifting, and profoundly satisfying. The Last Contract of Isako fully delivers on the fun of its "samurai in space" premise, while also giving readers a layered story about those who are both the tools of corporate empire...and its victims. If you have been starving for a badass, mature female protagonist, this is the book for you. I would follow Isthmus Isako into hell." --Micaiah Johnson, author of The Space Between Worlds

"This is fabulous, a tale mixing Blade Runner cool with crime-noir and Ronin codes of honor and vengeance. Beautifully drawn characters, a stark, chilling new world and a plot that grabs you and drags you from one page to the next, this is a must read. Fantastic in every way."--John Gwynne, author of The Shadow of the Gods

"It should surprise no one at all that Fonda Lee has written yet another spectacular book. She's a master at creating worlds that feel lived in and characters whose flaws are as compelling as their virtues. If you enjoyed the Green Bone Saga--and you damn well better have--you'll love this as well." --Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

"Superb. Fonda Lee is one of the best SFF writers working today." --Richard Swan, author of Grave Empire

"A cinematic cyberpunk novel that gripped me from the first page and never let go. Flawlessly plotted, each reveal is another twist of the knife deeper into a world of corruption, codes of honor and no easy choices. A modern science fiction masterpiece." --Eliza Chan, author of Fathomfolk

"The Last Contract of Isako is cinematic cyberpunk samurai at its best." --Petrik Leo, Novel Notions

"A knife-sharp intense dystopian ride--this is Fonda Lee at her very best. A gritty, heartfelt, and explosive masterpiece." --Tasha Suri, World Fantasy Award-winning author of the Burning Kingdoms trilogy

"Dazzlingly inventive and pure fun, this Rashomon-esque story of a jaded corporate swordswoman kept me guessing until the last twist. Highly recommend!"--Shannon Chakraborty, NYT bestselling author of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

"The Last Contract of Isako proves yet again that Fonda Lee is an author at the top of her game. Flawed, hardscrabble characters stalk across a harsh landscape, through an intricate plot that twists and turns with deft precision. An absolute masterpiece!" --Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter

"Like the best scifi should, The Last Contract of Isako holds up an incisive mirror, with a world where life is the Company and a person's value lies in employment. A corporate space samurai twist to the classic hero on one final mission, this sleek, action-packed mystery asks: who do you choose to be with the last job of your life? No one brings blades to a boardroom like Fonda Lee. I was hooked till the end."--Wen-yi Lee, author of When They Burned the Butterfly

"A masterclass in concise world building, incisive characterization, and a classic action plot that highlights honor, competency, and compassion against a background of betrayal, dazzling fight sequences, and secrets that must not be told." --Kate Elliott, author of Unconquerable Sun and The Witch Roads

"Fonda Lee has outdone herself. The Last Contract of Isako is totally gripping--the work of a master at the top of her game." --Sarah Gailey, Hugo Award-winning author of Just Like Home

"Fonda Lee has once again written a tale full of intrigue, nuanced characters, unexpected surprises, and action that keeps you on the edge of your seat!" --P. Djèlí Clark, Nebula, Locus, and Alex Award-winning author of A Master of Djinn

"A compelling tale of corporate samurai on a terraforming colony grappling with duty, honor and a murder mystery with a hell of a twist. Lee brings effortless worldbuilding and truly heartfelt characters to a visually slick space opera that fans of the Green Bone Saga are absolutely going to eat up. Both action-packed and at turns meditative, I loved every minute."--Rebecca Roanhorse, New York Times bestselling author of Black Sun

"Isako is the creaky-kneed, post-menopausal, no-time-for-your-shit hero that we need. May she usher in an age of protagonists who show us the power and depth of the veteran woman warrior! Lee's world of grit and professional honor and ethical quandary will be familiar to her fans, while she is also exploring new themes of transhumanism and disability that energize and resonate. If you came here for Jade City, you'll stay for Isako!" --Bethany Jacobs, Philip K. Dick Award-winning author of These Burning Stars

"Fonda Lee is a master of genre-bending adventure, and I couldn't wait to see where she'd take this mix of high stakes corporate gamesmanship and space colonization. I wasn't disappointed. The Last Contract of Isako may be her best work yet."

--James S. A. Corey, New York Times bestselling author of The Expanse series

About the Author

Fonda Lee is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling fantasy and science fiction author. Her modern epic, the Green Bone Saga, has been translated into fifteen languages and was named one of Time magazine's 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. She is also the author of the novella Untethered Sky and several young adult novels: Zeroboxer, the Exo duology, and, cowritten with Shannon Lee, the Breathmarked duology. Fonda is a winner of the World Fantasy Award and the Locus Award, as well as a six-time winner of the Aurora Award and a finalist for the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award. A former corporate strategist and black belt martial artist, she hails from Canada and the Pacific Northwest and currently resides in New England.