What do you think?
Rate this book
The Repulse Chronicles #1
Onslaught
On 7 February 2062, the New Persian Caliphate launched a devastating and unprovoked surprise attack against NATO. This was the initial salvo in a two-year war that would bring Europe to the brink of annihilation and cost millions of lives.
Onslaught is the first in a series of novels that tell the story of the 2062-2064 war as seen through the eyes of the people obliged to fight it.
Onslaught is the first in a series of novels that tell the story of the 2062-2064 war as seen through the eyes of the people obliged to fight it.
- GenresScience Fiction
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2017
48 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Chris James
19 books33 followersChris James is the critically acclaimed author of Repulse: Europe at War 2062–2064, the history of a future war between NATO and the New Persian Caliphate, and a series of companion novels called The Repulse Chronicles. The first six books, Onslaught, Invasion, The Battle for Europe, The Endgame, The Race against Time, and Operation Repulse, have been published. Chris is currently writing the seventh and final novel, The Repulse Chronicles, Book Seven: Aftermath. He has also published the ground-breaking science fiction novels Dystopia Descending and Time Is the Only God.
Chris works in the international legal industry in Central and Eastern Europe, and is an occasional lecturer in English at Warsaw, Prague and Krakow universities. He lives in an agreeably anonymous and nicely forested suburb of Warsaw, Poland, with his Polish wife and their three children, two dogs and four cats.
Chris works in the international legal industry in Central and Eastern Europe, and is an occasional lecturer in English at Warsaw, Prague and Krakow universities. He lives in an agreeably anonymous and nicely forested suburb of Warsaw, Poland, with his Polish wife and their three children, two dogs and four cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 23, 2017
Gender neutral voices, super artificial intelligence, slates - the future does look interesting! Yet again Chris James wows his readers with his new book - Onslaught. Events known from the already famous Repulse - Europe at war are evoked, this time from “first persons perspective”. This amazingly intelligent, often satisfyingly suspenseful story deserves top marks for all its qualities, yet carries one more: it definitely helps to "understand", offers a better insight into other global conflicts, i.e. WWII. I’m therefore pretty confident, that Chris James' whole triptych (Repulse and both parts of Onslaught) should, sooner or later, find its way into national curriculum, which would really be helpful. A film based on this book would be a big thing, I have no doubts about it. Just one gripe: why has the book ended so quick? The good news though is, that the second part is apparently on its way, and I just cannot wait to put my hands on it. Thank you, Mr James, for your great storytelling!
July 1, 2023
This is the first book of the Repulse Chronicles, and I should mention that it’s not a stand-alone read. Schedule some time for the series because it will be hard not to dive into book 2 as soon as you’re done with this one.
The novel is hard military science fiction. “Hard” because the science is technical, grounded in real science and scientific theory, and utterly frighteningly believable. I fell for it completely and experienced no small amount of awe. “Military” because this book is 90% military/political strategy and action, and about 10% human interest. I wasn’t certain I’d enjoy the genre, but I was completely riveted and read the book in a day.
This installment of the story starts with the rise of the Third Caliphate in the Middle East. There are some faulty AI algorithms and predictions leading the Western world into complacency, along with some advanced AI weaponry to shake things up. The aggressive Caliphate wants the West to pay for thousands of years of wrongs, and the first attack comes without warning. The unpredictability keeps the pace zipping along as does the overwhelming threat and indifferent destruction.
Sir Terry of the UK government is an old-school general and his POV is pivotal. That said, there are a number of POV characters (many of them from around the world) that share the story, most of them military and political, but civilians as well. A few only last long enough to put a face on the carnage.
This isn’t an emotionally gushy story at all (nor is it gory), but the struggles of the characters felt personal and heart-wrenching against the impersonal AI invasion. The destruction is terrifying and unstoppable, and it’s hard not to share in the characters’ desperation. The pace is quick, the plot spellbinding, and the writing polished. This is a must-read for military sci-fi fans, but I think fans of military thrillers will also find this book hard to put down. Highly recommended.
The novel is hard military science fiction. “Hard” because the science is technical, grounded in real science and scientific theory, and utterly frighteningly believable. I fell for it completely and experienced no small amount of awe. “Military” because this book is 90% military/political strategy and action, and about 10% human interest. I wasn’t certain I’d enjoy the genre, but I was completely riveted and read the book in a day.
This installment of the story starts with the rise of the Third Caliphate in the Middle East. There are some faulty AI algorithms and predictions leading the Western world into complacency, along with some advanced AI weaponry to shake things up. The aggressive Caliphate wants the West to pay for thousands of years of wrongs, and the first attack comes without warning. The unpredictability keeps the pace zipping along as does the overwhelming threat and indifferent destruction.
Sir Terry of the UK government is an old-school general and his POV is pivotal. That said, there are a number of POV characters (many of them from around the world) that share the story, most of them military and political, but civilians as well. A few only last long enough to put a face on the carnage.
This isn’t an emotionally gushy story at all (nor is it gory), but the struggles of the characters felt personal and heart-wrenching against the impersonal AI invasion. The destruction is terrifying and unstoppable, and it’s hard not to share in the characters’ desperation. The pace is quick, the plot spellbinding, and the writing polished. This is a must-read for military sci-fi fans, but I think fans of military thrillers will also find this book hard to put down. Highly recommended.
September 29, 2017
Skillful writing, compelling storyline and filled with heart-wrenching vignettes of people (from Europe, the United Kingdom and beyond) experiencing the opening days of a future war.
You can tell by the book’s cover image that this novel, the first of a much anticipated series, expands on the advanced technology war we were introduced to in the deservedly successful ‘Repulse’ (published last year). Repulse provided a vast picture taken by a wide-frame lens. Now, Onslaught begins to focus in and gives us, in essence, snapshots of the many details. The author’s technique works very well indeed for this story.
Science fiction is not my usual genre of choice but I am consistently drawn into the writing from Chris James because he allows his stories to unfold through the well-drawn characters’ thoughts and actions. And he does so here, brilliantly.
With so many timelines - readers in the present learning about a history of a war that happens in the future – the plot and action would have been cumbersome in less capable hands. But the author draws us in and keeps us fully immersed in the action, moving among decision-makers, pawns and the citizens on the ground whose lives will be/were forever changed (and in some cases ended) by those crucial decisions.
Thoroughly engaging. I highly recommend this novel that blends science fiction and military history. I can't wait to read the next in the series!!
You can tell by the book’s cover image that this novel, the first of a much anticipated series, expands on the advanced technology war we were introduced to in the deservedly successful ‘Repulse’ (published last year). Repulse provided a vast picture taken by a wide-frame lens. Now, Onslaught begins to focus in and gives us, in essence, snapshots of the many details. The author’s technique works very well indeed for this story.
Science fiction is not my usual genre of choice but I am consistently drawn into the writing from Chris James because he allows his stories to unfold through the well-drawn characters’ thoughts and actions. And he does so here, brilliantly.
With so many timelines - readers in the present learning about a history of a war that happens in the future – the plot and action would have been cumbersome in less capable hands. But the author draws us in and keeps us fully immersed in the action, moving among decision-makers, pawns and the citizens on the ground whose lives will be/were forever changed (and in some cases ended) by those crucial decisions.
Thoroughly engaging. I highly recommend this novel that blends science fiction and military history. I can't wait to read the next in the series!!
February 26, 2024
A very drawn out slow book with snippets of some good action dropped in to liven this book up ,
I understand you have to lay down the foundations of a good first book do the reader asks for more But I struggled and may I say speed read a few parts as they seemed to keep para phrasing a few words lines over and over and instead of getting drawn in to the story my mind started to drift off and loose concentration and this is such a shame from book one , At the moment the story seems to capture bits of history’s nasty men and there quest of earths domination and a possible Battle of Britain in the next book or two ,Well book two here I come please be a faster more action driven at a pace that I don’t speed read
I understand you have to lay down the foundations of a good first book do the reader asks for more But I struggled and may I say speed read a few parts as they seemed to keep para phrasing a few words lines over and over and instead of getting drawn in to the story my mind started to drift off and loose concentration and this is such a shame from book one , At the moment the story seems to capture bits of history’s nasty men and there quest of earths domination and a possible Battle of Britain in the next book or two ,Well book two here I come please be a faster more action driven at a pace that I don’t speed read
September 8, 2021
Writing seems more aimed at youngsters not a patch on DC Aldens series as just too simplistic.
Seemed to have a couple of chapters just describing a card game some characters were playing. Other sections introduced characters who were then killed off. Just felt like padding.
Seemed to have a couple of chapters just describing a card game some characters were playing. Other sections introduced characters who were then killed off. Just felt like padding.
March 13, 2021
Good
After reading this in virtually a single sitting, I am pretty sure that I am going to thoroughly enjoy the rest of the series..........
After reading this in virtually a single sitting, I am pretty sure that I am going to thoroughly enjoy the rest of the series..........
September 21, 2023
interesting.
Good read and we’ll written but the use of such advanced technologies make it more a work of SF. Still worth continuing
Good read and we’ll written but the use of such advanced technologies make it more a work of SF. Still worth continuing
May 10, 2024
Onslaught
This is the second time I've started to read this series of books and I am enjoying it even more this time
This is the second time I've started to read this series of books and I am enjoying it even more this time
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews