The War Game: Oh, the Humanity!

I’ll admit, I went into *The War Game* expecting another *Starship Troopers* retread—boy, was I wrong. Aird’s writing is *lean*, with dialogue so sharp it could cut through a bulkhead. The opening act throws you into a war council where every word feels like a landmine, and the tension never lets up. Rhys David’s narration is a standout; he nails Ash’s exhaustion, that bone-deep weariness of a leader who’s one bad decision away from genocide. June Aaron’s sections, meanwhile, add a layer of eerie detachment to the Empire’s broadcasts, making their ideology feel terrifyingly plausible. That said, the middle act drags slightly with *too* many tactical briefings—yes, we get it, Ash is a genius, but I found myself craving more character moments amid the war games. And while the action scenes are visceral, the sound design is oddly understated; a few more atmospheric cues (engine hums, distant explosions) could’ve immersed me deeper. Still, the finale’s twist—a moral gut-punch I didn’t see coming—made me immediately queue up the next book. If you love sci-fi that’s as cerebral as it is explosive, and narration that *understands* the weight of the words, this is a must-listen. Just maybe speed up the play rate during the strategy sessions.