2034

A Novel of the Next World War

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Elliot Ackerman, James Stavridis: 2034 (2021, Penguin Publishing Group)

320 pages

English language

Published Aug. 20, 2021 by Penguin Publishing Group.

ISBN:
978-1-9848-8125-0
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Review of '2034' on 'Goodreads'

Out of the gate, this book is a page-turner. I would definitely not rank it as a bubblegum read, but a fast one for sure.

However, after a critical event halfway through, the book kinda starts to drag. I think the authors had a clear plan of the crisis point they wanted to hit, but once they got there they lost the momentum that had propelled the shape of their story; the possibilities fan out, a river expanding into its delta, and we slowly pick through the pieces.

I understand that this was written as a cautionary tale, but they really lay on the moralizing at the end; even with that relative weakness, it was an excellent read and definitely serves its cautionary purpose.

Review of '2034' on 'Goodreads'

I enjoyed this book about a possible next world war between the USA and China.
It serves as a warning how things can go wrong, very wrong.

It's also an interesting thought exercise on how things could play out in such a war.
It's only a bit annoying that he had to "invent" some bizar tech to give the Chinese the upper hand. Although wars are won with new tech it feels still a bit fantastic.

I love these near-future stories as they open my mind to possibilities of a future. If you;re the same, go read it. If not, read someone else.

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