The Art of War

First Contact

by Peter Cawdron

Commander Lisa Chao works in the US Navy’s Strategic Planning Center in Pearl Harbor. When tensions rise with China over Taiwan, she has to unravel exactly what is happening in the Pacific and why. What she uncovers leads America to war, but not with China.

Bullets and bombs are no match for an extraterrestrial warship that can fly between stars, but perhaps the answer to the coming war lies not in the present but in the past. Could Sun Tzu’s The Art of War provide humanity with a fighting chance against a technologically superior alien enemy?

FIRST CONTACT is a series of stand-alone novels that explore humanity's first interaction with extraterrestrial life. This series is similar to BLACK MIRROR or THE TWILIGHT ZONE in that the series is based on a common theme rather than common characters. This allows these books to be read in any order. Technically, they're all first as they all deal with how we might initially respond to contact with aliens, exploring the social, political, religious, and scientific aspects of First Contact.

Genres: Science Fiction, Thriller, Military Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook

431 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2023

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is the old joke: “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” whose punch line is “Practice, practice, practice.” I would add; how do you write good, hard science, science fiction? Research, research, research.

Every one of Peter Cawdron’s books contains an enormous amount of information that is used to support and enhance the storyline. The Art of War is no exception as Cawdron shares reams of information about; naval ships, orbital mechanics, fighter jets, space flight, military protocol and, definitely not least, excerpts from Sun Tzu's The Art of War. What makes this even more impressive is that this book is the twenty-third in Cawdron’s First Contact series and that he has written all of these, well researched books, in twelve years. The man must be an insomniac who spends his nights reading technical manuals and obscure reference books rather than sleeping.

Each of Cawdron’s first contact books is unique; with a different set of characters, a different locale, a different timeline, and a different scenero of how humans and aliens first meet. The Art of War, just like the earlier books, is well-written, imaginative, full of science, and fast-paced. It will keep you engaged from the first page through the epilogue. And, like all of his other books, Cawdron includes an afterward where he gives you some insight into his writing process, a background on the reference materials, and additional interesting facts about scientific concepts mentioned in the book.

As you might guess from the title, China features prominently into the storyline of The Art of War. However, the bulk of the characters are American and little of the action takes place in China but instead in the US, the China Sea, India, and outer space. As always, Cawdron has peppered the story with characters who are three dimensional and very relatable. How can you not like a navel officer who, just before they are to enter a top secret meeting, searches desperately for a bathroom? Or an astronaut head over heels in love? Or a rigid naval commandeer who has the capacity to show his human side when it is needed?

This latest book does have something new; a few, somewhat steamy, sex scenes. Early pulp science fiction focused on sex to sell books so I cringe whenever a current sci book has sex scenes. Luckily these scenes fit in well with the storyline and provide more insight into the main characters.

My only complaint about this book is that it jumps around so much some important story details can get lost. I had to re-read a few sections to figure out exactly what had happened as something significant was only mentioned in a single line or in the middle of some other action. Of course, this also means that Cawdron has packed a lot of action into this story. Cawdron continues to be one of my favorite authors and, despite churning out books at a frantic pace, continues to be dedicated to science based, science fiction.

