The War in 2020
Encyclopedia
The War in 2020 is a 1991 military-adventure novel written by Ralph Peters
.
dominated by an alliance of Japan
, South Africa
and militant Islamic states. The novel describes the attempts by the United States
to defend the remnants of the (still existing) Soviet Union
against attacks by the Japanese alliance.
The novel begins in the year 2005, when the South African Defense Force (equipped and trained by Japan) seizes mineral-rich areas of the Shaba
Province in Zaire
. The United States sends the XVIII Airborne Corps along with associated air
and naval
assets to repel the aggression. The American expeditionary force is defeated due to a combination of technological inferiority (the South Africans' Japanese equipment has such innovations as onboard battle lasers), lax security (a squadron of USAF B-2 Spirit
bombers is destroyed on the ground by South Africans and local guerrilla) and poor intelligence. The American collapse is so swift that the XVIII Airborne Corps attempt to surrender. When the surrender offer is ignored, the American President orders a nuclear strike on Pretoria
, forcing a cease-fire and a South African withdrawal from Zaire. The political cost paid by the United States for these events, however, is very high. An African epidemic spreads home with the returning soldiers, while abroad, an economic and political conflict with Japan reduce American power and influence. This is heralded by a newspaper headline that reads: "THE END OF THE AMERICAN CENTURY".
The novel's protagonist, George Taylor, is an air cavalry captain commanding an Apache gunship
squadron that is attacked and destroyed on the first day of the South African offensive. Through a combination of luck, physical strength, and sheer willpower, Taylor makes his way several thousand miles through the African bush from the Shaba province to the Zairean capital, Kinshasa, where he is evacuated, but finds himself suffering from a virus named "Runciman's disease" that leaves him horribly scarred. After the war in Shaba ends, Runciman's disease spreads rapidly through the rest of the world, bringing numerous societal problems along with it.
In 2008, the United States is suffering from escalating social unrest and gang violence in major cities because of the spread of Runciman's Disease. The U.S. Army is ordered into the major cities to quell unrest and to ensure the safety of basic services. Taylor is placed in command of a unit deployed to Los Angeles
as part of the operation.
In 2015, Mexico is occupied by the United States, and the U.S. Army is fighting a guerrilla war against Japanese-supported insurgents. Taylor commands a unit in the war, where his unconventional tactics are unleashed on an unsuspecting rebel leader.
By the year 2020, the Soviet Union is collapsing from the inside-out. Quality of life
for Russian citizens continues to decline. The Muslim Central Asian republics have joined forces with other Japanese-supported Islamic nations and have begun a genocidal conquest with the dual purpose of slaughtering ethnic Russians, as well as conquering the resource-wealthy territory for their Japanese masters.
In order to prevent the dismemberment of the Soviet Union, the United States intervenes, secretly building up an in-theater force of experimental and secret war machines. Once unleashed, (now-Colonel) Taylor's force proves to be unexpectedly advanced technologically to the Japanese. They strike a crippling blow to forces in the region, however, the Japanese have one last trick up their sleeve: a radio-wave weapon that cripples, but does not kill, all those affected.
Their forces were battered, but their resolve was intact. The American forces planned a daring counter-attack.
Leader of the USA 7th US Cavalry Regiment (heavy). Formerly the leader of an Apache gunship
squadron in Zaire
. He reads classical literature, as his first scene involves him reading Conrad's Heart of Darkness
. He is infected by a new plague in Zaire known as "Runciman's Disease", but survives with only scars on his face. He is feared by the "People's Government of Iguala", to whom he is known as "El Diablo". He whistles "Garryowen
", an old Irish reel, as a part of the persona of "El Diablo".
A United States Army officer. He lives through the horrors of the RD epidemic
unmarked, but his largest problem is that his parents were wrong in the dreams that shaped their lives.
A Mexican-American lieutenant under Col. Taylor's command. Chief Mechanic in charge of fixing the US secret weapons. He dies in an enemy napalm attack at an old industrial complex.
First African-American President
of the United States of America.
The leader of the Unified Intelligence Agency. One of the chief American opponents of Taylor's proposed war strategy.
An analyst at the UIA. Colonel Taylor's secret love interest.
A liaison from the Soviet Army. (In)famous for his rotten teeth.
The leader of a decimated Soviet tank brigade. Husband of Valya. Shot by KGB officers for supposed treason.
The wife of Yuri. She has a romantic relationship with Warrant Officer
Ryder.
Ralph Peters
Ralph Peters is a retired United States Army Lieutenant Colonel andauthor. As a novelist he has sometimes written under the pen name Owen Parry.-Personal:...
.
Plot summary
The War in 2020 takes place in a future dystopiaDystopia
A dystopia is the idea of a society in a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian, as characterized in books like Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-Four...
dominated by an alliance of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and militant Islamic states. The novel describes the attempts by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to defend the remnants of the (still existing) Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
against attacks by the Japanese alliance.
The novel begins in the year 2005, when the South African Defense Force (equipped and trained by Japan) seizes mineral-rich areas of the Shaba
Shaba
Shaba may refer to:* Shaba, Kenya* Shaba National Reserve in Kenya* Shaba Province, name of Katanga Province in present DR Congo between 1971 and 1997* variant spelling of Shebaa`* Shaba Games...
