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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was quite possibly the saddest book I've read this year. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to pile on a novel about a potential WW3 on top of current events that involve Ukraine/Russia, Israel/Palestine, and American domestic politics.
And yet, I can't help but feel that, despite the numerous flaws that naturally come out in a plausible military fiction book that takes itself seriously like this, it's important that more Americans read 2034 and other books like it. If nothing else, the world that Elliot Ackerman and James Stavridis craft here is similar enough and plausible enough that my generation may live through a crisis event like this. Arguably, we kind of are living through it now.
I could absolutely pick apart the numerous flaws in this book. I could state something about the narrowness of a military focus on this version of WW3 limiting the scope and realism of the book. I could talk about the numerous characters on all sides of the conflict that are somewhat one dimensional or military fiction cliches. I could even mention how I've read other military fiction books that are more fun or more accurate.
But I think doing all that is missing the point. This book is meant to be a warning from two authors with decades of military experience that likely showed them how the world can so easily sleepwalk into conflict and how America's divisions are weakening it from the inside. This book was originally published in 2021, which means certain predictions of the rest of the 2020s are already off the mark, but it is telling that the main conflagration point, that is, a Sino-American war in the Pacific, remains a very real possibility today. It may be interesting to go back to this book 10 years from now and see how things shook out. That is of course, if global society holds together.
Almost as if they knew this book would depress me, the authors threw in a semi-hopeful ending, but I've seen and studied too much of America's domestic situation to conclude anything other than American society collapsing in on itself if the events of this book were to play out in real life. This is perhaps why I am giving this five stars and recommending this to all Americans to read. Certain ideologically motivated groups in this country, or individuals that would rather keep to themselves and not care about current events happening around them, don't seem to understand the responsibility that comes with being an American citizen of voting age in such a hyper-connected world. The consequences are right here in this book for you to experience. I felt dead inside after reading this book, but it also weirdly motivated me.
A very high recommend with a strong warning that this is not a fun military fiction adventure. It's a dire warning in the current context of global conflict and domestic division. But you should read it, and so should the rest of America.
And yet, I can't help but feel that, despite the numerous flaws that naturally come out in a plausible military fiction book that takes itself seriously like this, it's important that more Americans read 2034 and other books like it. If nothing else, the world that Elliot Ackerman and James Stavridis craft here is similar enough and plausible enough that my generation may live through a crisis event like this. Arguably, we kind of are living through it now.
I could absolutely pick apart the numerous flaws in this book. I could state something about the narrowness of a military focus on this version of WW3 limiting the scope and realism of the book. I could talk about the numerous characters on all sides of the conflict that are somewhat one dimensional or military fiction cliches. I could even mention how I've read other military fiction books that are more fun or more accurate.
But I think doing all that is missing the point. This book is meant to be a warning from two authors with decades of military experience that likely showed them how the world can so easily sleepwalk into conflict and how America's divisions are weakening it from the inside. This book was originally published in 2021, which means certain predictions of the rest of the 2020s are already off the mark, but it is telling that the main conflagration point, that is, a Sino-American war in the Pacific, remains a very real possibility today. It may be interesting to go back to this book 10 years from now and see how things shook out. That is of course, if global society holds together.
Almost as if they knew this book would depress me, the authors threw in a semi-hopeful ending, but I've seen and studied too much of America's domestic situation to conclude anything other than American society collapsing in on itself if the events of this book were to play out in real life. This is perhaps why I am giving this five stars and recommending this to all Americans to read. Certain ideologically motivated groups in this country, or individuals that would rather keep to themselves and not care about current events happening around them, don't seem to understand the responsibility that comes with being an American citizen of voting age in such a hyper-connected world. The consequences are right here in this book for you to experience. I felt dead inside after reading this book, but it also weirdly motivated me.
A very high recommend with a strong warning that this is not a fun military fiction adventure. It's a dire warning in the current context of global conflict and domestic division. But you should read it, and so should the rest of America.
In 2034, the U.S. is politically isolated and China has a technological advantage. A military chess game begins when a U.S. naval vessel captures a Chinese ship that appears to have military technology, a deliberate attempt by China to force a confrontation and, in doing. so, gain control of the South China Sea. Meanwhile, an American pilot is captured in a power play by Iran. Add the involvement of Russia and India and its brinkmanship from all sides, with everyone pushing hard to gain the upper hand.
The book focuses on events from a variety of points of view, including a sympathetic but out of his depth Iranian with anger management issues; a Chinese Admiral whose mother is American; an Indo-American whose family background gives him more sway than anyone (himself included) could imagine; and, the odd man out, an American who is part of a long line of military pilots, whose penchant for times gone by will either make him a hero or active participant in a horrific military action.
