Reviews
"War with China is the most dangerous scenario facing us and the world. Absent a strategic method to manage our differences, Jim Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman's chilling novel presents a realistic series of miscalculations leading to the worst consequences. A sobering, cautionary tale for our time." --Jim Mattis, General, U.S. Marines (ret.) and 26th Secretary of Defense "A real page-turner, 2034 is a novel about a conflict we hope never happens. Drawing on their deep operational and diplomatic backgrounds, Admiral Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman have conjured a nightmare we desperately need to avoid. The novel is a cautionary tale for our times, and a reminder how quickly events can spin out of control--even before 2034." --Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense 2006-2011 "I could not stop reading 2034 . With sharply drawn, vibrant characters caught in an all too plausible future conflict, the novel left me fascinated, moved, thrilled and, ultimately, haunted." --Phil Klay, author of Missionaries, "A real page-turner, 2034 is a novel about a conflict we hope never happens. Drawing on their deep operational and diplomatic backgrounds, Admiral Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman have conjured a nightmare we desperately need to avoid. The novel is a cautionary tale for our times, and a reminder how quickly events can spin out of control--even before 2034." --Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense 2006-2011, "Utterly engrossing . . . [ 2034 ] is incredibly well-written, deeply thought-provoking, and it makes for uncomfortable and sober reading--in the best of ways . . . .. . . There is also an unexpected emotional rawness to the characters. This, in hindsight, should not come as a surprise. Elliot Ackerman is one of the finest writers to come out of this generation of military veterans and officers . . . The pairing of Mr. Ackerman and Adm. Stavridis is inspired. Both have military backgrounds as officers, both are accomplished writers in their own right, and both complement each other exceptionally well and have produced a fantastic work of fiction. . . .This is a book that sets the pulse as well as the mind racing but doesn''t let the reader off with a cheap or easy thrill. It is sobering and chilling." --Joshua Huminski, Diplomatic Courier "Consider this another vaccine against disaster. Fortunately, this dose won''t cause a temporary fever--and it happens to be a rippingly good read. Turns out that even cautionary tales can be exciting, when the future we''re most excited about is the one where they never come true." -- Wired "A frightening look at how a major-power showdown might race out of control. . . . This compelling thriller should be required reading for our national leaders and translated into Mandarin." -- Kirkus (starred) "Those seeking a realistic look at how a future world war might play out will be rewarded." -- Publishers Weekly "Chilling yet compulsively readable work of speculative fiction . . . Ackerman and Stavridis have created a brilliantly executed geopolitical tale that is impossible to put down and that serves as a dire, all-too-plausible warning that recent events could have catastrophic consequences." --Booklist, starred review "War with China is the most dangerous scenario facing us and the world. Absent a strategic method to manage our differences, Jim Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman''s chilling novel presents a realistic series of miscalculations leading to the worst consequences. A sobering, cautionary tale for our time." --Jim Mattis, General, U.S. Marines (Ret.) and 26th Secretary of Defense "A brilliant thriller! Masterfully plotted and elegantly written, 2034 is a literary tour-de-force. Let''s just hope none of it comes true." --Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Near Dark "A real page-turner, 2034 is a novel about a conflict we hope never happens. Drawing on their deep operational and diplomatic backgrounds, Admiral Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman have conjured a nightmare we desperately need to avoid. The novel is a cautionary tale for our times, and a reminder how quickly events can spin out of control--even before 2034." --Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense 2006-2011 "I could not stop reading 2034 . With sharply drawn, vibrant characters caught in an all too plausible future conflict, the novel left me fascinated, moved, thrilled and, ultimately, haunted." --Phil Klay, author of Missionaries " 2034 is an exciting, interesting, and informative novel about a hypothetical future war with China that is largely determined by actual decisions already made. It describes in detail how a single technological leap forward by an adversary, in this case China, could destroy our ability to communicate, resulting in a blind, hapless military. It also demonstrates how today''s military policies will leave a future United States without adequate resources to wage a high intensity conventional war and be forced to resort to a first strike nuclear response and its horrific consequences. Anyone who is concerned about where today''s military technology decisions are taking us should read this book." --Karl Marlantes, author of Matterhorn and Deep River, "Chilling yet compulsively readable work of speculative fiction . . . Ackerman and Stavridis have created a brilliantly executed geopolitical tale that is impossible to put down and that serves as a dire, all-too-plausible warning that recent events could have catastrophic consequences." --Booklist, starred review "War with China is the most dangerous scenario facing us and the world. Absent a strategic method to manage our differences, Jim Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman's chilling novel presents a realistic series of miscalculations leading to the worst consequences. A sobering, cautionary tale for our time." --Jim Mattis, General, U.S. Marines (Ret.) and 26th Secretary of Defense "A brilliant thriller! Masterfully plotted and elegantly written, 2034 is a literary tour-de-force. Let's just hope none of it comes true." --Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Near Dark "A real page-turner, 2034 is a novel about a conflict we hope never happens. Drawing on their deep operational and diplomatic backgrounds, Admiral Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman have conjured a nightmare we desperately need to avoid. The novel is a cautionary tale for our times, and a reminder how quickly events can spin out of control--even before 2034." --Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense 2006-2011 "I could not stop reading 2034 . With sharply drawn, vibrant characters caught in an all too plausible future conflict, the novel left me fascinated, moved, thrilled and, ultimately, haunted." --Phil Klay, author of Missionaries " 2034 is an exciting, interesting, and informative novel about a hypothetical future war with China that is largely determined by actual decisions already made. It describes in detail how a single technological leap forward by an adversary, in this case China, could destroy our ability to communicate, resulting in a blind, hapless military. It also demonstrates how today's military policies will leave a future United States without adequate resources to wage a high intensity conventional war and be forced to resort to a first strike nuclear response and its horrific consequences. Anyone who is concerned about where today's military technology decisions are taking us should read this book." --Karl Marlantes, author of Matterhorn and Deep River