superike's review against another edition
3.0
This novel is about a future conflict between the United States and China. What makes it different is that almost every bit of technology figuring in the novel is backed by references to sources. It means that the military tech portrayed and how it is being used may potentially exist in the near future. The background of the conflict - a war between United States and China - was similar to another novel I read recently, "2034: A Novel of the Next World War". But the novels differ quite dramatically in how the war is ultimately conducted but I won't say more so as not to spoil it for you.
However, what they share together is the major impact cyberwarfare has on potential armed conflict. Most people tend to think that weapons systems are becoming more and more sophisticated due to the digital and cyber evolution. It's true, but at the same time not many people realize how this electronic wizardy is opening all kinds of dangerous weaknesses that did not exist previously.
Those weaknesses are very much on display in Ghost Fleet. As I was reading, it dawns on you that the fact that China has becoming a global manufacturing hub for almost every electronic components used across the globe cannot be reduced to the benefits of paying less for your spanking new 4K 55-inch TV. It has national security consequences too and it's scary to read about that in the book.
The actual story plot and the characters are OK but the meat of the book is really how future military tech will or could work. 3 stars and recommended if the subject matter interests you.
However, what they share together is the major impact cyberwarfare has on potential armed conflict. Most people tend to think that weapons systems are becoming more and more sophisticated due to the digital and cyber evolution. It's true, but at the same time not many people realize how this electronic wizardy is opening all kinds of dangerous weaknesses that did not exist previously.
Those weaknesses are very much on display in Ghost Fleet. As I was reading, it dawns on you that the fact that China has becoming a global manufacturing hub for almost every electronic components used across the globe cannot be reduced to the benefits of paying less for your spanking new 4K 55-inch TV. It has national security consequences too and it's scary to read about that in the book.
The actual story plot and the characters are OK but the meat of the book is really how future military tech will or could work. 3 stars and recommended if the subject matter interests you.
jmltgu's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting read for the ideas and potential challenges or technological applications of a future war. An imaginative work more so than a literary one, I would consider it instructive in helping people (particularly those in the military or defense world) think about current postures and various technologies.
iconoclastthinker's review against another edition
5.0
A techno-thriller that would make Clancy a bit jealous.
Well-written and fast paced. The audiobook version reminds me of World War Z (minus the full cast), but hones in on a semi-realistic conflict between the U.S. and China and the difficulties the U.S. would face.
Well-written and fast paced. The audiobook version reminds me of World War Z (minus the full cast), but hones in on a semi-realistic conflict between the U.S. and China and the difficulties the U.S. would face.
hayo's review against another edition
3.0
So this looks like a novel written by defense analysts. By the writing style, probably their first shot at fiction. It reads well enough (finished in 2 days), but it has some problems.
It does read like a policy paper, or more like a blog post. The story is basically divided up into small posts on technology the authors like or dislike, and proceed to put that technology in the situation where they see it prevail or fail. It must feel good to write it like this, and not to have to quote numbers or other things for a change.
The plot is flimsy, the pretext for war ridiculous. The bad guys are almost cartoonish. There is no character development. But it's a fun, comical read for anyone up to speed on the latest defense-tech gossip. So 5 points for fun, 1 point for the actual writing.
It does read like a policy paper, or more like a blog post. The story is basically divided up into small posts on technology the authors like or dislike, and proceed to put that technology in the situation where they see it prevail or fail. It must feel good to write it like this, and not to have to quote numbers or other things for a change.
The plot is flimsy, the pretext for war ridiculous. The bad guys are almost cartoonish. There is no character development. But it's a fun, comical read for anyone up to speed on the latest defense-tech gossip. So 5 points for fun, 1 point for the actual writing.
jdbanker's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
steelcitygator's review against another edition
3.0
A clear inspiration and update on the classic "Red Storm Rising," it fails to really capture some of what made that great but is still an enjoyable experience for anyone interested in the subject. My first issue with the book is how much it jumps around. Gaining different perspectives in a war scenario book like this is good but some of the storylines needed trimming from the story. Early on they jump super quickly and it destroys any flow and can be quite confusing for the reader trying to parse together the timeline. None of the storylines are bad enough to flag as the one that needs cut and it feels better at the end of the book when they start wrapping up and spending more time with each but it takes a long time to get there.
That said, the ending is really great. Once they start getting into the battle at the end you really get the feel you want from a book like this. It makes you wish there were more like it in the book as even the insurgent sections seem mostly bereft of fighting. I also think the beginning could have gone with some adversity. Seemingly the winning side has everything go perfectly to a degree that feels off. It is war, something goes wrong.
That said it's pretty enjoyable and if you're into the sort of style of work like Red Storm Rising it scratches the same itch just less efficiently. There are not a ton of books in this category, especially modern focused ones compared to the cold war era and you will enjoy it.
That said, the ending is really great. Once they start getting into the battle at the end you really get the feel you want from a book like this. It makes you wish there were more like it in the book as even the insurgent sections seem mostly bereft of fighting. I also think the beginning could have gone with some adversity. Seemingly the winning side has everything go perfectly to a degree that feels off. It is war, something goes wrong.
That said it's pretty enjoyable and if you're into the sort of style of work like Red Storm Rising it scratches the same itch just less efficiently. There are not a ton of books in this category, especially modern focused ones compared to the cold war era and you will enjoy it.
nelsta's review against another edition
2.0
This book has a great strength and an enormous weakness. In terms of research, the book is stellar. With over 400 endnotes, Ghost Fleet is a wonderful theoretic case study info the future of great power conflict. The uses of technology between technologically advanced powers is incredible and apparently authentic.
But the great weakness in this book is the reason I couldn’t finish it. The writing is B-grade and the characters are cliché. Nobody seems original and the conversations between characters seem to serve the overall narrative rather than the character’s own motives. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and they felt like they were cheap Chinese copies (hah, get it?) of Tom Clancy characters.
The ultimate disappointment for me was the lack of world building. Enormous events are mentioned off-hand, but there is little to no reason offered for why China and Russia would magically team up to take on the United States. Weak explanations are offered as to why the US didn’t use its nuclear arsenal to defend its own territory (I mean seriously weak, paper-thin excuses).
If you’re interested in the future of war, just read about it on Wikipedia.
But the great weakness in this book is the reason I couldn’t finish it. The writing is B-grade and the characters are cliché. Nobody seems original and the conversations between characters seem to serve the overall narrative rather than the character’s own motives. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and they felt like they were cheap Chinese copies (hah, get it?) of Tom Clancy characters.
The ultimate disappointment for me was the lack of world building. Enormous events are mentioned off-hand, but there is little to no reason offered for why China and Russia would magically team up to take on the United States. Weak explanations are offered as to why the US didn’t use its nuclear arsenal to defend its own territory (I mean seriously weak, paper-thin excuses).
If you’re interested in the future of war, just read about it on Wikipedia.
readerxxx's review against another edition
3.0
The book was well written but lack of cohesion and linear story telling made me quit reading it.
ultrastable's review against another edition
2.0
unintentionally fascinating look at the current technostrategic obsessions of the military-intellectual complex's younger generation