THE SHADOW Of WAR: The Rise of Oceania Book 5 by Timothy S. Johnston – Climate Fiction, Sci-fi Thriller, Dystopian

In Timothy S. Johnston’s The Shadow of War, gripping personal, ecological, and political battles rage undersea for autonomy and power against the powerful surface nations. But even the ocean depths churn with betrayal, conflicting loyalties, and the ruthless ambitions of humanity.

This thriller opens on the dystopia of the year 2131, when rising sea levels have forced humanity to establish and inhabit underwater colonies. The fear of environmental collapse is heightened by the prospect of war as the colonies struggle to maintain their independence.

A simple scientific exploration of the Chagos trench by two geologist brothers takes a horrific turn, snapping the science fiction tension with the impact of gore horror. A slight touch by one brother on the hull of their Seacar causes his hand to suddenly dissolve into a strange mass, melting flesh away from bone. This opening foreshadows the enigmas and anomalies to be unravelled in a vast undersea mystery.

A few weeks later, Truman “Mac” McClusky, mayor of the underwater colony Triestes, must carefully balance between diplomacy and aggression.

As mayor and intelligence agency head, McClusky has to ensure the independence of Oceania, a coalition of undersea colonies, from the surface superpowers. Mac forges alliances among other undersea cities, including with the influential and charismatic Sahar Noor of Churchill Sands, and the trusted advisor Richard Lancombe. But Mac knows that, even with his underwater coalition, he’ll need true military power.

Mac knows of a peerless underwater weapon, one so robust as to alter the balance of power in favour of whoever holds it. He leads a group to acquire the various components of the weapon split across treacherous locations before they reach the wrong hands.

Covertly infiltrating enemy labs, the group confronts a myriad of unforeseen complications. Mac must constantly be vigilant of allies with ambiguous loyalties, such as Commodore Clarke. He weighs his duty to protect Oceania against the jeopardy his position brings to his loved ones, who become sabotage targets. With a questioning conscience about the moral complexities of rebellion constantly fighting with his pragmatic approach to war, will Mac and his group conquer the United States Submarine Fleet (USSF), French Submarine Fleet (FSF), and other oppressive forces working to take the liberty of the undersea world?

The Shadow of War is a stark reminder to humanity of the dire consequences of environmental degradation and unwavering human greed.

The undersea world, a haven for humanity, doesn’t take long to turn into a battlefield as the remnants of power-hungry aspirations resurface even in this submerged refuge. The story utilizes humanity’s destructive tendencies to make this electrifying thriller as intense as it is thought-provoking.

Johnston’s fast-paced prose fits perfectly in a high-stakes thriller, all the while balancing suspense and action with philosophical reflections. The ocean and the undersea world become a character in their own right, an embodiment of beauty, danger, and mystery, mirroring the psyches of the humans who live within them.

The Shadow of War caters to readers looking for political intrigue and dystopian science fiction with emotional depth, told through thrilling action. It’s an open door to a world beneath the waves, where survival is uncertain and the fate of nations rests on the bloody dream of a weapon.

The Shadow of War by Timothy S. Johnston won Grand Prize in the 2023 CIBA Cygnus Awards for Science Fiction.