Strong near-future military fiction continues

The 3rd book of the Monroe Doctrine continues with the series' fast-paced, multi-theatre storytelling. Importantly, even though you're shifting quickly from place to place, you never feel lost. Everything is knitted together quite nicely. If you like battle scenes, this book is chock-full of them. Land, sea, and air scraps are all present and are compelling.

The near-future weapons that are featured in this third book are well done. The AI baddie remains a really neat part of the story. I'll confess that the level of AI seems a touch advanced considering when the events in the book are supposed to happen. The same is true for some of the new weapons platforms the authors introduce in this volume. Setting aside this timing issue, the weapons are super cool and aren't far-fetched (outside of their timing). These things could actually come to be, just 8-15 years down the road.

One other quibble. This book didn't have the level of the political machinations featured in the first two volumes. I love a book that has a good balance between politics and fighting scenes.

But overall, volume three of the Monroe Doctrine is a terrific, tight, well-written near-future military thriller. I would strongly recommend.

Oh, and the narration is first-rate as well.

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