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Book Review of 2034: A Novel of the Next World War

2034: A Novel of the Next World War
caladan avatar reviewed on + 54 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


This book tries to develop the story from 5 characters and a geopolitical story to boot. It fails. While the writing is well done, the story itself is so implausible as to ruin the story. I like a good geopolitical story with a little limited war or limited battles to explore potential scenarios, but very little of this makes sense.
With the gut punch to America's forces in the beginning, the three-way battle near the end, the badly degraded condition of the American military throughout, it is very disappointing. Granted by 2034, the U.S. might be brought down a few notches to where we are easily handed our a$$e$ and easily shut down technologically, but I doubt it. Perhaps in 2050 or 2060, but not 2034. And I doubt the Chinese are capable of being that dominating over anyone technologically. China prefers Sun Tzu's guiding words to win without fighting a war. Unfortunately for China, they will always be vulnerable to internal politics, infighting and potential collapse. They are certainly capable of defending themselves and projecting power over the South China Sea, but not much more than that. And they will never conquer Taiwan in cake walk any more than they will so overwhelmingly dominate the early fighting as they do in this book.
Sorry Admiral, but this one is just not a keeper nor will it encourage me to read your other books though, judging only by titles, I am sure there is some good guidance to current leaders, naval and others, to be had in your writings.
But please leave the fiction to others.