As someone going into this totally blind, I'm glad to see it set in what's essentially an alternate reality of the the "real world" and not just a total fantasy world. Not always the case in sci fi but I think it will make more interesting.
What I take from the first couple chapters is I'm interested to learn more about the history and political makeup of the world. I get the idea we have a dysfunctional mess of a world shrouded with a thin layer of utopia. The first chapter you've got an army going in to do what's essentially an intimidation raid but in the second back in time a bit it's generally happy and "normal." Except maybe the whole military enlistment thing, as apparently they have so many people wanting to enlist, they aren't allowed to turn them down, but they go as far as trying to talk them out of it. It almost comes off as enlistment in the military is a virtue signal.
I'd like to hear your re-evaluation of that final point of yours after you've finished the book, because I can't be sure I wouldn't accidentally spoil things for you if we talked about it.
As someone going into this totally blind, I'm glad to see it set in what's essentially an alternate reality of the the "real world" and not just a total fantasy world. Not always the case in sci fi but I think it will make more interesting.
What I take from the first couple chapters is I'm interested to learn more about the history and political makeup of the world. I get the idea we have a dysfunctional mess of a world shrouded with a thin layer of utopia. The first chapter you've got an army going in to do what's essentially an intimidation raid but in the second back in time a bit it's generally happy and "normal." Except maybe the whole military enlistment thing, as apparently they have so many people wanting to enlist, they aren't allowed to turn them down, but they go as far as trying to talk them out of it. It almost comes off as enlistment in the military is a virtue signal.
I'd like to hear your re-evaluation of that final point of yours after you've finished the book, because I can't be sure I wouldn't accidentally spoil things for you if we talked about it.