2054: A Novel
BOOK REVIEW: 2054: A Novel
By Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret) /Penguin Press
Reviewed by: General (Ret) Joseph L. Votel
The Reviewer General Joseph L. Votel is a retired U.S. Army Four-Star officer and the former Commander of the U.S. Central Command – responsible for U.S. and coalition military operations in the Middle East, Levant and Central and South Asia. During his 39 years in the military, he commanded special operations and conventional military forces at every level. His career included combat in Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He is a Cipher Brief Expert. Learn more at www.joevotel.com.
REVIEW —I don’t usually read a lot of fiction books. My reading generally focuses on leadership, history, biographies, and contemporary topics. 2054: A Novel, by Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis, was a very thought-provoking read for me – probably because its fictional story is juxtaposed against a genuine and profoundly concerning future scenario for the United States. This book is worth reading for this reason alone, reflecting on how we might avoid traveling down such a self-destructive path.
I was drawn to this book by its two authors. I was in uniform when Jim Stavridis was one of our Combatant Commanders. My first interaction with him was when I was a new one-star officer and the CAPSTONE Course visited the SOUTHCOM headquarters in Miami, where he was the Commander. I was stunned by his detailed comprehension of the region and his ability to articulate its challenges and opportunities in clear and understandable ways. Elliot Ackerman, a former US Marine, has a long and distinguished career of exceptional fiction and non-fiction writing. He is a true combat-wounded hero – twice decorated by our nation for valor.
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I had the honor of hosting both Jim and Elliot to speak about their first book together, 2034: A Novel of the Next World War, to Business Executives for National Security (BENS) members, an organization I led after retiring from the military. Both are visionaries when it comes to their comprehension of national security affairs. They both bring relevant experience at the operational and strategic levels. They both possess an advanced interest in, understanding of, and appreciation for technology and how it can impact our lives and security. Most importantly, both are exquisite communicators and understand that a well-told story is more than just casual entertainment – it can be an allegory for how we think about more significant ideas. In this book – the allegory is about the future of our nation. And for me – this is what I liked best.
The straightforward plot in 2054 builds upon the story in 2034. Twenty years later, an American president dies under suspicious circumstances, leading to a cover-up and a highly partisan investigation that brings out the worst impulses of the political system. The subsequent power struggle plays out against two compounding factors that feed off each other. One is the specter of an approaching (or perhaps already present) “singularity” – uncontrollable and irreversible biotech and artificial intelligence growth with dire consequences. The second factor is a highly deteriorated environment of trust in our constitutional republic, leading to civil war. The story takes the reader deep into these areas with some interesting characters and technology. It leads us all to an explosive finish that might have been unthinkable just a few years ago but for which we have already seen the indicators.
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A lot is going on in this story (even some romance), and despite the heavy geopolitical and advanced technological aspects – the conclusion is surprisingly human. The real secret weapon revealed is character – the traits and attributes that lead individuals to do the right thing at the right time and for the right reasons.
When I finished reading this book, I wondered if this is our inevitable path as a nation. A future dominated by a quest for better technology that can enrich our lives but also be our ultimate undoing – undermining individual privacy, normalizing disinformation, and making us all more vulnerable to malign actors. A future America where our extreme polarity, inability to collaborate, and lack of institutional trust lead to open conflict between our citizens. I don’t know if any of those will come true – I hope not. But I do know, as these two authors did, that the way forward will be through people of high character.
As mentioned, I don’t read much fiction, but I enjoyed this book. It gave me hope that there are people who will do the right thing for the country. It reminds me that those qualities that made us great can renew us again. It helped me remember that we are ultimately the masters of our destiny. For this, I am grateful to Jim and Elliot. I hope you will read and enjoy this book as well.
2054: A Novel earns a prestigious 4 out of 4 trench coats
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