[reherrma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.6| Der neueste "Erstkontakt"-Roman von Peter Cawdron beschäftigt sich mit der Strategie bei einem Angriff von Außerirdischen auf die Erde. Der Hintergrund dieser Geschichte ist die Tatsache, dass jeder Konflikt mit einer Außerirdischen Spezies, die in der Lage ist, interstellare Raumfahrt zu betreiben schrecklich einseitig zu ihren Gunsten ausfallen würde, hauptsächlich aufgrund der gewaltigen technologischen Unterschiede zwischen uns. Ureinwohner mit Holzkanus, nackt und nur mit Blasrohren bewaffnet, hätten mehr Chancen gegen einen Flugzeugträger mit Nuklearantrieb als wir gegen Raumschiffen, wie sie im Film "Independence Day" zu sehen sind. Deshalb fand ich das Buch so genial, weil Kugeln und Bomben in einem solchen Szenario nicht so wichtig sind wie die Strategie. Vieleicht kann man ein außerirdisches Raumschiff nicht besiegen, aber vieleicht müssen wir das gar nicht, vieleicht müssen wir sie überlisten...
Dies ist der Ausgangspunkt der Strategie, die ein ehemaliger und hochgeachteter General der chinesischen Volksbefreiungsarmee und eine Analystin der US-Navy, spezialisiert auf China, anwenden auf Grundlage des mehr als 2.500 Jahre alten Buches von Sunzi " Die Kunst des Krieges ".
Einer der Kernsätze des Buches lautet: " Jede Kriegsführung gründet auf Täuschung ". Nachdem China mit kinetischen Waffen (ein riesiger Felsbrochen aus dem Weltraum) angegriffen wird, wird dem alten, blinden General schnell klar, dass es nicht die Amerikaner sind, sondern Aliens, da keiner der irdischen Nationen in der Lage ist, so eine Masse, zielgerichtet auf chinesische Militärstützpunkte aus dem Mondorbit zu schießen. Daher wird ein chinesischer Angriff auf Taiwan vorgetäucht, die amerikanische Analystin überzeugt die amerikanische Militärführung von der außerirdischen Bedrohung und von der chinesischen Strategie. Daraufhin werden sämtliche Anstrengungen mobilisiert im Sinne dieser Strategie weiterzumachen, um die Aliens einen Konflikt zwischen China und den USA um Taiwan vorzutäuschen. Offenbar sind die Aliens in der Lage, den gesamten Informationsfluss der Menschheit abzuhören. Gleichzeitig wird in Indien ein Raumfahrprogramm zur Abwehr der Bedrohung im Mondorbit implementiert, die gemeinsam mit der indischen, chinesischen und amerikanischen Raumfahrtagenturen betrieben werden. Auch im Mondorbit kommen zwei Sätze aus der "Kunst des Krieges" wieder zum Einsatz; "Wenn man dem Feind in keiner Hinsicht gewachsen ist, kann man fliehen" und "marschiere zu Orten, an denen du nicht erwartest wird". Letztendlich führen diese Strategien zum Ziel, denn das Ziel der "Kunst des Krieges" ist der Frieden, im Gegensatz zum europäischen Pendant "Vom Kriege" von Carl von Clausewitz. Es ist auch die große Frage, was die Aliens von der Erde wollen? Diese Frage beantwortet das Buch und speziell im Nachwort der Autor sehr folgerichtig und nachdenkenswert.
Der Roman besticht, wie alle "Erstkontakt"-Bücher des Autors, durch seine guten Charakterbeschreibungen und auch durch die wissenschaftlich und technologische Brillianz seiner Texte, aber auch die militärische Strategien beim Taiwan-Konflikt zwischen US-Navy und den chinesischen haben mich sehr beeeindrukt. Bei der Technologie ist mir aufgefallen, dass er (der Autor) in der Raumfahrtpolitik noch eher dem Old Space der staatlichen Raumfahrtagenturen zugeneigt als dem New Space, obwol z.B. die NASA und die ESA kaum noch eine Rolle spielen, durch die Politik zunehmend "enteiert" werden und SpaceX oder BlueOrigin inzwischen die Richtung vorgeben. Bei der Übersetzung ist mir ein Fehler aufgefallen; ein wichtiger Teil beim Raketentest heißt "Static Fire" und nicht "Statistic Fire", aber das ist eine Beckmesserei auf hohen Niveau...
Ich freue mich sehr auf die nächsten Bücher dieser Reihe, denn sie sind für mich als SF-Enthusiast eine "sichere Bank"!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this book, wasn't sure at first if I could get into it because of the war angle but wow! After the first pages I was hooked :) Once again, outstanding characters to go with a terrific story line. Read it in a day, couldn't put it down.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cracker of a story from PC. Reading more like a Tom Clancy techno thriller, Art of War doesn't even mention first contact or aliens until well into the novel.

