by Ted Halstead
Applicants were blunt when we asked them. They were worried about the prospect of a North Korean attack for themselves. They were even more concerned for their children.
So, I had the ideas that eventually became The Second Korean War in my head for a long time.
Are any of the stories in the books from my own experience, and if so, which ones?
You can usually apply common sense to answer that one.
In my first book, The Second Korean War:
Characters set mines, throw grenades, and attempt to defuse nuclear weapons.
None of that was me.
Characters describe kicking up tear "gas" powder on a Seoul subway platform and not enjoying the results, and dealing with poorly aimed golf balls hit by American military officers landing in their yard at Yongsan Army Base in Seoul.
Yes, that was me.
In my second book, The Saudi-Iranian War:
Characters fire rockets, and drive a truck off a pier.
Not me.
Characters in Saudi Arabia go through traffic experiences themselves and recount others. They describe the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia. Hulk Hogan makes an unexpected appearance in the narrative.
All from my experience, all true.
Sometimes, though, it's a bit trickier. In my third book, The End of America's War in Afghanistan, one character describes a person nearly being bisected by the wing of a Harrier jump jet. Looking back, it's hard to believe it, but that person really was me!
Again, as noted on the book listing page, all of my books are set in the near future, not the present. Please keep that in mind when deciding whether the technology described in this book is plausible. If you still think not, remember that not so long ago, widespread GPS capability in cars and phones wouldn't have been just science fiction. It would have been not very credible science fiction.
Thanks again for reading my book, and I hope you will enjoy my next one in 2022!
Cast of Characters
Alphabetical Order by Nationality
Most Important Characters in Bold
Chinese Citizens
Admiral Bai, Commander, South Sea Fleet Headquarters
Chief Sergeant Cao, soldier who prepared report on destruction of Ziyou Island base
Colonel Chang, commanding temporary base at Indian border
Chen Li Na, hacker and pro-democracy leader
Deshi, cousin of Sergeant Xu
Senior Captain Ding, South Sea Fleet Headquarters
Commander Duan, executive officer of submarine Changzheng 20
Vice President Gu
Corporal Guan, spotter at Indian border
Lead Technician Jiandan, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Dam Manager Jiang, Xiluodu Dam
President Lin Wang Yong
Lishi, Forward agent transporting Gateways into China
Director Ma, Ministry of State Security (MSS) Science and Technology Investigative Division
Director Pan, billionaire secret leader of Forward
Hydropower Director Peng, in charge of all Yangtze River dams including Three Gorges Dam
Captain Qin, officer signing report on destruction of Ziyou Island base
Dam Manager Shen, Three Gorges Dam
General Shi, the Army Commander
Minister Song, Ministry of State Security (MSS)
Senior Manager Tan, Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant
Wang Yan, Forward Agent
Captain Wen, commanding submarine Changzheng 20
Plant Complex Director Wu, Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant Complex
General Yang Mingren, the Air Force Commander
Captain Yin, deputy commander of temporary base at Indian border
Minister Yu, Ministry of Public Security (MPS)
Colonel Xia, commanding construction of base on Ziyou Island
Sergeant Xu, sniper stationed at Indian border
Captain Zhong, helicopter pilot for Hydropower Director Peng
Russian Citizens
Alina, FSB Senior Field Agent
Evgeny, FSB Field Director
Anatoly Grishkov, FSB agent, former Vladivostok homicide detective
Boris Kharlov, FSB agent, ex-separatist Ukrainian warlord
Neda Rhahbar, FSB agent, former Iranian citizen
FSB Director Smyslov
Mikhail Vasilyev, FSB agent
Japanese Citizens
Haruto Takahashi, JSDF Crewman
Kaito Watanabe, JSDF AWACS Commander
American Citizens
Captain Jim Cartwright, commanding submarine USS Oregon
Lieutenant Commander Fischer, executive officer of submarine USS Oregon
U.S. President Hernandez
Retired Seal Team Six Commander Dave Martins, now security contractor
General Robinson, the Air Force Chief of Staff
Mark Rooter, SpaceLink project manager
Eli Wade, President and CEO of SpaceLaunch and SpaceLink
