I was curious about the ideas behind this book and the political element felt realistic and well thought out. But there was too much technical description and not enough character development for me. I felt the characters were poorly drawn and rather wooden.

The current reliance on high tech warfare was very made however and acts as a good warning.

“2034” by Elliot Ackerman and James Stavridis is a white-knuckle ride through a future that feels all too real. This isn’t your average geopolitical thriller; it’s a well crafted extrapolation of current tensions, woven into a narrative so believable it chills you to the bone.

The authors, with their combined expertise in military affairs and international relations, paint a vivid picture of a world teetering on the brink. The escalating conflict between the U.S. and China in the South China Sea feels ripped from the headlines, making the stakes feel terrifyingly real. But within the heart-pounding action sequences, Ackerman and Stavridis offer insightful commentary on the complexities of modern warfare, cyber threats, and the fragility of global power dynamics.

“2034” isn’t just about delivering thrills; it’s a stark warning about the potential consequences of unchecked ambition and miscalculation. The ending, while bleak, serves as a powerful wake-up call, urging readers to consider the real-world implications of the fictional events they just witnessed.

“2034” is a must-read for anyone interested in geopolitics, international relations, or simply a good, old-fashioned adrenaline rush.

2034 is a political thriller set in the near future that starts with a routine US naval patrol in the South China sea and leads to a devastating cross world denouement. The characters, though interesting are used to propel the story and are never really fleshed out. Too much tell rather than show but a gripping authentic read. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

This is a story about consequences- what happens when someone goes a bit further than expected. A routine patrol off the Chinese coast uncovers a plot which has global implications. Set in the near future, there is enough familiarity with the current politics of the major players to suggest it all could happen. A conversation between old friends can influence the outcome of a diplomatic incident. There is also enough of the personal history of some of the characters to keep the reader engaged - we become invested in their lives. An easy read but a reminder too of the consequences of politics, technology, history, relationships in the decision making around the world. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a prepublication ebookin return for an honest review.

This is not the sort of book I would usually choose, but the cover caught my eye and I'm so glad it did! I don't want to give away any more than the blurb already says but the story follows the two characters mentioned there, along with several others and explores how the decisions of only a few people, can have catastrophic knock-on consequences globally. The story is pacy and there were several events that were completely unexpected. I liked several of the characters and found them to be really well-written. I have found myself thinking and talking about this book a lot more than I expected too.

Reasonable thriller that’s evidently well informed and therefore brings a higher level of veracity than your usual… but the research and military knowledge lands heavily on the page at times and quite a few characters feel more like exposition sources than real people. I enjoyed the developing geopolitical situation which brought a sense of tension as a pageturner, but ultimately it left me rather cold. Solid and interesting, rather than thrilling

Lightening paced page turner. I found this one difficult to put down!

I enjoyed ,in particular, the military detail and the Chinese politobureau elements both of which led to how realistic this potential scenario put forth in the book is.

I did find myself having to go back on a couple of occasion as I was sure I’d missed something, I hadn’t . I think a couple of the chapters could have benefitted from more detail and there was a little bit of telling not showing but overall a gripping read.

I’m really looking forward to the next book, which I believe is set a further 20 years into the future .