Okinawa: Future War, Book 2

In the prologue of Holden’s thoughtful and inventive second military thriller about near-future conflicts involving the U.S. (after 2018’s Bering Strait), a Japanese lieutenant, Tadao Kato, dies on a kamikaze mission during WWII after predicting that Japan and China will ultimately join forces against the U.S. Flash forward to 2033 when Kato’s vision is realized. His great-grandson, Takuya Kato, also a pilot in the Japanese military, is assigned to Red Dove, “the first-ever joint military exercise between Japan and the People’s Republic of China.” Red Dove is launched after China has achieved its goal of building up its navy to the point where it’s a match for the American navy. The U.S. faces demands from both countries that it abandon its last naval facility on Okinawa, as a crafty cyberattack threatens an advanced, AI-enhanced, underwater American weapon. Holden’s plausible geopolitical developments, including the unification of Korea, will help readers buy in to the exciting story line. Tom Clancy fans will be pleased. (Self-published)