[Kimmy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow build up, worth it.

Eagerly awaited this new release from the always consistent Peter Cawdron. You’re all intelligent people, so I won’t insult you with the storyline; instead focussing on his real strength -the human side of any First Contact. We could work together if we wanted to, or in this case, are forced to, and current news stories out of the USA are prompting rethinks on the chances of Someone Out There. But do they mean us harm? Is karma going to be a bitch and leave us to be ‘colonised’ by a self-described superior race/species? Read the story. Really interesting tying in of the real Art Of War book, and as always, the notes at the back are superb for further reading, explaining his thinking, or giving a bit of background into the ideas mentioned in the book.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re not reading Peter Cawdron’s First Contact collection, than you’re missing out. Really enjoyed this new contribution.

[Nancy Foster]

I am one of the judges of the special hybrid team Epic Space Stars for the SPSFC3 contest. This review is my personal opinion. Officially, it is still in the running for the contest, pending any official team announcements.

Status: Pending
Read: 22%

I am almost finished sampling the original team Epic's quarterfinalists. This time, it was the turn to read The Art of War. The book starts with a raunchy morning of forbidden love making between a gullible American astronaut named Michael (but everyone calls him Mike) and a reclusive female Chinese astronaut named Li Jing. Both countries are programmed to operate a space mission together in a few months and were doing training exercises in Paris. I initially surmised Li is a spy and her skittishness later on along with using Whatssapp instead of a separate burner cellphone were dead giveaways.

Michael was ok enough, just ridiculously gullible. His descriptions of Shanghai were quite believable, albeit vague. I have visited that city and think his impressions of the city were actually quite toned down when it comes to the massive crowds during rush hour. I didn't care about the chapter where Mike is having a picnic with his girlfriend (was he cheating on her with Li?). That chapter could be skipped without issue. I also felt that chapter didn't make sense since the rest of the story mentions he went directly to Houston after returning from Paris.

Lisa's story is quite entertaining so far. We learn about US navy boats and some basic aspects of officer Navy combat doctrine. Whether the author is military or not, the research was quite extensive and it shows.

Now, here comes the bad. While I do like the story so far and the 2 POV characters, some chapters could either be eliminated (the picnic one) or remove a few pages of excessive filler description and it would not alter the book at all. I think by eliminating 10% of the text, the book would shine a whole lot more. I spotted one present perfect tense error and the book can't seem to agree on whether being written in present or past tense.

So far, we don't see any hints of Sci-Fi, but the story is certainly really setting in motion at this point. While I don't believe the book will reach the finals of the contest because there are other competitors in its group that are far more polished, I will vote yes to let it advance to the Quarterfinals.

[Dragos Iosif · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is by far the best book I read by Cawdron yet and it looks like I really enjoy techno thrillers.

I read a couple of books in the First Contact series before, but wasn't really impressed. Cawdron certainly is ingenious and manages to offer so many different perspectives on the idea of First Contact. He is brilliant that way. What I felt he was missing is a good editor. Someone who could help him refine his writing. Change the structure of the book a bit. Make small alterations here and there which would make an average book a really good one.

This book has the same amount of really interesting perspectives, but with much smaller faults. Some of the plot points have dead ends, with entire chapters only making sense thematically.
Still, he manages to write decent action scenes, the technological sense of wonder is just and he still keeps you guessing on where he will go with the story.

I am so happy to see the author evolve as a writer. Congratulations!

Should Peter Cawdron write another techno thriller, I would definitely pick it up. I feel like his strenghts shine best in this genre.

[Florian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I am biased but this is not the strongest book in the series. It has a very slow and long start and as a strategist I found the lack of strategies underwhelming. I expected more plotting and scheming from a book titled like the classic Art of War.

[Clayton Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best in the series.

So far I’ve read most of the books in this series and have loved them. This one not so much. It was entertaining but there were some serious gaps in it and for me and some huge leaps in the story that just didn’t seem like they made sense. Can’t really say what without serious spoilers. I will continue with the “First contact” series though. Not every book can be a home run.

