Product Description
This first instalment of an ambitious sci-fi trilogy plays out global warfare in the not-too-distant future. The wieldy initial volume in Friar's complex and, thus far, engaging trilogy is epic not only in its breadth, weighing in at nearly 700 pages, but in the scope of its inventiveness. The author tackles a mix of current environmental, social and economic trends, playing out how they might converge in the future. Friar's clairvoyant vision, however, isn't for the faint of heart: a new empire arises, with powerful tyrannical urges that lead to an all-consuming and almost gruesomely prophetic third World War.Friar uses the first two World Wars as the template for his fictional third and, in spite of its eerie familiarity, the plot remains rich with suspense. "WWIII" is the rarest of sci-fi creations: a hugely innovative tale both smart and entertaining. Friar takes on a smorgasbord of arcane topics, from Platonic philosophy to the science of biomimicry and makes them not only comprehensible but also relevant. Such intellectual tangents might prove tedious fare in the hands of a less skilled author, but here supply the novel with depth and texture that will only enhance the reader's experience. Friar's characters are lavishly imagined and provide a nice balance to the book's scientific and military content, he's as good at evoking artisan-like detail as he is at developing imaginative histories.