A bit of Battlestar Galactica and Tom Clancy

For the first half of the book, I thought I had not enjoyed a fictional book like this since reading the first few Tom Clancy books as a teenager in the early 90s. But then, towards the end, I found that it seemed to lose steam. While there's a coda, and an interview with the author (which I've never seen in an audibook before), I think the book should have gone on for a few more chapters and, um, ended. I was not satisfied in that regard. Maybe the authors had to hit a delivery deadline?
This book also takes pains to hit every nearly social justice warrior item you can imagine. It even takes a swing at fracking.
Spoilers:
The book draws heavily from the 2003 Battlestar Galactica mini-series, where the Cylons have the ability to hack the colonial navy's networked fighters and ships, leaving them defenceless destroying them. The authors might as well called the Chinese "Cylons." They even resort to using ancient fighters as their go-to to fight back, just like BSG. That whole plot-line is very poorly paid off, however. Indeed, I don't think it was paid off much at all. I think they should be sending Ronald D. Moore and David Eick royalty checks.
Written by an admiral, I expected fewer flights of fantasy. I didn't know an F-18 could carry Tsar Bomba, because that's what it would have needed to accomplish what happens, twice, in this book. So much for only using "tactical" nukes. As for the two American cities hit by nukes, one makes perfect sense, the second does not. It should have been Bremerton.
As an admiral, you would think somewhere in this book, U.S Navy submarines would have played a part? Like a salvo or ten of Tomahawks? Maybe a torpedo? I realize that might be pining for Tom Clancy, but there's no way a naval war with Japan does not involve the U.S. Navy's nuclear fleet.
And, given the impact last week of one ship stuck in the Suez Canal, this book doesn't even touch on what would happen to global trade in a war with China. What, are all those container ships going to keep flowing from China to Long Beach while all this is going on? Who would buy the West's exports?
Russia's involvement seemed hackneyed, at best. And they could magically make a whole division of Spetsnaz appear, only to have a "divine wind" intervene? Because that's what happened.
These are some of the reasons why the second half seemed to fall apart for me. After a good setup, it was a poor ending.

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Boardrooms instead of battlefields

Huge military events are given one sentence descriptions, mundane conversations are given pages.

Not sure why this is set in 2034...
Other than some random references to cyber warfare there’s nothing that requires this tale being set any other time than now.

Ambitious, but falls short.

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A one-star book by a four-star admiral

To quote another reviewer with whom I completely agree: "Thermonuclear exchanges are glossed over without as much attention as a fender bender in a mall parking lot. The cast of characters are sketched in as stick figures with zero insight into the decision making processes that brought about this disaster." Climate change is mentioned only once, as having reset global geopolitics, without describing what was done and who mainly benefited (presumably the Chinese). But this is in 2034, barely a dozen years from now! The main characters seem to be involved at many intersections of the plot, completely unbelievably. The ending is pure Dr. Strangelove.

The admiral is the "game theorist" part of the authorial partnership and the plot is unimpressive, whereas the novelist partner fails to meet his obligations in this novel.

Exciting!

Well written near-future military conflict story. Would have been realistic, right up until the events of the last year. Obviously it would be foolish and unnecessary for China to engage with the brave men and women in western militaries. The vast majority of people in the west have shown that we have zero grit and willingness to stand up to any threat at all. They would just have to make threatening noises and we would immediately run to our basements and instruct our politicians to give them anything that they ask for. Interesting and thought-provoking story nonetheless.

It was ok... it was a bookclub book

interesting idea but fell short on the character depth. overall cool idea for the future

a must read for the times

with every passing day, it seems we're sleepwalking toward the events of this book. entertaining, engaging and thought provoking.

A heading is required

The story suffered in the telling; intermittently young adult and soap opera. I liked the narrators.

Not quite what I expected, but still solid

The Good:

Narration was excellent
Author clearly has a complex understanding of naval and nuclear warfare
Builds to a very enthralling climax
Cycles of escalation were well thought out
American and select foreign characters were relatable
Action scenes were exciting and didn't get bogged down with hard to follow details

The Bad:

Cyber warfare technology which initiates the conflict is very much a handwaved mcguffin.
Complete lack of clarity as to the nature of the new technology makes it impossible for reader to think about how the characters might address it.
Chinese, Russian, and Iranian characters, with 1 notable exception, come off as Bond villians with completely sensless motives.

Overall:

Quite good. If you are hoping for a deep analysis of potential cyber warfare you will be sorely dissapointed. However, if you are looking for a well thought out protrayal of how a modern superpower conflict would look, with good action and a few interesting characters, I would definetly reccomend it.

excellent book smart intelligent

as a Canadian wallflower I really like this book because it was a realistic take on what is going on in America I’ve read all Tom Clancy‘s books and the Tom Clancy world and that is more of aurora gung ho Jack Ryan type of character driven book this is a little more realistic all seems less propaganda a great book a great read. very insightful

A short-ish, interesting, well written listen

The good. The author is an efficient but very good writer. The story moved at good pace. The scenario they created seemed possible, though I think some of the plot devices (e.g., cyber warfare) were overused, unrealistic. The handle on geo-politics was good I thought and they captured the US and China well. Not so sure about India...

The bad. It was perhaps a bit too efficient. I would have liked to have seen more depth added to each of the characters and the authors skipped over long periods of time that could have added more depth to what was a shallow story. IMO they greatly overstated one country's capabilities and this took away from the story. Finally, there ever was to be a WW3, rest assured, America's allies would play some important role. NATO is mentioned in passing. I think this is an example of the efficiency issue mentioned above.

Overall, I would recommend, if you're into this genre.