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Aggressor #3
Swarm: The hit series continues
The battle lines have been drawn.
China has unleashed a new weapon of mass destruction on the world, and the US-led Coalition has no way to counter it. Sheltering in bunkers in the mountains south of Taipei, Taiwan’s government considers suing for peace. Taiwanese fisherman, Lin Hungyu, may have the answer. But his neighbours think he is mad and the military won't take his calls.Who will listen to him?
After losses in the Taiwan conflict, the 68th Aggressor Squadron is stood down to rest and refit.Where will the war take them next? Or will war come to them instead?
SWARM is a gripping tale of superpower conflict told through the eyes of ordinary combatants and civilians on all sides of the conflict. But is it fiction, or prophecy? … You be the judge!SWARM is the third book in the Aggressor Series. Book IV, Midnight, will be released April 2024. Book V, the final volume in the series, is scheduled for June 2024.
China has unleashed a new weapon of mass destruction on the world, and the US-led Coalition has no way to counter it. Sheltering in bunkers in the mountains south of Taipei, Taiwan’s government considers suing for peace. Taiwanese fisherman, Lin Hungyu, may have the answer. But his neighbours think he is mad and the military won't take his calls.Who will listen to him?
After losses in the Taiwan conflict, the 68th Aggressor Squadron is stood down to rest and refit.Where will the war take them next? Or will war come to them instead?
SWARM is a gripping tale of superpower conflict told through the eyes of ordinary combatants and civilians on all sides of the conflict. But is it fiction, or prophecy? … You be the judge!SWARM is the third book in the Aggressor Series. Book IV, Midnight, will be released April 2024. Book V, the final volume in the series, is scheduled for June 2024.
- GenresFictionMilitary Fiction
540 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2023
277 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
F.X. Holden
24 books192 followersFX Holden writes action thrillers (The 'Aggressor' and 'Future War' Series) and Science Fiction (The 'Coruscant' and 'Red Legion' Series). He has been awarded two US Publishers' Weekly Stars (the Michelin Star of publishing), the US Readers' Favorite award for Best Political Thriller (twice, including in 2025), and the US Book Excellence award for Best Military Fiction!
FX Holden is a pen name for author Tim (TJ) Slee, winner of the HarperCollins Banjo Prize for Australian fiction and the US Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize for Fiction.
FX Holden is a pen name for author Tim (TJ) Slee, winner of the HarperCollins Banjo Prize for Australian fiction and the US Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize for Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 1, 2024
Not a review really, since I am the author! Think of it as ‘author notes’…
In the Aggressor series of novels China invades Taiwan, not with troops as the west expects, but with autonomous drones. In SWARM, swarming drones combined with cruise and hypersonic missiles take out a Chinese carrier. In space, hundreds of Chinese ‘parasite’ satellites are used to de-orbit US military satellites, blinding surveillance and knocking out GPS and communications systems.
Fiction?
I try to keep my novels one step ahead of reality, but it has a way of catching me faster than I can write.
Tragically, the conflict scenarios in the Aggressor series move closer every day. On December 29 2023 Russia showed what it has learned from two years of drone and missile warfare against Ukraine: namely, that sophisticated air defenses can be overwhelmed with waves of cheap drones allowing follow up attacks to get through.
Just before 5am on Dec 29 Russia launched swarms of cheap Iranian designed Shahed kamikaze drones from north and southeast of Ukraine. While Ukrainian air defense batteries, including Patriots, were still occupied with this attack, Russian aircraft launched cruise missiles and then at least 5 ballistic hypersonic missiles. At least one of the cruise missile types used showed new capabilities, deploying decoys to protect itself as it closed on its target.
According to NYTimes only 87 of 122 missiles fired were intercepted. Thirty percent got through Ukrainian air defenses to strike warehouses, factories and residential buildings across Ukraine. Other sources say 158 missiles and drones were fired with Ukraine destroying 87 missiles og 27 drones - meaning 44 got through.
Russia used a three-wave swarming attack on Ukraine, with horrific effect. According to the Ukrainian government, around 40 people were killed and 170 wounded in this largest air attack of the war to date.
My wife asked me the other day, when she saw me visibly distressed by events in Ukraine and now also Israel-Gaza. “Why do you write about such things, if you find them so distressing?”
It is precisely because they are distressing that I write about them. I set my novels a few years into the future because this is a future we can still do something to avoid. When you read an Aggressor Inc. novel, in addition to an engaging read, I hope you get some food for thought: “Is this the world I want for my children or grandchildren?”
Unfortunately, as current events like the one I describe above show, I am not writing speculative fiction at all, I am writing about a reality that will very soon come to be if we are not very, very careful.
