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Fallout of War: Ukraine: Year One
In the tradition of Herman Wouk's sweeping historical war epics, Fallout of War follows Lieutenant Commander James Fairbanks, a career naval submarine officer assigned as a military attaché to the American embassy in Kyiv in late 2021. Fairbanks arrives in Ukraine with his wife, Lucy, a State Department analyst, just as tensions with Russia reach a critical juncture. A thoughtful, disciplined officer known for his strategic acumen and unvarnished assessments, Fairbanks quickly becomes immersed in the complex political and military landscape of Eastern Europe.
Fairbanks tours the Chernobyl exclusion zone, where he meets Ukrainian special forces conducting training exercises amid the haunting ruins of the 1986 disaster. These encounters with hardened Ukrainian soldiers, many of whom fought in the Donbas since 2014, give Fairbanks his first understanding of Ukrainian determination and the existential nature of their struggle. Through a series of diplomatic functions and intelligence briefings, he develops relationships with key Ukrainian officials and eventually meets President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose evolution from entertainer to wartime leader forms one of the novel's central character studies.
When American intelligence detects massive Russian troop concentrations along Ukraine's borders in January 2022, Washington selects Fairbanks to deliver a personal message to Vladimir Putin, hoping that a military officer's assessment might carry weight with the former KGB operative. In a tense Moscow meeting, Putin not only receives Washington’s warning but, in a calculated display of strength, invites Fairbanks to inspect Russian forces massing in Belarus along the Ukrainian border. What Fairbanks witnesses during this extraordinary access shocks him. He recognizes the scale and organization of forces preparing not for exercises but for invasion, and his detailed report to Washington becomes a prescient but controversial document that divides American policymakers between those advocating preemptive support for Ukraine and those counseling restraint to avoid provoking Moscow.
Lucy Fairbanks, meanwhile, has established herself in Kyiv's expatriate community, forming friendships with Ukrainian families and other diplomats. Her perspective provides the novel's intimate domestic counterpoint to James's military observations. As February 2022 approaches, Lucy's growing anxiety mirrors the city's increasing tension, even as many Ukrainians struggle to believe that full-scale war is actually coming.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"An examination of warfare that doesn’t lose sight of the people involved." — Kirkus Reviews
"Gripping narrative of military diplomacy, Ukrainian resilience, and war’s complexity." — BookLife Review
"A story about how just one person can be forever changed by war and can forever change the outcome of a war." — Reedsy/discovery
"In short, readers looking for a compelling war story with characters beating the odds will find Fallout of War utterly engrossing." — blueink Review *** STARRED REVIEW
"Filled with action, insight, and impact, Fallout of War: Ukraine: Year One attracts with realistic dilemmas, evolves unexpected new situations that test the ideals and might of its participants, and creates a thoroughly immersive experience to place its readers not just on the battlefield, but in the homes and hearts of all involved." — Midwest Book Review
Fairbanks tours the Chernobyl exclusion zone, where he meets Ukrainian special forces conducting training exercises amid the haunting ruins of the 1986 disaster. These encounters with hardened Ukrainian soldiers, many of whom fought in the Donbas since 2014, give Fairbanks his first understanding of Ukrainian determination and the existential nature of their struggle. Through a series of diplomatic functions and intelligence briefings, he develops relationships with key Ukrainian officials and eventually meets President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose evolution from entertainer to wartime leader forms one of the novel's central character studies.
When American intelligence detects massive Russian troop concentrations along Ukraine's borders in January 2022, Washington selects Fairbanks to deliver a personal message to Vladimir Putin, hoping that a military officer's assessment might carry weight with the former KGB operative. In a tense Moscow meeting, Putin not only receives Washington’s warning but, in a calculated display of strength, invites Fairbanks to inspect Russian forces massing in Belarus along the Ukrainian border. What Fairbanks witnesses during this extraordinary access shocks him. He recognizes the scale and organization of forces preparing not for exercises but for invasion, and his detailed report to Washington becomes a prescient but controversial document that divides American policymakers between those advocating preemptive support for Ukraine and those counseling restraint to avoid provoking Moscow.
Lucy Fairbanks, meanwhile, has established herself in Kyiv's expatriate community, forming friendships with Ukrainian families and other diplomats. Her perspective provides the novel's intimate domestic counterpoint to James's military observations. As February 2022 approaches, Lucy's growing anxiety mirrors the city's increasing tension, even as many Ukrainians struggle to believe that full-scale war is actually coming.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"An examination of warfare that doesn’t lose sight of the people involved." — Kirkus Reviews
"Gripping narrative of military diplomacy, Ukrainian resilience, and war’s complexity." — BookLife Review
"A story about how just one person can be forever changed by war and can forever change the outcome of a war." — Reedsy/discovery
"In short, readers looking for a compelling war story with characters beating the odds will find Fallout of War utterly engrossing." — blueink Review *** STARRED REVIEW
"Filled with action, insight, and impact, Fallout of War: Ukraine: Year One attracts with realistic dilemmas, evolves unexpected new situations that test the ideals and might of its participants, and creates a thoroughly immersive experience to place its readers not just on the battlefield, but in the homes and hearts of all involved." — Midwest Book Review
171 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2025
18 people are currently reading
1445 people want to read
About the author
H. Peter Alesso
75 books473 followersI love words, but that wasn't always true. I grew up with a talent for numbers, leading me to follow a different path. I went to Annapolis and MIT and became a nuclear physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Only after I retired was my desire to tell stories reawakened.
