by Dale Brown
First published 2012
China successfully tests its anti-ship ballistic missile, threatening American naval dominance in the Pacific. President Kenneth Phoenix faces a crisis as the economically weakened United States lacks funds to match China's advancing military technology. Retired Air Force Lieutenant General Patrick McLanahan refuses to accept defeat. He proposes refurbishing aging B-1B Lancer bombers to execute an AirSea Battle strategy against Chinese forces. McLanahan convinces leadership that older aircraft can counter newer threats through tactical innovation. The People's Liberation Army responds by deploying advanced fighters, land-based missiles, three aircraft carriers, and secret directed energy weapons throughout the South China Sea. As tensions escalate between the superpowers, McLanahan receives authorization to lead his bomber task force westward. The retired general must prove that American ingenuity and veteran leadership can overcome technological disadvantage and prevent total destruction.
Genres: science-fiction, military-fiction, adventure, action, political-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-allies, underdog-triumph
Setting: Pacific, South China Sea
Period: 21st-century
432 pages · Kindle Edition · William Morrow