[Sean Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

"ET is going to have to skedaddle mighty damn quick if there’s a CASM on his tail."

Oh, yes. How can you not enjoy this sort of thing? So the All-American Dreamboy thing is a little strong with this one but it works, because we see ISRO and all sorts of fantastic things happening too, puncturing the mystique. you actually come away thinking NASA maybe isn't top dog, which is a clever twist; perhaps even more impressive reading it now thinking about Chandrayaan-3.

“Hang on,” the 2IC says, scratching the side of his head, still looking at the orders. “Am I the only one that doesn’t understand what’s going on here? What the hell is a non-indigenous orbital expeditionary force?”

Though perhaps less cerebral in some ways than other works of Peters, this was still hugely engaging, with good action bits but also clearly held together by scientific rigger and clear thinking. Another great one. Very glad I paid for it.

[Mal Warwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most portrayals on film or in novels of an alien invasion are along the lines of the Will Smith blockbuster Independence Day or H. G. Wells’ 1898 science fiction classic, The War of the Worlds. There are a lot of explosions, and millions die. So, it may come as a pleasant surprise if you pick up a copy of Peter Cawdron’s new alien invasion novel and find there nothing of the sort. Of course, if you’re familiar with the Chinese classic of military strategy, The Art of War, written nearly 2,500 years ago, you may be better prepared for the story. Because its author (or authors) viewed the aim of war as achieving peace, avoiding battle whenever possible. So, get ready for a brilliant lesson in strategy as the Joint Chiefs of Staff understand it—because they, too, have studied that Chinese classic.

AN IN-DEPTH STUDY OF FIRST CONTACT IN AN ALIEN INVASION NOVEL
In 2011 Australian science fiction author Peter Cawdron set out to explore the concept of First Contact in depth. His plan was to write a series of 25 standalone novels on the theme, and he’s nearly there now. The Art of War is the 23rd in the series—and it’s one of his best. As he writes in an afterword to the novel, “I try to grow as a writer from one book to the next, focusing on character and pacing over plot contrivances.” And that growth is everywhere in evidence in this novel. Some sharp-eyed Hollywood producer could turn this story into a film that might rival the original Star Wars. It’s full of surprises.

TWO ASTRONAUTS IN LOVE
The Art of War opens in Paris, where two young people are in bed. They’re in love. Mark Armstrong, the American, is an astronaut and widely celebrated for his heroism. He had saved the day when his capsule threatened to burn up on reentry to Earth after a deep space mission. And Li Jing, the woman, Chinese, is a medical doctor training to join him and six others in the first joint American-Chinese rendezvous in space. They’re in Paris for cross-training in preparation for the historic mission. But then the training abruptly ends. They’re both rushed home. Their two countries are at war in the Taiwan Strait. But we most certainly have not heard the last of Mark Armstrong and Li Jing.

A MANDARIN-SPEAKING CHINESE AMERICAN STRATEGIST
Meanwhile, we have joined Commander Lisa Chao of the United States Navy on board the Navy’s most advanced new guided-missile destroyer, the USS Grant. The $4 billion Grant is in international waters off the coast of Taiwan. But no sooner does the captain announce their presence to the Chinese coast guard than the ship’s instruments pick up four anti-ship missiles heading their way.

It’s standard protocol for the captain to activate the ship’s defenses—but Commander Chao persuades him not to do so. She is an expert who specializes in Chinese military doctrine and strategy. Like China’s most senior military commander, General Mao Huang, she is a student of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. Her advice to the captain of the Grant mirrors classic Chinese strategy. And its success elevates Commander Chao into a central role in the events that transpire in the weeks ahead.

AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Mark Armstrong, Li Jing, and Lisa Chao are all at the center of the action as the story unfolds. The action shifts from the Taiwan Strait to Washington, DC, the coast of China, an Indian island in the Bay of Bengal, and the dark side of the Moon. And Mark and Lisa are joined in top billing by Mark’s twin brother, Michael, a US Air Force F-35 fighter pilot—because, yes, there is fighting. But the thrust of the plot revolves around strategic deliberations at the highest level in both China and the US. General Mao Huang and the President of the United States both enter the scene. The Art of War is nothing less than a primer in strategy that the war planners in the Pentagon would find familiar.