In the Aggressor series of novels China invades Taiwan, not with troops as the west expects, but with autonomous drones. In SWARM, swarming drones combined with cruise and hypersonic missiles take out a Chinese carrier. In space, hundreds of Chinese ‘parasite’ satellites are used to de-orbit US military satellites, blinding surveillance and knocking out GPS and communications systems.
Fiction?
I try to keep my novels one step ahead of reality, but it has a way of catching me faster than I can write.
Tragically, the conflict scenarios in the Aggressor series move closer every day. On December 29 2023 Russia showed what it has learned from two years of drone and missile warfare against Ukraine: namely, that sophisticated air defenses can be overwhelmed with waves of cheap drones allowing follow up attacks to get through.
Just before 5am on Dec 29 Russia launched swarms of cheap Iranian designed Shahed kamikaze drones from north and southeast of Ukraine. While Ukrainian air defense batteries, including Patriots, were still occupied with this attack, Russian aircraft launched cruise missiles and then at least 5 ballistic hypersonic missiles. At least one of the cruise missile types used showed new capabilities, deploying decoys to protect itself as it closed on its target.
According to NYTimes only 87 of 122 missiles fired were intercepted. Thirty percent got through Ukrainian air defenses to strike warehouses, factories and residential buildings across Ukraine. Other sources say 158 missiles and drones were fired with Ukraine destroying 87 missiles og 27 drones - meaning 44 got through.
Russia used a three-wave swarming attack on Ukraine, with horrific effect. According to the Ukrainian government, around 40 people were killed and 170 wounded in this largest air attack of the war to date.
My wife asked me the other day, when she saw me visibly distressed by events in Ukraine and now also Israel-Gaza. “Why do you write about such things, if you find them so distressing?”
It is precisely because they are distressing that I write about them. I set my novels a few years into the future because this is a future we can still do something to avoid. When you read an Aggressor Inc. novel, in addition to an engaging read, I hope you get some food for thought: “Is this the world I want for my children or grandchildren?”
Unfortunately, as current events like the one I describe above show, I am not writing speculative fiction at all, I am writing about a reality that will very soon come to be if we are not very, very careful.
December 3, 2023
Terribly Depressing In Its Realism
My title says it all.
This is the kind of book that you read; go walk the dog, then watch old Pink Panther cartoons to shake off the pall that it casts on your mood. If it weren't for the sheer quality of the author's writing, I'd be abandoning the series at this point.
Also, that was a truly crappy way for Burroughs to go after everything he'd survived thus far.
My title says it all.
This is the kind of book that you read; go walk the dog, then watch old Pink Panther cartoons to shake off the pall that it casts on your mood. If it weren't for the sheer quality of the author's writing, I'd be abandoning the series at this point.
Also, that was a truly crappy way for Burroughs to go after everything he'd survived thus far.
January 6, 2024
Wow
Nail biter from start through the end. Now I wait for April. I volunteer to help with any pre-release reading and reviews 😁
Nail biter from start through the end. Now I wait for April. I volunteer to help with any pre-release reading and reviews 😁
December 24, 2023
Excellent Read! see how far down the rabbit hole we go as China starts to show its hand in Pacific domination!
In this third installment, Swarm, we see how far reaching China’s ambitions are! In addition, it shows that the United States and her allies do not have a monopoly on cutting edge technology. Technology that will tip the playing field in China’s favor. Our favorite Pilot is back in the game and influencing events as only she can. You will find in the events in this book that the Aggressors Inc, really need to “bring it”!
In this third installment, Swarm, we see how far reaching China’s ambitions are! In addition, it shows that the United States and her allies do not have a monopoly on cutting edge technology. Technology that will tip the playing field in China’s favor. Our favorite Pilot is back in the game and influencing events as only she can. You will find in the events in this book that the Aggressors Inc, really need to “bring it”!
November 15, 2024
Ultimately boring
I genuinely tried to stick with this series as I like the Holdens worl but by the 3rd book I was bored of the pages and pages of weapon descriptions and AI descriptions that were padded with a few action sequences and barely anything at all on the political side, I tried to to stay interested in it from the aggressor point of view and even that only had its moments of genuine interest otherwise the entire thing reads as bibliography of weapon descriptions and what AI could do, either way it starts with a fizzle and just keeps fizzing into meh
I genuinely tried to stick with this series as I like the Holdens worl but by the 3rd book I was bored of the pages and pages of weapon descriptions and AI descriptions that were padded with a few action sequences and barely anything at all on the political side, I tried to to stay interested in it from the aggressor point of view and even that only had its moments of genuine interest otherwise the entire thing reads as bibliography of weapon descriptions and what AI could do, either way it starts with a fizzle and just keeps fizzing into meh
December 17, 2023
I really like this series and the works I've read by FX Holden.
For some reason, I had some difficulty getting into this work. But, once I read about 40 pages I became engrossed.
As usual, lots of action and whiz-bang technology.
