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Book: 2034: A Novel of the Next World War
Authors: Elliot Ackerman and James Stavridis
Review by: Monique B. Seefried, Ph.D., commissioner of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission
A fictional geopolitical thriller about a potential nuclear conflict arising in the South China Sea, 2034 is not only a cautionary tale but also an extremely well written and thought-provoking book — a real page turner. It is about the specter of a third World War that defines a new international order. China, Russia, the United States, Iran and India are the main actors in a setting where cyber force, technology and human ingenuity become intertwined and inseparable.
Once I started the book, I couldn’t put it down, despite my unease at the story unfolding before my eyes. Had I not spent the past 10 years commemorating the 120,000 Americans who died in World War I? Had I not grown up in the shadows of World War II, with men and women who fought to liberate France? Did I want to read about another terrible conflict, an all-devastating one that would see millions of Chinese and Americans killed by nuclear strikes?
Indeed, I wanted to. I wanted to learn more. I wanted to think about ways to avoid such a disaster, to understand how and why it could happen. The characters, the facts, the constant suspense and the tempo of the action so captivated me that I couldn’t stop reading.
Just like in the years and months preceding World War I, the tensions existing right now between the United States, Russia, China and Iran could easily lead us to a war just by accident. These countries have demonstrated lately that they are more intent at defining their own economic, military and political power than preserving old alliances and finding compromises.
This novel tempers its high-level perspective born of the authors’ extraordinary military experience and understanding of international issues with glimpses of characters apt to bridge differences. It highlights the constructive role of immigrants, who bring cultural knowledge and personal connections that lead them to advocate for understanding. One of them is Lin Bao, a Chinese admiral with an American mother who studied at the Naval War College and dreams to go back there and teach history. Another is American Sandeep Chowdhury, deputy national security advisor, whose uncle is a vice-admiral in the Indian Navy.
Women are also vital to the story. The most central character is a woman, Sarah Hunt, the commander of a U.S. flotilla in the South China Seas. The president of the United States is also a woman, elected as an independent (a nod to the preferences of author James Stavridis, also an Independent.) Stavridis led the NATO Alliance from 2009 to 2013 as Supreme Allied Commander, heading up global operations. His fellow author, Elliot Ackerman, is a combat veteran from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a Silver Star and Purple Heart recipient.
More recently, I had the chance to discuss his book with Admiral Stavridis. Despite penning an unsparing cautionary tale, he doesn’t believe a tragic outcome is inevitable; in his view, leadership will define how the story turns out. Stavridis remains an optimist, a strong believer in democracy and its future. He also believes that Russia and China are not the natural allies they’re sometimes seen to be, given their resource disparities.
Meanwhile, I remain personally concerned that a spark could ignite a conflict, and I’m grateful that this book sounds a strong warning that war would be utter folly. In my view, 2034 also brings to the fore the urgent need for the United States to develop a a strong cyber force.
Editor’s notes: Global Atlanta will receive a 10 percent commission on any purchase of this book through the links on this page. Bookshop.org also contributes 10 percent of the purchase price of each book to independent booksellers around the United States.
Each year, Global Atlanta asks influential readers and community leaders to review the most impactful book they read during the course of the year. This endeavor has continued annually since 2010.
See last year’s full list of books on BookShop here, and all 2020 reader reviews here.
All books were chosen and reviews written independently, with only mild editing from our staff.
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