**spoiler alert** "Future vs Now" war is a terrific concept but too many plot holes to ignore/forgive. Why would such a war start in the first place? **spoiler alert** "Future vs Now" war is a terrific concept but too many plot holes to ignore/forgive. Why would such a war start in the first place? Read through to the end to find out but never got an answer. Very illogical. Characters do things without reason, or worse, make completely illogical/inane choices, just to keep the story afloat for a bit longer. There's even a moment where the author is admitting to this, in a scene where the character mentions things feeling like "a movie twist to keep the audience guessing." And then, just then, before revealing important news, we're distracted by a phone call.
Which brings up an unforgivable issue with this book. That scene is during a military debriefing, wherein a colonel is about to make an important reveal to our (lower ranking) hero. But the hero is interrupted by a call to his personal phone and says, "Sorry, I have to get this."
BULLSHIT.
There is no world, future or imaginary, where a colonel would allow such insubordination, regardless of "nepotistic ties" (the colonel is the hero's godfather). In fact, the entire military structure in the novel is so superficial and loose -the author seems to base it upon what he's learned from watching random movies or TV shows. There is no military discipline, no structure, no training, no chain of command. People get "promoted" from sergeant to lieutenant by putting in "office hours." Barracks mix male and female, and seem to operate like preteen summer camps. Soldiers walk around with weapons loaded for no good reason. Non commissioned officers and enlisted personnel salute each other. Million (billion?) dollar units of military equipment are allowed to be used (misused) with zero oversight and accountability. This lack of research (or care?) for military culture; especially for a book purportedly set in a military environment... I find it offensive.
And setting aside the military and science errors - even simple logistical errors here are hard to ignore. Why would this administration not simply debrief their billion dollar android pilots after each patrol? Why would they need to build isolated, secured, individual chambers to control these androids? Why would they not have all pilots in a monitored facility, where they are in direct contact with superiors, and each other? Especially when they are searching for a potential traitor?
So frustrating. However, I did read through to the end. But that might be more of a "me" problem than anything to do with the book....more
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