One thing I don't like is that many books these days are in a series. I prefer having everything in one book or, at least, having everything available at the same time so I can binge read to the finish.
For some reason, I had some difficulty getting into this work. But, once I read about 40 pages I became engrossed.
As usual, lots of action and whiz-bang technology.
One thing I don't like is that many books these days are in a series. I prefer having everything in one book or, at least, having everything available at the same time so I can binge read to the finish.
April 26, 2024
Another nail biting installment in a great series
I started this one thinking that I could pace myself and make the enjoyment last for a while. But once I started, it was almost impossible to put the book down…
Great storytelling from beginning to end, and I can’t wait for the next one!
I started this one thinking that I could pace myself and make the enjoyment last for a while. But once I started, it was almost impossible to put the book down…
Great storytelling from beginning to end, and I can’t wait for the next one!
December 2, 2023
GoGo Bunny Drone-whisper
Events year in the making across several books are finally coming to an heading, but with it the greatest betrayal or Heroism will born to shape this future war torn world.
Events year in the making across several books are finally coming to an heading, but with it the greatest betrayal or Heroism will born to shape this future war torn world.
December 9, 2023
Another brilliant read
Another brilliant read from the pen of FX Holden once I picked it up I couldn't put it down
It's got a great cast of characters both old and new more twists and turns than an F1 race
Another brilliant read from the pen of FX Holden once I picked it up I couldn't put it down
It's got a great cast of characters both old and new more twists and turns than an F1 race
December 27, 2023
Holden rocks!
Another atypical war story from a gifted author. Slam bam Action from page one right to thebend. Cannot wait for Midnight to see hoe Bunny gets out of her current mess.
Another atypical war story from a gifted author. Slam bam Action from page one right to thebend. Cannot wait for Midnight to see hoe Bunny gets out of her current mess.
February 23, 2024
Awesome series so far.
As a retired 37-year USAF Airman, these scenarios are too close to a future reality. We must strengthen our military, stop playing partisan politics, and start working towards a more secure future.
As a retired 37-year USAF Airman, these scenarios are too close to a future reality. We must strengthen our military, stop playing partisan politics, and start working towards a more secure future.
June 8, 2024
griping action thriller
This series has the most technical and wide range of scenarios of any story I’ve read in many years. It embodies so many different possibilities of world wide conflict that it boggles the mind 😁👍
This series has the most technical and wide range of scenarios of any story I’ve read in many years. It embodies so many different possibilities of world wide conflict that it boggles the mind 😁👍
December 4, 2023
Great plot
Great turn in the plot. China has USA on its back, precariously on the defensive, and now two more books are coming. EXCELLENT!!!
Great turn in the plot. China has USA on its back, precariously on the defensive, and now two more books are coming. EXCELLENT!!!
December 11, 2023
Whoa you got Madam President
Great ending to great book. Action, advanced weapons and gritty characters made it a fantastic ride. Sign me up for the next in the series.
Great ending to great book. Action, advanced weapons and gritty characters made it a fantastic ride. Sign me up for the next in the series.
December 17, 2023
keeps up the same really high standard of writing for this genre - non other writer comes even close!
December 19, 2023
Another good book in a great series. It is scary how close to reality this is. I honestly hope it doesn’t happen in real life.
December 30, 2023
Awesome!
Again, this installment was difficult to put down. I can't wait to begin the next book. These would be great as audio versions.
Again, this installment was difficult to put down. I can't wait to begin the next book. These would be great as audio versions.
January 4, 2024
another excellent thriller from FX Holden
So far we’ve been out maneuvered by the Chinese and I have to wait for the next book to see how we respond
So far we’ve been out maneuvered by the Chinese and I have to wait for the next book to see how we respond
May 21, 2024
Great series
I've always liked holders books. Well written, believable,and great characters. Plus any author who uses Dan Carlin for inspiration is my kind of writer.
I've always liked holders books. Well written, believable,and great characters. Plus any author who uses Dan Carlin for inspiration is my kind of writer.
July 9, 2024
Great unexpected turns.
Really enjoyed this one / slower start quickly morphed into a page turner! Can’t wait to read the next steps in the story!
Really enjoyed this one / slower start quickly morphed into a page turner! Can’t wait to read the next steps in the story!
August 30, 2024
Outstanding
Another really Outstanding in the Aggressor Series. I found it hard to put down and easy to follow. I am doloading Book #4 Midnight now.
Another really Outstanding in the Aggressor Series. I found it hard to put down and easy to follow. I am doloading Book #4 Midnight now.
December 20, 2025
Great read
Exciting plot riveting detail exceptional plot by Holden. Action-packed military detail. Can't wait to read the rest of the series by Holden.
Exciting plot riveting detail exceptional plot by Holden. Action-packed military detail. Can't wait to read the rest of the series by Holden.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews