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Africa STORM: An Aggressor Inc. Thriller
Africa STORM is the follow-on novel to award winning thriller Antarctica Storm.
In an ancient land, superpowers duel with new technologies. Will they mean an end to war, or life on earth?
The world has entered the anti-matter age. But can the US control its terrifying new weapons?
A nuclear-armed enemy decides to test US resolve. In a game of nuclear vs. antimatter chicken, who will swerve?
The personnel of Aggressor Inc. are in Sudan, training the forces of the US-supported government when it issues an ultimatum to all Russian forces to leave the country. Russia isn't about to give up its only naval base on the Red Sea quietly. Will the US draw an antimatter line in the sand?
Sergeant Ivan Tarisov, a Bumerang scout vehicle commander in Russia's 55th Motor Rifle Brigade, is no stranger to war. He was pulled from the Pacific ocean after Russia's abortive attempt to invade Hawaii with China, then besieged in Kaliningrad before it fell to NATO forces who drove Russia's invading army all the way back to St. Petersburg. Is Africa the continent where Russia will finally be able to achieve its dream of a revitalized empire?
Lieutenant Colonel Abdel Taifur, of the Sudanese Khartoum Combined Arms Battalion, has been fighting civil wars since he was a boy soldier. Now he faces a superpower foe armed with both the technologies and tactics of the new millennium. Can the strategies of his ancient forebears, who fought the Pharaohs of Egypt, hold back the Russian tide?
As Russian mechanized infantry deploys from Port Sudan toward the capital, Khartoum, Aggressor Inc.'s Lieutenant Leroy King and his Semi-Autonomous Airborne Ground Attack unit are sent to the aid of Tairfur's Sudanese ground forces. Can they hold the Nile River highway until Aggressor Inc. is reinforced?
Sudan was meant to be a soft restart for Captain Karen 'Bunny' O'Hare, Aggressor Inc. Sudan flight detachment leader, after several months leave. She was the closest person to ground zero when the first antimatter weapon was tested. Is she about to become the first person to use it in combat?
And on the western banks of the Nile north of Khartoum, a young Bahatin nomad herder driving his goats to market, closely watches the conflict unfold in the skies overhead and the desert around him. Is he witnessing the End of War, or of civilization itself?
"FX Holden is a skilled storyteller who delivers a military tale brimming with geopolitical conflict in an unforgiving setting." Ruffina Oserio, Readers Favorite.
Military and techno-thriller readers love FX "FX Holden is the Nostradamus of military fiction writers..." US Readers Favorite."Clancy fans will be pleased..." US Publishers Weekly"Full-throttle action..." BookLife Editor's Pick"In the spirit of Tom Clancy! Well done. I’m very techy, retired military. An engaging fast paced story. ..." Amazon reader"Tom Clancy type excitement and military geekiness right here." Amazon reader"Nothing has come close to Jake Grafton until now. If you love high tech fast military action, in the skies, with more than a little attitude, then you should love this read." Amazon reader
In an ancient land, superpowers duel with new technologies. Will they mean an end to war, or life on earth?
The world has entered the anti-matter age. But can the US control its terrifying new weapons?
A nuclear-armed enemy decides to test US resolve. In a game of nuclear vs. antimatter chicken, who will swerve?
The personnel of Aggressor Inc. are in Sudan, training the forces of the US-supported government when it issues an ultimatum to all Russian forces to leave the country. Russia isn't about to give up its only naval base on the Red Sea quietly. Will the US draw an antimatter line in the sand?
Sergeant Ivan Tarisov, a Bumerang scout vehicle commander in Russia's 55th Motor Rifle Brigade, is no stranger to war. He was pulled from the Pacific ocean after Russia's abortive attempt to invade Hawaii with China, then besieged in Kaliningrad before it fell to NATO forces who drove Russia's invading army all the way back to St. Petersburg. Is Africa the continent where Russia will finally be able to achieve its dream of a revitalized empire?
Lieutenant Colonel Abdel Taifur, of the Sudanese Khartoum Combined Arms Battalion, has been fighting civil wars since he was a boy soldier. Now he faces a superpower foe armed with both the technologies and tactics of the new millennium. Can the strategies of his ancient forebears, who fought the Pharaohs of Egypt, hold back the Russian tide?
