Ask the Author: F.X. Holden
Answered Questions (2)
F.X. Holden
Hi Wade I wanted to wait until after the Ukraine summer offensive to answer this one since previous wars have always shown Russia starts poorly (incompetent, disorganized, underequipped) and slowly ramps up to become a formidable foe. I suspected that would happen in Ukraine too, and it has. Ukraine's summer offensive failed, the Russian economy has stabilized, its production of weapons, munitions and mobilization of troops is ramping up. Summer 2024 is not going to be a good summer for Ukraine due also to lack of artillery and missiles flowing to Ukraine from west, and Ukraine's own tardiness in and reluctance to mobilize under 30 yo males, whereas Russia continues to maintain numerical superiority in recruitment of course.
As to how it affects my writing about Russian competence, I have always and prob will continue to over-estimate the effectiveness of new Russian weapons. Their Khinzal 'hypersonic' missiles have proven vulnerable to Patriot and NASAMS. Their Su57 stealth fighter is truly invisible - it has not been sighted in this conflict because only a few exist. Their T-14 Armata tank likewise. Instead, they are drawing down cold war stocks of aircraft and tanks. So I will write a lot less about Russian 'superweapons'.
Where they have proven quick to adapt is in drone and counter-drone warfare on land, though much less so at sea and I think countries involved in near peer wars may find themselves falling behind if they are not careful.
Russia's vaunted Black Sea navy is hiding in port and its bigger (but old) warships have proven particularly vulnerable to drone and missile attack. So I won't be writing about Russia winning any big naval battles in future. All of their defense budget is going into the land war and air in Ukraine, leaving precious little for ship building or upgrades.
In conclusion though, don't write Russia out of the script. It is still numerically strong, economically stable, and its current leader is determinedly bloody minded in his ambition with a 'win no matter the cost' mentality. Russia will be a force for instability for years to come so it will still feature heavily in FX Holden novels!
As to how it affects my writing about Russian competence, I have always and prob will continue to over-estimate the effectiveness of new Russian weapons. Their Khinzal 'hypersonic' missiles have proven vulnerable to Patriot and NASAMS. Their Su57 stealth fighter is truly invisible - it has not been sighted in this conflict because only a few exist. Their T-14 Armata tank likewise. Instead, they are drawing down cold war stocks of aircraft and tanks. So I will write a lot less about Russian 'superweapons'.
Where they have proven quick to adapt is in drone and counter-drone warfare on land, though much less so at sea and I think countries involved in near peer wars may find themselves falling behind if they are not careful.
Russia's vaunted Black Sea navy is hiding in port and its bigger (but old) warships have proven particularly vulnerable to drone and missile attack. So I won't be writing about Russia winning any big naval battles in future. All of their defense budget is going into the land war and air in Ukraine, leaving precious little for ship building or upgrades.
In conclusion though, don't write Russia out of the script. It is still numerically strong, economically stable, and its current leader is determinedly bloody minded in his ambition with a 'win no matter the cost' mentality. Russia will be a force for instability for years to come so it will still feature heavily in FX Holden novels!
F.X. Holden
Hi ArKay! The 4th Coruscant novel will prob be 2023 some time. I have just released the 7th and last novel in the Future War series - DMZ, which is based in Korea (not so well trodden...)
[b]Here is the blurb: [/b]
The Future War series takes on one of the most likely superpower confrontations of coming years. As a nuclear weapon is detonated over South Korean territory in the Sea of Japan, six protagonists hold the fate of the Korean Peninsula in their hands. Their decisions could see North and South Korea reunited at last, or send the world spiraling into nuclear armageddon.
[b]And a review:[/b]
"From the very first page, we are thrown into action that puts us shoulder to shoulder with the characters in trying to discern who is friend or foe. And when the roles shift, we’re all trying to stay alive until we sort it out... The stakes feel genuine, and no victory comes without our heroes making enormous sacrifices...This is the series for readers who enjoy intelligent fiction that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Very highly recommended. A rock shock of a ride and I loved being here for every page of it!" USA Readers' Favorite.
As for future projects, in 2023 we will see the relase of AGGRESSOR. Here is the preview...
[b]AGGRESSOR: The new series from FX Holden[/b]
Karen ‘Bunny’ O’Hare is a pilot in Aggressor Inc.’s UCAV Tactical Training Program. Her job? Train America’s closest allies in how to fly and fight against the growing threat of unmanned combat aircraft.
Her latest contract: Train the pilots of Taiwan’s Republic of China Air Force during a massive air, land and sea exercise known as Ghost Sabre.
Her mission: to kick off Ghost Sabre by taking a strike package of unmanned aircraft from Guam air base in the Pacific, across the Philippine Sea and ‘strike’ a ground target on the island of Taiwan. Standing in her way are Taiwan’s Air Force, Navy and ground-air defenses.
Succeed or fail, once Ghost Sabre is over, she will hand over her UCAVs to the ROK Air Force and spend the next six months training its pilots how to fly and fight with, and against, unmanned combat aircraft.
If she even lives to see Taiwan, that is.
Not everyone is happy to the see the US transfer potent new air weapons to the breakaway republic. And Bunny has 1,700 miles of open sea between her, and safety.
Aggressor is the first in a new series of novels following the abrasive anti-hero from the Future War series, Karen ‘Bunny’ O’Hare, as she fights to stay alive in a world determined to see her dead.
COMING SUMMER 2023!
[b]Here is the blurb: [/b]
The Future War series takes on one of the most likely superpower confrontations of coming years. As a nuclear weapon is detonated over South Korean territory in the Sea of Japan, six protagonists hold the fate of the Korean Peninsula in their hands. Their decisions could see North and South Korea reunited at last, or send the world spiraling into nuclear armageddon.
[b]And a review:[/b]
"From the very first page, we are thrown into action that puts us shoulder to shoulder with the characters in trying to discern who is friend or foe. And when the roles shift, we’re all trying to stay alive until we sort it out... The stakes feel genuine, and no victory comes without our heroes making enormous sacrifices...This is the series for readers who enjoy intelligent fiction that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Very highly recommended. A rock shock of a ride and I loved being here for every page of it!" USA Readers' Favorite.
As for future projects, in 2023 we will see the relase of AGGRESSOR. Here is the preview...
[b]AGGRESSOR: The new series from FX Holden[/b]
Karen ‘Bunny’ O’Hare is a pilot in Aggressor Inc.’s UCAV Tactical Training Program. Her job? Train America’s closest allies in how to fly and fight against the growing threat of unmanned combat aircraft.
Her latest contract: Train the pilots of Taiwan’s Republic of China Air Force during a massive air, land and sea exercise known as Ghost Sabre.
Her mission: to kick off Ghost Sabre by taking a strike package of unmanned aircraft from Guam air base in the Pacific, across the Philippine Sea and ‘strike’ a ground target on the island of Taiwan. Standing in her way are Taiwan’s Air Force, Navy and ground-air defenses.
Succeed or fail, once Ghost Sabre is over, she will hand over her UCAVs to the ROK Air Force and spend the next six months training its pilots how to fly and fight with, and against, unmanned combat aircraft.
If she even lives to see Taiwan, that is.
Not everyone is happy to the see the US transfer potent new air weapons to the breakaway republic. And Bunny has 1,700 miles of open sea between her, and safety.
Aggressor is the first in a new series of novels following the abrasive anti-hero from the Future War series, Karen ‘Bunny’ O’Hare, as she fights to stay alive in a world determined to see her dead.
COMING SUMMER 2023!
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