Of course, this is science fiction. Aliens appear in the story, and there is contact. This is the First Contact series, after all. But Cawdron’s ultimate purpose in telling this tale is to explain why SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, has failed to turn up any signs of alien life despite continuous efforts since the 1960s. He also debunks the persistent and widespread belief that UFOs (or UAP, as the US government insists on calling them) represent alien visitors. And he explains why the stock science fiction explanations for an alien invasion—”they’re here to steal our water” or “our minerals”—are so much nonsense. This is intelligent, hard science fiction, soundly based on what we know today about life in the universe.

A HANDFUL OF MINOR ERRORS
There are a few minor errors that might jar an American reader who plays close attention to the text. For example, no American would use the words “boffin” (a scientific expert, in English vernacular) or “spanner” (wrench). And the Executive Office Building connected to the White House was not built to house administrative offices. (It was originally the home of the State, War, and Navy Departments.) But in the context of this terrific novel, such slip-ups are inconsequential.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Over the past dozen years, Australian author Peter Cawdron has published 23 standalone First Contact novels. He projects a total of 25, after which presumably he’ll turn to some other theme. The series as a whole offers a panoramic view of the possibilities raised when we come into contact for the first time with extraterrestrial intelligence. Cawdron was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia many years ago. He has also spent several years living in the United States. Cawdron lives with his wife and three children in Brisbane on Australia’s east coast.

[Shir · Rating 1 out of 5]

Predictable. A lot of work to get to nothing. Boring. Guess what, humanity prevails. Blah, blah.

[John Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the opening sex scene may be different from Cawdron's usual writing, it is merely there to paint the picture of two of the three main protagonists in this story, and begin the customarily outstanding character development Peter is known for providing in all of his stories. I have read almost all of Cawdron's work and consider The Art of War to be far and away the best story he has ever produced. Plot and storyline development is excellent, character development is outstanding, and the entire story is believable because it is written so well.

I won't give away the story and plot lines, and will simply say that if you enjoy outstanding science fiction, first contact, hard sci-fi, and amazing factual research that is so good, you won't know where fact ends and science fiction begins, pick up a copy of this book. Once you read it, you'll want to read the rest Cawdron has to offer. This story is up to date with happenings in today's world, and at the same time, still good science fiction that takes place decades in the future. No preaching in this book, but it still has a good message appropriate for today's world. If it was possible to give this book more than five stars, I would.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again Cawdron proves himself an innovative storyteller, with a reasonable premise within the parameters of "hard science fiction." The premise is what if a spacefaring race had come to earth to exploit the planet, and when they arrived, they discovered a mid-21st century technological society. Obviously when they set out from their home world, probably a couple thousand light years away, there was no technology detected on earth, and they wanted to exploit the planet. How would an advanced technology with very limited military resources conquer a planet with nuclear and other advanced weapons?
The hope of earth is a horny American astronaut with an imposter syndrome complex, a Chinese "spy" his lover, a Chinese American US Naval officer with a good understanding of strategy, and a blind Chinese general that is very skilled in Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. These four characters follow the 3,000-year-old strategy of Sun Tzu to thwart the Alien's plan to exploit earth and destroy any opposition to them.
I highly recommend this book to those that enjoy hard science fiction. Thank you, Peter for your evident hard work and skill in giving us an entertaining story.