In recent years, I have immersed myself in the world of words, drawing on my scientific knowledge and personal experience to shape my writing.
As a scientist, I explored physics and technology, which enabled me to create informative and insightful books, sharing my knowledge with readers who sought to expand their understanding in these areas—contributing to their intellectual growth while satisfying my own passion.
But it was my time as a naval officer that ignited my imagination and propelled me into science fiction. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy and serving on nuclear submarines during both hot and cold wars, I witnessed firsthand the complexities and challenges of military operations that seamen face daily.
This allowed me a unique perspective, which I channeled into creating Henry Gallant and a 22nd-century world where a space officer fought against invading aliens. Through this narrative, I explored the depths of human resilience, the mysteries of space, and the intricacies of military conflict.
My stories let me share the highlights of my journey with you. I hope you enjoy the ride. (www.hpeteralesso.com)
H. Peter Alesso Amazon Author Page"
https://www.amazon.com/H.-Peter-Aless...
'The Henry Gallant Sage' Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/TheHenryGall...
website: https://www.ai-hive.net/
In recent years, I have immersed myself in the world of words, drawing on my scientific knowledge and personal experience to shape my writing.
As a scientist, I explored physics and technology, which enabled me to create informative and insightful books, sharing my knowledge with readers who sought to expand their understanding in these areas—contributing to their intellectual growth while satisfying my own passion.
But it was my time as a naval officer that ignited my imagination and propelled me into science fiction. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy and serving on nuclear submarines during both hot and cold wars, I witnessed firsthand the complexities and challenges of military operations that seamen face daily.
This allowed me a unique perspective, which I channeled into creating Henry Gallant and a 22nd-century world where a space officer fought against invading aliens. Through this narrative, I explored the depths of human resilience, the mysteries of space, and the intricacies of military conflict.
My stories let me share the highlights of my journey with you. I hope you enjoy the ride. (www.hpeteralesso.com)
H. Peter Alesso Amazon Author Page"
https://www.amazon.com/H.-Peter-Aless...
'The Henry Gallant Sage' Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/TheHenryGall...
website: https://www.ai-hive.net/
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 5, 2026
An American couple is assigned to positions in Ukraine. He is a Navy captain sent to advise and observe military training exercises, she works as an advisor on Russian affairs. Russia invades and he is on the ground, embedded with a Ukrainian Unit. Both their roles change as the Ukrainians rush to stop the Russians from reaching Kyiv. They are separated due to the new circumstances, communication becomes less frequent. War is no friend of relationships.
January 28, 2026
First-hand view of a terrible conflict.
Very well written account of the beginning of the Ukraine-Russian war from the perspective of an American naval submarine commander. Unusual perspective but ultimately astoundingly effective. Relates not only the actions taken but also the relationships made, the unwavering determination of the Ukrainian military against superior numbers. The innovations they employed with drones...both aerial and naval...and how the development of those innovative measures were then adapted to American use.
The emotional consequences of how war affects marriage and family is not overlooked. Will James and Lucy's love survive their dangerous separation?
This book covers the first year of the war. It is very well written and easy to read in spite of the technical aspects included in the descriptions of the equipment development and war language. A great read.
Very well written account of the beginning of the Ukraine-Russian war from the perspective of an American naval submarine commander. Unusual perspective but ultimately astoundingly effective. Relates not only the actions taken but also the relationships made, the unwavering determination of the Ukrainian military against superior numbers. The innovations they employed with drones...both aerial and naval...and how the development of those innovative measures were then adapted to American use.
The emotional consequences of how war affects marriage and family is not overlooked. Will James and Lucy's love survive their dangerous separation?
This book covers the first year of the war. It is very well written and easy to read in spite of the technical aspects included in the descriptions of the equipment development and war language. A great read.
January 26, 2026
An astute and compelling read.
Pretty good glimpse of some of the events of the first year of the war in Ukraine after the despicable invasion by the vile Russians as seen through the eyes of one fictional US Navy Lieutenant Commander James Fairbanks sent to the US embassy in Kyiv.
Alesso captures the dislocation when military members return home after deployment to a war zone and combat rather well too.
Pretty good glimpse of some of the events of the first year of the war in Ukraine after the despicable invasion by the vile Russians as seen through the eyes of one fictional US Navy Lieutenant Commander James Fairbanks sent to the US embassy in Kyiv.
Alesso captures the dislocation when military members return home after deployment to a war zone and combat rather well too.
January 1, 2026
Too many words, too little story.
January 11, 2026
Very immersive and captivating. Author has some repetitive scenes tho. Looking forward to reading the second book!! I enjoyed how real it all felt.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews