The Final Wars Begin

by S.A. Asthana

ONE MAN SETS IN MOTION THE COLLAPSE OF CIVILIZATION.

It’s 2209. World War III has left humanity fragmented. Three colonies survive, each on a different world – Earth supports New Paris, its moon has become Nippon One, and Mars has Port Sydney. Trade and tensions bind them, keeping peace balanced on the edge of a precipice. A cruel dictator rages on one world. A failed experiment plunges another into financial ruin. Diplomatic pressures bear down on the third. All it would take is for one man to tip everything over into conflict.

ENTER BASTIEN LYONS.

A man on the run, Bastien’s moral compass has made him a fugitive in the colonies. The odds against his escape are stacked high – a military robot built to erase outlaws hunts him. So do bounty hunters. What’s worse: Bastien finds himself caught in a deadly political chess match between Earth and Mars. He must not only outwit those threats but also create alliances to live. In doing so, Bastien will push the world towards...

THE FINAL WARS.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2019

About the author

S.A. Asthana writes thrilling science fiction and horror tales that often involve robots, aliens, and ghouls. He has a background in technology and has traveled the world extensively. S.A. currently resides in Austin, Texas, with his wife and kids. When not writing, he can be found haunting local bookstores and libraries.

Email him at info@sawritessf.com if you have feedback, questions, or... just want to say hi :-) S.A. would love to hear from you.

You can also find him at:

Website: SAwritesSF.com
Twitter: @AsthanaAuthor

Reviews

[Cal Desmond-Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not usually a great reader of dystopian novels - but I was given this as a present, so...
I found it an excellent read! Gripping, exciting, and well-written. Set in post-apocalyptic time this is the first of what will be an important dystopian/sci-fi trilogy. One of my favourite reads of the year.
I'll write a fuller review shprtly

[Fiona Ingram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could one man tip the balance of world power to set off the final wars? It’s possible. Bastien Lyons, once an orphan in New Paris on Earth, finds himself back in his old stomping ground as he escapes the colony on Mars, Port Sydney, where he was accused of a heinous crime. Everyone seems to be after him because there’s a bounty on his head. After World War 3, Earth is uninhabitable on the surface, and not much remains anyway. Earth has the colony of New Paris; the Moon has Nippon One; and Mars has Port Sydney. New Paris is the sewer-like habitat of the remnants of humanity, ruled over by self-styled Queen Marie, part cyborg, and the rest of her a drug-riddled, narcissistic egomaniac. But although he’s being hunted, New Paris is Bastien’s best place of refuge since he knows it so well. But if only he wasn’t so conspicuous with those yellow irises as well as being hunted by a seven-foot robot…

This is a short read and serves as a prelude for undoubtedly a much longer exposition by the author in the subsequent books of this trilogy. I really enjoyed it! The Final Wars Begin by S.A. is well written, with touches of unexpected humour. The author’s ability to describe the fetid, stinking atmosphere of New Paris, then contrast that with the sterility of Port Sydney makes for an excellent visual, almost cinematic unfolding of events. The main characters are developed into real people, although Bastien is by far the most realistic and charismatic. Interestingly, I found the bounty hunter robot Cube to be very appealing, with his penchant for the piano piece Fur Elise.

I enjoyed the various themes and questions raised in this story: does the butterfly effect exist, and could artificial intelligence become so self-aware that it takes over humanity? The chapters move from one character’s perspective to another, which gives the reader a very detailed look at the back history of the war, the colonies, and past events, as well as clarifying just what everyone wants to get in the end – all this without the proverbial info dump. The story starts with a bang, and the pace continues at the same speed. The end is a cliff-hanger but surprisingly, it works, and one closes the book not feeling dissatisfied but eager to get the next instalment. This is the kind of story that sci fi and dystopian fans will love. A hero with standards and a conscience, a believable dystopian world, a complex plot driven by the main players’ needs and greed, and the promise of more action and adventure.

[Iseult Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the distant future, World War III has left Earth a barren husk and the remnants of humanity clinging to life in three diverse settlements. New Paris - a squalid mess surviving in the sewers underground on Earth, ruled by a psychotic goddess queen. Port Sydney, a technological marvel on Mars, governed by a quantum computer. Nippon One, a vast civilization on the moon, led by an emperor.
Bastien Lyons, former New Paris sewer brat, then Martian military marvel and now wanted fugitive, next expected his life to come to this. Despite the good teaching of Father Paul, a kindly priest who rescued him as a child, Bastien is afraid that he has dealt with monsters so long that he has become one. Perhaps, if he knew his future, he would give up the fight. This is how humanity’s final war begins.
This is a gripping, intense book that pulls no punches. The world building is excellent and very plausible. The characters are human. I look forward to reading book 2.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sammy Fil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not usually my regular read but I truly enjoyed this book!

The Final Wars Begin is a dystopian novel laced with science fiction. Asthana creates a futuristic world after the third war where we see glimpses of old monuments such as the Eiffel Tower and traces of ancestors in languages such as Japanese and French.

The wicked Queen Marie is both seductive and someone you wish would meet her well deserved end. And let me tell you, Asthana was not polite with death in writing. When I thought someone would be spared, blood and guts followed. Though, surprisingly each demise felt authentic. I’m not one for gore but each death and life spared made sense.

Asthana has a talent for character development and arcs. The outlaw, Bastein, is a man of past horrors but remains true to his fight to protect human life. The cyborg robot demon from hell (not actually, just my description), Cube, maintains its monotone voice but expresses reaction through coding and file search (a nice element to this writing that I truly enjoyed!).

The jargon of space and technology was easy to follow and I was never confused between the shifting perspectives which was great!

I would say that there could be better portrayal of the limitations of technology. We see Cubes frustration when it can’t locate the sound file for Beethoven, but it wasn’t entirely explored. I wanted to know what this meant and wondered if it would lead to a disadvantage for the Martians. Also, Belle was badass and I wish we saw more of her emotions! I knew why she wanted New Paris but I felt there wasn’t much monologuing for her. And I wasn’t expecting the sex at all - again, not my type of book to read so this is personal preference, it did work with the characters portrayed in that moment.

The Final Wars Begin is an entertaining read. The writing was good and this would definitely appeal to sci-fi/dystopian fans!

[Ron Seybold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a ride. In a post-post apocalyptic world, a French orphan from a dank ghetto has grown into an elite military warrior. He stands up against his military society to sacrifice his career and cast off his comforts, then becomes an outlaw and fugitive. This book is a heady blend of Japanese and French cultures, all oh-so-authentic, played out onto the 23rd Century where the moon and Mars are fully colonized and Paris is reduced to a city in the sewers. The characters carry heavy losses and harbor deep dreams, and there's a streak of madness where it can do the story the most good. It's impressive to read Japanese and French alongside striking English, and none of it ever seems to be there to call attention to itself. Along the way we meet a benevolent priest and a relentless robot—the former full of compassion and that best mentor magic like Shepherd Book in Firefly, the latter crafted to be a device whose spirit reminds you of the shiniest parts of Iron Giant and the soulless T-1000 in Terminator 2.

Asthana makes it all work together, using an arch tone that mounts his voice you hear drumming long after you're done reading. The sex isn't salacious and the combat violence feels genuine, the latter told with some reverence for the classic war stories we know and love. There's plenty of sensory detail all around. Good to see this is the first of a series, just to know that the adventures of Bastien and Marie, as well as the Emperor of Japan and the Martian High Council, will continue to take flight. Recommended.

[Gordon Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Final Wars Begin” is the story of what would be World War IV except the battle is between the space colonies that survived humankind’s third attempt to annihilate ourselves. The main character is a former soldier who refused to follow immoral orders and became a fugitive as a result. He returns to New Paris, in the sewers under the remains of the original City of Lights, to try to hide.

Unsuccessfully, we find out in the first chapter, when the non-stop violence begins. The plotline consists of a continued series of battles involving citizen soldiers, cyborgs and pure robots that fight and slay each other in a welter of blood and frying circuits. In between battles, a cadre of larger-than-life comic-book leaders posture and scheme. There is lip service to a theme in the main character’s moral quandary, but he is too busy killing people and escaping robots to spend much time on it.

This is the first book in a series, so the ending only wraps up some of the plot strings, leaving the main conflict to be continued.

“Final Wars Begin” is pornography of violence with a veneer of Sci-Fi, a graphic novel with the mayhem described in words. I hesitate to use the term “recommend” in regards to this book; anyone who will like it probably shouldn’t be reading it for the sake of his social development. Of course, most people of that sort will take this comment as the highest form of praise. So I leave it to the reader to decide.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books... when I finished it, I couldn't immediately move on to the next book on my 'to read' shelf. I wasn't done with these characters yet! I hadn't recovered from the George R.R. Martin-like twist I'd just encountered. (I was legitimately mad at myself for not having already bought book two by the time I finished.) This author definitely kept me guessing the entire time.

Sci-fi, futuristic fantasy, dystopian future... whatever you want to call it, I love it. It's got shine, it's got grit; it's got murderous Queens and heroic underdogs; history and the future are intertwined masterfully. The settings are just as engaging and tangible as the characters. I certainly never expected to emerge from this read strangely endeared to a murderous death bot. And as a female reader, I am all about these strong. female. characters! (Even the ones you may love to hate.)

[Jason M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Final Wars Begin by S. A. Asthana is the first book in what will become an influential science fiction/dystopian trilogy. Its story is intriguing and filled with creative weaponry, worlds, and a cast of diverse characters that will simultaneously surprise, shock, and delight fans of sci-fi/dystopian novels. Bastien proves to be a captivating hero caught between the greed and egos of colony rulers and power-brokers. TFWB is an impressive, satisfying read and the way it ended has me itching to get my hands on the second part.

[Larry Brill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a big fan of dystopian stories but picked this up on the recommendation of a friend. It was a good call. Asthana’s prose is punchy and the plot moves quickly. His take on how one man could upset the world order in post-apocolypse Earth is intriguing.

[Brian Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, fast-paced and utterly engrossing. The Final Wars Begin is a knockout brawl of a sci-fi novel. Loved the main character, Bastien Lyons. Only thing I didn't like was that it was too short! Looking forward to book 2. This one is five stars for me.

[T.B. Wittkofsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellently written and detailed sci-fi book. I loved the twists and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat the whole time. I'm excited to start the second one and look forward to reading more from this author!

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A free book from Voracious Readers thank you

This book is gripping from the first page I could not put it down
Praise for S A Asthana an excellent read

[Jacob Rundle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting world. Strong, dynamic characters. Interesting plot. A solid 4/5 stars.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. I enjoyed the story building and even though some parts are gory (it is about a war) it was a good story. The characters, especially Bastian, are believable within the futuristic setting. I recommend you read this is you enjoy sci-fi.

[Cody Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exciting, page-turner is set in 2209 post World War III. Well-written and packed with action from start to finish. Great read!

[Charles Remington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lieutenant General Bastien Lyons is on the run but in a dystopian future where humans inhabit only three enclaves; one on Mars, one on the Moon and one in the sewers of Paris - his choice of hiding place is severely limited. The Final Wars Begin by S.A. describes how, as an orphan from the Parisian sewers, Bastien feels he has the best chance of blending in to his original home. The filth and stench of New Paris are a shock initially but he soon becomes re-accustomed to the squalor. His bright yellow irises are difficult to disguise however, and that, coupled with the huge bounty offered for his capture soon brings him before the queen of this subterranean, verminous society. But the meeting has a very different outcome to that expected and leads to a series of breath-taking escapades where Bastien fights for his very survival against seemingly invincible robotic foes. Can he save the squalid, beleaguered city of his birth? Can he even save himself?

The Final Wars Begin is a fast-paced science fiction thriller set a couple of centuries hence, where a third world war has pretty much destroyed the surface of planet Earth. The narrative throws you straight into the action and pulls no punches. Be prepared for gory action sequences where limbs, entrails and brain matter frequently fly around rat-infested tunnels. I found the word ‘fuck’ and its various derivatives somewhat overused, particularly by the central characters, which seemed to blend them together rather than create solid, identifiable, individual voices. But the book presents some intriguing and original ideas which I am sure will be further developed in S.A’s next instalments. A worthy addition to the sci-fi / dystopian genre.

[Jason Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a fun read with some good ideas. Beethoven's Fur Elise will always hold new context for me, for example. But I have to take issue with the main character being the fulcrum for these futuristic wars. The two sisters in this story are really the plot drivers and they should be given more credit. Bastien merely does their bidding at every turn. Their decisions and choices are the compelling ones. Feels kind of like their credit is Mansplained away by a generic soldier bro.

Got a little "feces and filth" weary towards the end. Needed some setting levity. And the gratuitous violence - especially against children - was a little much for me. Had great pace though and enjoyed the author's turn of phrase.

[Arjaree Keeratiprapa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Final Wars Begin by S.A. Asthana is the kind of story that grabs your attention from page one and doesn't let go. From the pacing to the character development, as well as the writing, this dystopian sci-fi book keeps you hooked. I loved Bastien Lyons, the main character because of how well-written he is. This French orphan from a destitute Parisian landscape set in 2209 grows up to be a military leader in the machine-run Martian colony of Port Sydney (think Big Brother), only to find himself on the wrong end of the law. Other characters either hunt him or want to use him in some way throughout the book, and Bastien finds himself not only at conflict with his surroundings but also himself and his morals. This is where the book excels. Bastien's relationship with Father Paul, a mentor figure, and God, by extension, is explored extremely well. It lends an unexpected but satisfying layer to this grim tale. I highly recommend this book, especially to fans of sci-fi.