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The Last Contract of Isako

The samurai science fiction epic from the author of Jade City

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The Last Contract of Isako

By: Fonda Lee
Narrated by: Dillon Sickels, Mary Robinette Kowal
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Get ready to be blown away by this searing standalone science fiction epic where corporate samurai fight beneath merciless stars, and death is always a mere breath away.

Isako is a legendary swordswoman, but every legend has to 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 legacy. But when a competitor offers her a final mission, it's one she can't refuse. Soon, she's thrust deep into a world of corporate espionage, duty-bound duels, and shadowy secrets. What she uncovers will change humanity's existence in the stars forever.

The Last Contract of Isako is the sci-fi you didn't know you needed: corporate samurai... in space. This is the first adult science fiction novel from the award-winning author of Jade City.

'A knife-sharp intense dystopian ride - this is Fonda Lee at her very best. A gritty, heartfelt, and explosive masterpiece' Tasha Suri, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Isle in the Silver Sea

'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, author of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi©2026 Fonda Lee (P)2026 Little, Brown Book Group Limited Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Opera Samurai Heartfelt Fiction
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Critic reviews

A knife-sharp intense dystopian ride-this is Fonda Lee at her very best. A gritty, heartfelt, and explosive masterpiece (Tasha Suri, author of The Isle in the Silver Sea)
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)
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, 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)
In a far-flung dystopia, Isako is a swordswoman bound by a code of honor, who finds herself caught between competing interests--where corporate powers, semi-immortal elites, and disgruntled radicals clash over an uncertain future. Released unexpectedly from her contract and made a ronin, Isako must plunge into the scheming underbelly of a hostile world to uncover a secret that might change everything. 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)
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 characterisation, and a classic action plot that highlights honour, competency and compassion against a background of betrayal, dazzling fight sequences, and secrets that must not be told (Kate Elliott)
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 honour and no easy choices. A modern science fiction masterpiece (Eliza Chan, author of Fathomfolk)
Brilliant space opera ... Lee enhances her vivid worldbuilding and riveting plot with evocative prose. The story stands alone, but readers will be left hoping for future visits to this gorgeously crafted world (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
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I came to respect, and enjoy spending time with, the characters of the book. I would have liked to see more consequences for the powerful and justice for those characters at the end, although I appreciate that the ending did feel fitting for the harsh and unforgiving world of Aquilo.

A harsh and unforgiving world

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Stylishly done. And does intrigue really effectively. By the end I was way more invested than I thought I would be.

Actually great

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Fonda Lee is soooo good at creating believable yet fantastical settings and populating them with characters that feel like real people. I loved the detective noir / corporate intrigue story. I truly hope there will be more books set on Aquilo in the future. I want to explore this world more. Hard recommend, especially for all the cyberpunk fans.

Spectacular and believable cyberpunk sci-fi

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Stellar world building and characters with real depth and fleshed out lives, id love a sequal but it's a standalone hit

into the vastness

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I was transported into Tenacity and I did not want to leave. Such great characters and tension throughout.

That was so awesome

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