The Last One was my favorite read of 2022. I thought the concept and execution were really well done and I've never read anything quite like it. It's a disaster story and a survival story but it's also a great, fast paced psychological thriller.

It seems like a lot of readers were bothered and/or confused about the contestants' nicknames. It was a bit clunky at times but overall I think it added to the story. Some of the nicknames are racist and/or misogynist so I understand being uncomfortable about that.

First, there's several real life reality shows that give participants nicknames (that may or may not be demeaning). Second, I think the author was trying to show how reality TV producers exploit and dehumanize their participants. Through editing and various other means of manipulation, producers turn participants into caricatures of themselves. Plus, taking away someone's real name while they're participating in a manufactured competition, adds to the psychological manipulation that makes people act differently than they might otherwise or make them lose sight of who they are beyond the confines of the show. If your fellow contestants think of you as a dehumanized stereotype, they're more likely to say salacious, insensitive things about you on camera, which is the whole point of reality TV.

In my experience reading The Last One, the nicknames contributed to the overall unsettling vibe of the book. They add to the feeling of isolation and disconnect.