Dragon Fire: The Realistic and Gripping Novel of the Next War

by Humphrey Hawksley

This thriller tells the story of the three-sided war so dreaded in Asia―India versus China and Pakistan. Humphrey Hawksley's tense prose bristles with knowledge and insight into the most explosive political area in the world. But what makes it all the more terrifying is that it's all based on fact.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Alternate History, War, China

430 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2005

About the author

Humphrey is an award-winning author, podcaster and journalist whose assignments with the BBC have taken him to crises all over the world. The three books in his future history series -- Dragonstrike, Dragonfire and The Third World War -- have been praised as authentic, catastrophic scenarios which begin with a Chinese strike in the South China Sea. His Rake Ozenna espionage thriller series is set in the Arctic and High North, beginning with Man on Ice and a Russian invasion of the Alaskan island of Little Diomede. Rake is an island native and a special forces veteran with the Alaska National Guard. The late, great Nelson de Mille applauded Rake as being smart and tough, 'and we’re glad to have him on our side.' Humphrey's non-fiction work includes Democracy Kills: What’s So Good About Having The Vote, published during the Iraq civil war and Asian Waters: The Struggle over the Indo-Pacific and the Challenge to American Power which examines the impact of Chinese expansion in Asia. Humphrey hosts the bi-monthly Democracy Forum Debates. His work has appeared in most mainstream media outlets and he has been guest lecturer at universities and think tanks such as the RAND Corporation, The Center for Strategic and International Studies and MENSA Cambridge. He moderates the Democracy Forum Debates on international issues and is a host of the Goldster Magazine Show and podcast.

Reviews

[Siddharth Kharkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best Indo-Pak war sim I have ever read.

[Rajat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given that this is indeed an opportune time to read this book, I took a swing at it. A book that delves into a two-front war scenario for India, with nuclear deterrence holding sanctity only on paper, the book is evocative but rarely descriptive in what it endorses and strives to convey. It is an equivalent of a War Gaming 101 for young adults, which lets you feel cool for a while and thoroughly underwhelms you later.

The book reads like a synopsis in a Sunday magazine, where geopolitical events with extreme ramifications earn little over a line, and seemingly impossible events, which should ideally have a premise, action and eventuality have no action to substantiate the premise and just conveniently occur. But I must contend that the author does try to weave plots around extant elements of geopolitics, and if nothing else, these certainly lend some credence to a storyline.

Overall, it does merit a one time read. In terms of military plots, it does not come close to a Tom Clancy or a Neal Stephenson in detail, but read it for the storyline.

[Karanvir Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Turbo charged book which doesn't rest until you complete it. Well researched and highly interesting one if someone has a military bent of mind. Humphrey has good command over important details lesser known and has spun out a story sp engaging which seems almost real. Although as the book gets old, it bents towards being irrelevant. Hopefully what is described here does not take place in real life.

[Prabhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced thriller which is quite apt in the current scenario where china is flexing its muscles, pakistan as usual is being ruled by proxy by army and taliban is having a free run. USA does not know what to do and Russia is confused about its place in the world. Quite a scary scenario and a good storyline which sometimes gets into too much detail. Yes the author has done his research but he need not be too elaborate in the narrative.
The book kept me hooked till finish. Yes it is a scenario which is very much real and one which india needs to really be prepared about.

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel, a 'what if' political thriller, was unputdownable. Hawksley's knowledge as well as writing skills are magnificient, which must have made this novel— written more than two decades ago— appear prophetic to the readers at that point. Even now, with India's geopolitical stature changing dramatically under the NDA, it reads as a very good work of fiction.
And of course, the future of Pakistan remains uncertain. So that part may very well turn out to be true.
Recommended as a breezy read.

[anshuman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very eerily practical and very very possible fiction... well researched though would've loved to see more details in the military perspectives and a little less of the political wrangling but that's the author's style

[Shubham Prajapati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the book. The scenarios described are extremely realistic (acoording to me). Keeps you always on the edge until the end. Had a great time reading it.

[Vineet Rai · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was very good until end , till 2/3 of book the scenarios were looking possible. The characters of countries was shown correctly . But i think during climax author got bored and wrote hypothetical scenarios , like Indian PM not being in bunker with nuclear attack ongoing . And then China uses nuclear bomb without much consideration or reason, and than most stupid thing all big cities of India are destroyed but India does not even target Beijing . And also china most military is destroyed in india nuclear attack but we hear that they become Super power , stupid with such loss china will lose tibet xinjaing taiwan for sure and country will break . Whole book was ruined by flimsy ending.

[Abhishek · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read relating to Asian politics. The only problem is that it was originally written before 9/11, so the response of America as shown in this book would have been very different from what it would have done if the war had actually taken place in 2007. Also in reality America would have tried to avert the war. Also Russia's response was a bit of surprise.
Other than that the story played out beautifully and was as close to reality as the conditions permitted. India, China and Pakistan behaved as expected and the end, however painful, was what we would expect out of such a war, if it is allowed to happen.

[Kym Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good Hawskley book on 'potential' developments in the World. This one focuses on Central Asia and specifically with a war between India and Pakistan.

The book should hold your interest and like most in this genre one should not over analyse and seek to make a debate, instead enjoy them as the authors imaginative display of his knowledge and creativity.

Over all it is a fun adventure.

74 %

[Kushmakar Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those mind-blowing fictions that narrows the line between fiction and reality. The author cleverly weaves the nitty-gritties of Asian politics into a fictional war account which is both informative and scary. Each chapter is just 2-3 pages long which makes this one a real page-turner.

[Ribhu Rathore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping page turner ...raises a scary scenario of India vs Pakistan war with China orchestrating the show ...as the 3 nuclear neighbors face off ..very well researched down to pointing out India's army posts accurately !

[Bibek Kumar Bajaj · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully well thought book which gives a fantastic insight about the critical political scenario of the world. The description of the war taking place was so licely and vivid that it made me beleive for a sceond that we are actually on a war and m reading the newspaper.

[Sukan Sethi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A follow up from the novel Dragon Strike, this very interesting novel simulates a war fought on one side by India vs China and Pakistan on the other side.
Proton Bombs, Nuclear Bombs and thrilling story line that might one day come true, will surely fire up your imagination.

[Ishan Nag · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in my first year , and for few days i was in total awe with book .
The pleasure you get when you pick up a book at random and it turns out to be so good .
A must read definitely

[Booklover]

tbr

[Praveen · Rating 5 out of 5]

good n thrilling book..but the climax s not to my taste..i think we all would have liked to have a more optimistic finale!

[Shannon Zirkle-prabhakar]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12768110

[Donald Pryde · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

Second of 3 books about a future with China as an emerging superpower and possible consequences through war with different countries.

[Mukul Bhatnagar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly well written book. Humphrey Hawksley's writing is realistic and paints pictures in the reader's mind.

[Vikram Barate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique way of writing!!

[Vinod Sankar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Future war history is a strange genre. But the writer does a good job here of an imaginary conflict in Asia between 3 nuclear powers with roles from West and emergence of an Asian super power. Novel itself is in the form of a journal, with locations and characters with proper dialogues and narrator chipping in between. While the pace was good, it lacked conviction, both with the facts, plot and some of the characters. Still a good read for those interested in geo-politics and who are paranoid. Readers (especially from the Asian region) will only hope that world leaders act much more maturely than as stated in the novel, during a crisis.