People make life-altering decisions based on how they think other people will react, but the Mike Tyson truism that everyone has a plan until they're punched in the face comes into play. Here, everyone's plans are affected by human miscalculation, with tragic consequences.
2034 isn't just a Tom Clancy-style techno-thriller. Using a lean, efficient writing style, the book features empathetic characters who actively demonstrate how things can go devastatingly awry in a situation with enormously high stakes.
The book focuses on events from a variety of points of view, including a sympathetic but out of his depth Iranian with anger management issues; a Chinese Admiral whose mother is American; an Indo-American whose family background gives him more sway than anyone (himself included) could imagine; and, the odd man out, an American who is part of a long line of military pilots, whose penchant for times gone by will either make him a hero or active participant in a horrific military action.
People make life-altering decisions based on how they think other people will react, but the Mike Tyson truism that everyone has a plan until they're punched in the face comes into play. Here, everyone's plans are affected by human miscalculation, with tragic consequences.
2034 isn't just a Tom Clancy-style techno-thriller. Using a lean, efficient writing style, the book features empathetic characters who actively demonstrate how things can go devastatingly awry in a situation with enormously high stakes.
As a Pakistani Canadian, I'm conflicted.
Pro: America in the shitter.
Con: Indian supremacy.
2.5 stars
Pro: America in the shitter.
Con: Indian supremacy.
2.5 stars
Not a Tom Clancy novel but interesting enough. It seemed to be very realistic and it did have interesting characters.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a great read right up to the end. Then it left so many questions unanswered and plot lines seemingly unfinished. Don't get me wrong, I still loved it - just not as much as I thought I woould.
“The lesson of the Maine- or even Iraq, where I fought- is that you better be goddamn sure you know what’s going on before you start a war.”
This novel turned out to be surprisingly nuanced for this genre, or perhaps not the genre I assumed it to be. When I was younger, the military techno-thriller was a mainstay of my reading. I soured on them because they tend to be exceedingly jingoistic. This one still has a lot of the characteristics typical to the genre- lots of exposition, one dimensional characters to deliver it, a bit of techno-babble, etc. But on the day I was finishing it, the NYT ran a story on the increasing tensions between the US and China. Bloomberg posted an essay by Niall Ferguson on the continued importance of Taiwan as a Chinese policy aim, the growing hawkish stance of the US towards China and the historical trend of a rising power challenging the established hegemonic power (the classic Thucydides Trap). The themes of this novel, its chief warnings, are playing out IRL. What also sets this novel apart is that much of the actual military action takes place off screen. In other words, it is more political science couched in novel form (a la World War Z) and less Tom Clancy. Frighteningly plausible, if not always elegantly written, this book is not one to ignore.
This novel turned out to be surprisingly nuanced for this genre, or perhaps not the genre I assumed it to be. When I was younger, the military techno-thriller was a mainstay of my reading. I soured on them because they tend to be exceedingly jingoistic. This one still has a lot of the characteristics typical to the genre- lots of exposition, one dimensional characters to deliver it, a bit of techno-babble, etc. But on the day I was finishing it, the NYT ran a story on the increasing tensions between the US and China. Bloomberg posted an essay by Niall Ferguson on the continued importance of Taiwan as a Chinese policy aim, the growing hawkish stance of the US towards China and the historical trend of a rising power challenging the established hegemonic power (the classic Thucydides Trap). The themes of this novel, its chief warnings, are playing out IRL. What also sets this novel apart is that much of the actual military action takes place off screen. In other words, it is more political science couched in novel form (a la World War Z) and less Tom Clancy. Frighteningly plausible, if not always elegantly written, this book is not one to ignore.
Plausible
Tit for tat; two superpowers filled with hubris and unwilling to view or even try to understand the others' pov. This leads to escalation and side involvement of other players until an up and coming power steps in to squelch the hostilities. An interesting, but not a gripping read.
Tit for tat; two superpowers filled with hubris and unwilling to view or even try to understand the others' pov. This leads to escalation and side involvement of other players until an up and coming power steps in to squelch the hostilities. An interesting, but not a gripping read.
One of the best future histories I've read in a while. If you can hold your nose in the beginning when exposed to some eye-rolling cookie cutter trope characters, the novel will subvert expectations. I also had to suspend disbelief a bit as US adversaries are implausibly able to employ previously unknown weapons capabilities at will and in theater.
This is similar to how I felt about the apocalypse book Lights Out. It's much better than the climate change catastrophe book Ministry for the Future.
This is similar to how I felt about the apocalypse book Lights Out. It's much better than the climate change catastrophe book Ministry for the Future.
I read the excerpt in Wired magazine. Compelling spy thriller stuff.