The year is 2030 and America's economy is deteriorating. China's ascendency continues alongside the rise of a heavily militarized Russia, both countries eying the weakened superpower with interest. For Chinese-American Kaden Sun, politics and poverty are just part of the grimy backdrop of modern Los Angeles. The college student has bigger concerns at hand, like winning the WarGames Championship in front of a rough crowd. With Chinese ownership and investment at an all-time high, Kaden, with his black hair, dark eyes, and distinctive cheekbones, has become the target for beer bottles and half-eaten hotdogs. But Kaden is determined to walk the high road. On the verge of destitution himself, he finds an expensive wallet with thousands of dollars enclosed and returns it to the owner. Little does he realize that this single act will reshape his destiny forever and overturn the lives of those he loves. In this first novel of the World War A duology, a Chinese-Russian alliance brings the mighty US to its knees and Kaden becomes entangled in a political web spanning all the way to the White House. The young strategist has a destiny to fulfill in his country's salvation, but troubling questions start to arise. The enemy is constantly shifting, and betrayal lurks in the hearts of those closest to him. ***************************************** BookLife Prize for Fiction Entry Critic's Report for World War A on July 28, 2016: The story is fast paced with lots of tension and twists that keeps the reader engaged. Kaden, a likable hero, has just enough bad luck to keep readers rooting for him. Characters using military jargon, college slang, and Chinese phrases throughout the story make the dialogue feel realistic. 7.75! *****************************************
About the Author: Clarence Xon heads a clean energy advocacy organization and has worked with many countries in Asia and the Middle East to implement policies benefitting the environment. After the great global financial crisis in 2008, Clarence became intrigued by the mechanics of economic manipulation and how a great nation like the US might collapse at the hands of a few powerful men.