[Judith Trail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel builds slowly and at first, I was not even sure that this was going to involve any alien contact at all, but rather examine our sense of the alien with members of our own species from different cultures. This novel looks at a potential conflict between America and China; a culture built on technology and engineering and weaponry and one of ancient lineage that utilizes a deep understanding of man's psychology and intellectual ability to solve problems with more limited physical force. America's war machine meets the philosophy of Sun Tzu and his writings in The Art of War. What starts out to be a domestic conflict is revealed to instead be between the people of Earth and those of an alien civilization whose technology and weaponry easily overwhelm that of Earth. A very uneven fight. This novel picks up the pace to a suspenseful end as the urgency to defend the planet becomes paramount, it is the thought that drives the action that makes the difference. How would we compete with a superior force? Why do they want conflict instead of seeking cooperative communication? What would alien life be like? As usual, Cawdron deals with many philosophical questions and in the process deals out some very tasty science. His afterword is also a must read.

[William S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very good writing then some not so good

Sometimes I thought I was reading a script for a movie called Armstrong twins do good. You have this setup that you're going to fly a plane or a space ship, and you're going from point a to point b. As the trip progresses you have some sort of problem that requires drastic measures. It actually has nothing to do with the story, but now we have to deal with the problem. We demonstrate the author's level of research into the topic, and the writing is actually excellent and engaging, but it's still off topic. There were a few times when I'm left with a few questions. One being how long can an F35 fly upside down, and what is upside down for an F35? Can a spandex really substitute for a U2 compression suit? What happened to Lisa in China? Does a survival kit on an F35 really work that way? They were better in earlier aircraft. Although the writing was exciting and engaging, I had problems with the author's attempts to be technically accurate.

[John Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel has lots of interesting science combined with very plausible fiction. I was totally drawn in with this imaginable, fast paced novel with believable characters. An excellent story. This is my second book by this author and it won't be the last. Peter Cawdron has written a series of science fiction novels based on the concept of first contact with extraterrestrial life. They, however, are each stand-alone stories and can be read in any order.

The world is under attack by a superior alien force hidden in the vicinity the moon. A wise and revered Chinese general knowledgeable in the Art of War by the ancient Sun Tzu, offers to unite with the U.S. military, NASA and the Indian space agency to combat the threat. The use of Sun Tzu's strategies will hopefully win against overwhelming odds. It is interesting to note that Sun Tzu's The Art of War is recommended reading for U.S. military and intelligence agencies.

[Andy Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A SIMPLE MAN'S REVIEW:

The setup and first half of this book was fantastic! There was plenty of suspense as the pieces all fell into place and it was a very enjoyable reading experience. But then...

The book turned into the cliché human vs. alien saga. We're so tough! We don't give up! We're #1! Blah, blah, blah. Heroes are indestructible and it's just a coincident that two of the main protagonists are brothers. I'd like to put this out there: It's okay to have heroes die. It's okay for not everything to be tied up in a nice bow at the end. It's okay to be messy.

All that being said, it was another great scenario for first-contact cooked up by the author. He rarely misses on that aspect of his books and I'll continue to buy each one.

Read it!

Note: There's no need to say a woman is "as capable as a man". If she's a badass, just describe her traits and it's enough.

[MIke & Joy Corder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping literary science fiction

This was a very enjoyable story, crafted with excellent characters, characterizations, history, and military strategy. I can see where some might say this story has a bit of the Independence Day story in it. But, it would be the comparison of a cartoon to a novel. I really enjoyed the military hardware details and descriptions as much as the characters who commanded them. I liked the cloke and dagger suspense. I liked the heroes and the ending. It was hard to put down and enjoyable to run back to for the finish. It's a complete story in itself, but a sequel would be worth it if written in the same artful way. My thanks to the author.

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3 Stars

I enjoyed the book and the twist in the narrative Cawdron took with this 1st Contact book. Weapon a story around the Art of War was interesting, not unique or perfectly executed, but still interesting. Parts of the book dragged on, not the character development portion, more the diatribes certain characters would spin off to to explain humanities follies. Why these conversations do take place in real life, it doubtful they would play out in the theater of war, while in comba. The President envisioned for this book was also unbelievable, he was too trusting and thoughtful.
Again, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, as I have most of Cawdron's other 1st Contact books. What's next Peter?

