Designated Targets, by John Birmingham

Late 1942 and the arrival of the multinational fleet from the 21st century is having a huge impact on the world. Knowledge of the future inevitably affects the present and therefore creates an alternate future. Thus Japan actually invades Australia and Germany actually invades Britain - will new technology mean the invasions succeed, changing the outcome of WWII? A bit of fun with naming characters goes too far in this sequel to Weapons of Choice. Honouring Australian author-mates such as Kirsty Brooks and Amanda Lohrey is one thing, having Asterix Creators Goscinny and Underzo as French naval commanders is a bit much. Slight jarring notes are caused by the novel being overtaken by events predicted wrongly – few could have foreseen Trump becoming president rather than Hillary Clinton, but it was surely not too big a stretch to imagine King William having children that would have displaced Harry as heir. These may seem minor quibbles, but they are distractions in an otherwise gripping and absorbing tale. The culture clash between the values of the 1940s and the 2020s provides huge interest, personally, socially, politically and militarily, not just on the macro levels of gender and race, but with everyday interactions to do with sex, violence, money and even smoking. The book needed better proofing as there are more than a few typos – a sloppiness that lets the story down. As ever Birmingham seemingly effortlessly balances the human story with the relentless gadgetry in a tale that leaves readers wanting to know what happens next.