The Next World War: The new age of global conflict and the fight to stop it

by Peter Apps

'Incredibly well sourced . . . One of the most plugged-in voices in modern warfare' - TELEGRAPH

'Reads like a real-life geopolitical thriller . . . The fact it doesn't feel like scaremongering says a lot about the state of the world' - Jonn Elledge, author of A History of the World in 47 Borders


The Next World War takes readers behind the scenes of the most dangerous era of international tensions since the end of the Cold War, as countries and military forces prepare for potential large-scale combat on a scale unseen since 1945.

From the corridors of power in Washington, Whitehall, Moscow and Beijing to the new frontlines of conflict in Ukraine, Taiwan, cyberspace and even the far side of the moon, Peter Apps unflinchingly explores the fault lines where global peace is already starting to unravel.

Featuring the voices of the commanders, diplomats and technologists already shaping history, as well as the nervous conscripts and ordinary people directly caught up in events, The Next World War examines the real-world effects of this new era of global confrontation. For some - including millions of citizens told to stockpile food and water and prepare for potential mass disruption - it still may not feel entirely real. But for Russia, China and their growing 'axis of upheaval', today's conflicts represent a growing opportunity to reshape the world as they would like it - leading to potential disaster for the West if it cannot heed the warnings in time.

From the return of Cold War-style atomic threats to new forms of sabotage and 'hybrid warfare', the battle for global dominance is already firmly underway. The Next World War is the book you need to understand the growing precariousness of our current situation - and the unending battle to stop it escalating past the point of no return.

'Gripping and important . . . A warning order for the future' - General Sir Tim Radford KCB DSO OBE

'Sweeping and compelling, with plenty of human stories that really pull you in. A must-read book from the expert I go to when I really want to get a sense of where things might be going' - Anna-Joy Rickard, Great British Foreign Affairs podcast

460 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 29, 2026

About the author

Peter Apps lives in England, and Deja Vu To The Nth is his third novel. He wrote it because he still thinks people are pretty amazing even though Peter hasn’t met anyone who has built a space portal, but then again, he hasn’t looked in everyone’s garden shed either.

He was born on 1st January 1948 has lived in Sheerness, Kent for most of his life. The Isle of Sheppey where Sheerness is situated has a long, rich history which has always fascinated Peter. History might seem a far cry from Science Fiction but imagining life in a Roman settlement is imagining a world just as alien as a distant planet.

Although he worked in a series of routine jobs he likes to do his own thing when he can.

For example, all his computers are Microsoft free zones and prefers to use Linux. He has always had an interest in science, especially Astronomy. Now that planets have been discovered around other suns, he feels that the time is coming when we could discover intelligent life out there.
Other interests include classical music and jazz. He also likes to settle down in the evening to watch a good film while enjoying a nice glass of bitter or else visiting his local for a chat over a friendly drink.