Province in Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
. The United States sends the XVIII Airborne Corps along with associated air
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and naval
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
assets to repel the aggression. The American expeditionary force is defeated due to a combination of technological inferiority (the South Africans' Japanese equipment has such innovations as onboard battle lasers), lax security (a squadron of USAF B-2 Spirit
B-2 Spirit
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is an American heavy bomber with low observable stealth technology designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses and deploy both conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber has a crew of two and can drop up to eighty -class JDAM GPS-guided bombs, or sixteen ...
bombers is destroyed on the ground by South Africans and local guerrilla) and poor intelligence. The American collapse is so swift that the XVIII Airborne Corps attempt to surrender. When the surrender offer is ignored, the American President orders a nuclear strike on Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, forcing a cease-fire and a South African withdrawal from Zaire. The political cost paid by the United States for these events, however, is very high. An African epidemic spreads home with the returning soldiers, while abroad, an economic and political conflict with Japan reduce American power and influence. This is heralded by a newspaper headline that reads: "THE END OF THE AMERICAN CENTURY".
The novel's protagonist, George Taylor, is an air cavalry captain commanding an Apache gunship
AH-64 Apache
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement, and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. The Apache was developed as Model 77 by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the...
squadron that is attacked and destroyed on the first day of the South African offensive. Through a combination of luck, physical strength, and sheer willpower, Taylor makes his way several thousand miles through the African bush from the Shaba province to the Zairean capital, Kinshasa, where he is evacuated, but finds himself suffering from a virus named "Runciman's disease" that leaves him horribly scarred. After the war in Shaba ends, Runciman's disease spreads rapidly through the rest of the world, bringing numerous societal problems along with it.
In 2008, the United States is suffering from escalating social unrest and gang violence in major cities because of the spread of Runciman's Disease. The U.S. Army is ordered into the major cities to quell unrest and to ensure the safety of basic services. Taylor is placed in command of a unit deployed to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
as part of the operation.
In 2015, Mexico is occupied by the United States, and the U.S. Army is fighting a guerrilla war against Japanese-supported insurgents. Taylor commands a unit in the war, where his unconventional tactics are unleashed on an unsuspecting rebel leader.
By the year 2020, the Soviet Union is collapsing from the inside-out. Quality of life
Quality of life
The term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of...
for Russian citizens continues to decline. The Muslim Central Asian republics have joined forces with other Japanese-supported Islamic nations and have begun a genocidal conquest with the dual purpose of slaughtering ethnic Russians, as well as conquering the resource-wealthy territory for their Japanese masters.
In order to prevent the dismemberment of the Soviet Union, the United States intervenes, secretly building up an in-theater force of experimental and secret war machines. Once unleashed, (now-Colonel) Taylor's force proves to be unexpectedly advanced technologically to the Japanese. They strike a crippling blow to forces in the region, however, the Japanese have one last trick up their sleeve: a radio-wave weapon that cripples, but does not kill, all those affected.
Their forces were battered, but their resolve was intact. The American forces planned a daring counter-attack.
Characters
- Col. George Taylor
Leader of the USA 7th US Cavalry Regiment (heavy). Formerly the leader of an Apache gunship
AH-64 Apache
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement, and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. The Apache was developed as Model 77 by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the...
squadron in Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
. He reads classical literature, as his first scene involves him reading Conrad's Heart of Darkness
Heart of Darkness
Heart of Darkness is a novella written by Joseph Conrad. Before its 1903 publication, it appeared as a three-part series in Blackwood's Magazine. It was classified by the Modern Library website editors as one of the "100 best novels" and part of the Western canon.The story centres on Charles...
. He is infected by a new plague in Zaire known as "Runciman's Disease", but survives with only scars on his face. He is feared by the "People's Government of Iguala", to whom he is known as "El Diablo". He whistles "Garryowen
Garryowen
Garryowen, also known as Garyowen, Garry Owen and Gary Owens, is an Irish tune for a quickstep dance.- History :It emerged in the late 18th century, when it was a drinking song of rich young roisters in Limerick...
", an old Irish reel, as a part of the persona of "El Diablo".
- Lt. Colonel Howard 'Merry' Meredith
A United States Army officer. He lives through the horrors of the RD epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
unmarked, but his largest problem is that his parents were wrong in the dreams that shaped their lives.
- Lt. Colonel Manny Martinez
A Mexican-American lieutenant under Col. Taylor's command. Chief Mechanic in charge of fixing the US secret weapons. He dies in an enemy napalm attack at an old industrial complex.
- President Jonathan Waters
First African-American President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the United States of America.
- Clifton Bouquette.
The leader of the Unified Intelligence Agency. One of the chief American opponents of Taylor's proposed war strategy.
- Daisy Fitzgerald
An analyst at the UIA. Colonel Taylor's secret love interest.
- Colonel Viktor Kozlov
A liaison from the Soviet Army. (In)famous for his rotten teeth.
- Major Yuri Babryshkin
The leader of a decimated Soviet tank brigade. Husband of Valya. Shot by KGB officers for supposed treason.
- Valya Babryshkina
The wife of Yuri. She has a romantic relationship with Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
Ryder.