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo! Five stars from start to finish. Peter Cawdron has GOOD novels about first contact with aliens, and he has GREAT novels – The Art of War fits into the GREAT novel category. It is apparent that he did a lot of research into both the Sun Tsu book, The Art of War, and military and space science in writing this novel. It is a very cleverly written novel involving the military and civilian response to an apparent extra-terrestrial attack on planet earth. The response seemed fairly realistic given the circumstances the earth was facing.
Having read many of Peter Cawdron’s novels, I would put this one right at the top of what I have read thus far. Highly Recommend.

[John T · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌕🌕🌕🌕 (4 moons)

A very different sci-fi tale in that it’s a story that features some sci-fi rather than the other way round (aliens, lasers, and shoot-outs with just a tiny backstory). It reminded me, in this respect, of the Worldship series (R R Haywood) which is another great read.

Overall, Art of War was a really engaging, plausible slow-burn of a tale that kept my attention to the end. It’s definitely worth a read.

Nice one.


*** Spoiler****
My only (small) gripe is the implausible survival of two of the lead characters. Very Independence Day, and not in a good way. But it’s still a really good book 👍🏻.

[Robert A Geloran · Rating 5 out of 5]

first contact of the scarier kind

Another intriguing and fascinating tale of first contact from Mr Peter Cawdron. It’s hard talk much about the things in this story without giving out spoilers, but I can say that one of the most fascinating parts was the interactions between various human factions rather than with the aliens.
Well written, as always, with lots of detail. This is not the first book called “The Art of War”, as a much older book was quoted generously through out this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Robert Bertin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decent writer, great storyteller

I've read several of Peter Cawron's First Contact novels and they've been well-written and scientically plausible. He writes in the present tense - which takes some getting used to - but his scenarios of first encounters are consistently exciting and hold my interest.
I don't think Cawdron is given enough credit for his science fiction. Getting the science correct and with verisimilitude places this author near the company of Clarke and Asimov, and his writing keeps improving with every new book.

[Zepp Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cawdron has deftly merged the eponymous 5th century BCE Sun Tzu classic with a taut and brilliantly researched military/SF First Contact thriller. This may be his finest work to date, and that's high bar. He defies tropes, resulting in a refreshing and credible cast of characters and a plotline that reflects people who are realistic rather than formulaic. The depth of the story is enhanced by the respect Cawdron shows to the various factions, both on Earth and elsewhere.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Would consider this military Sci-fi. Great characters are woven into a great story. The international aspects are spot on. Lots of research to create a high level of reality in this novel. Kept me reading to see what happens next. Excellent ending. A great read worth reading. BTW I have read "Art of War" many times and applied the concepts many times in various settings. This is a wonderful tribute to that ageless writing.

[Michael L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if, when aliens arrive, they don't come in with lasers burning and death rays slashing? What if, instead, they employ their own stealthy arts of warfare against the (presumably naive) Earthlings?

But what if those very Earthlings have their own venerable volume laying out the Art of War?

Another brilliant exploration of First Contact by Peter Cawdron, and, as with his other works, it will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.

[Robert M Ronning · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best!

This novel is right in there with the best sci-fi I have read. And I have been reading sci-fi for well 60 years. Goes a long way to describe how space is dangerous, even without invaders and how difficult is is to get there. The characters are well developed and relatable. I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a good, well researched, fact filled adventure that keeps you turning pages. Thank you for writing this.

[Frederik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Armstrong (NASA) + Li Jing (CNSA) train in Paris for first US + China space flight, ... and fall in love. War breaks out, ostensibly between US and China, but it turns out aliens are bombarding earth from behind the moon. Commander Lisa Chao persuades the US Navy to play by Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, and subsequently meets China’s most senior military commander, General Mao Huang. Mark + Li + Indian astronaut fly to the moon in a makeshift Indian spacecraft to fight the aliens. Despite the odds and some drama they manage to inflict some damage to the alien spacecraft and return to earth. The aliens are impressed, stop hostilities, and touch down on earth to say hello to General Mao Huang. Good hard science fiction (including nice explainers), very interesting first contact variation, some storyline twists seemed a little bit too hollywoodesque.