As Russian mechanized infantry deploys from Port Sudan toward the capital, Khartoum, Aggressor Inc.'s Lieutenant Leroy King and his Semi-Autonomous Airborne Ground Attack unit are sent to the aid of Tairfur's Sudanese ground forces. Can they hold the Nile River highway until Aggressor Inc. is reinforced?
Sudan was meant to be a soft restart for Captain Karen 'Bunny' O'Hare, Aggressor Inc. Sudan flight detachment leader, after several months leave. She was the closest person to ground zero when the first antimatter weapon was tested. Is she about to become the first person to use it in combat?
And on the western banks of the Nile north of Khartoum, a young Bahatin nomad herder driving his goats to market, closely watches the conflict unfold in the skies overhead and the desert around him. Is he witnessing the End of War, or of civilization itself?
"FX Holden is a skilled storyteller who delivers a military tale brimming with geopolitical conflict in an unforgiving setting." Ruffina Oserio, Readers Favorite.
Military and techno-thriller readers love FX "FX Holden is the Nostradamus of military fiction writers..." US Readers Favorite."Clancy fans will be pleased..." US Publishers Weekly"Full-throttle action..." BookLife Editor's Pick"In the spirit of Tom Clancy! Well done. I’m very techy, retired military. An engaging fast paced story. ..." Amazon reader"Tom Clancy type excitement and military geekiness right here." Amazon reader"Nothing has come close to Jake Grafton until now. If you love high tech fast military action, in the skies, with more than a little attitude, then you should love this read." Amazon reader
- GenresThriller
451 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2025
148 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
F.X. Holden
24 books192 followersFX Holden writes action thrillers (The 'Aggressor' and 'Future War' Series) and Science Fiction (The 'Coruscant' and 'Red Legion' Series). He has been awarded two US Publishers' Weekly Stars (the Michelin Star of publishing), the US Readers' Favorite award for Best Political Thriller (twice, including in 2025), and the US Book Excellence award for Best Military Fiction!
FX Holden is a pen name for author Tim (TJ) Slee, winner of the HarperCollins Banjo Prize for Australian fiction and the US Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize for Fiction.
FX Holden is a pen name for author Tim (TJ) Slee, winner of the HarperCollins Banjo Prize for Australian fiction and the US Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize for Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 21, 2025
Not a review, since I am the author! Consider this an author note...
In Antarctica STORM, the predecessor to this novel, I wrote about a race between the US and Russia to be the first to deploy antimatter weapons. My research for this novel left me convinced these terrifying weapons are no longer science fiction, but will be a reality in the very near future. Scientists are already able to generate antimatter, contain it and transport it. What happens when that containment is collapsed? An explosion thousands of times more powerful than atomic weapons.
Africa STORM looks at what could happen if antimatter is weaponized, and used in war.
Antimatter weapons will have profound consequences. As I wrote in the promo text, I believe they will either mean the end of war, or the end of life as we know it. A weapon so powerful leaves no room for anything in between.
The idea of a world in which more than one superpower possesses antimatter weapons, and doesn’t use them, seems as impossible to me as the idea that the present balance of nuclear terror—known as mutually assured destruction—will also last forever.
A lunatic like the one in Russia today will sooner or later resort to tactical nuclear weapons if their dreams of empire are threatened. And now, imagine that lunatic in possession of antimatter weapons. We need to have this discussion now, before the scientists of our quantum physics institutes progress their experiments beyond the phase of childlike joy at what might be possible to the terrifying weapons shown in this novel.
There ends your public service announcement for today.
A lot of speculative tech is included in this novel, but it’s tech that has its roots firmly in the present day. Let's look at a couple of examples from the novel:
- Wingless Electromagnetic Aerial Vehicle (WEAV) aircraft, such as the 'Pulserider' featured in this novel, are theoretical only, though Florida professor Dr. Subrata Roy and colleagues, with funding from the USAF, have been granted several patents. Their WEAV design employs no moving parts, and combines the aircraft structure, propulsion, energy production and storage, and control subsystems into one integrated system. To my knowledge, though, no prototype has yet flown—or has it? Maybe those declassified Pentagon “unidentified aircraft” videos are the first prototypes.
- The F-47 sixth-generation fighter project (named the Puma here) was finally greenlighted by the US administration in 2025, with Boeing the nominated manufacturer. See the glossary for a description of its expected development if you haven’t already.
- The FB-22 Nemesis I feature is entirely conceptual but based on a proposal from the manufacturer of the original F-22 for a longer range fighter able to carry a heavier payload, for Pacific theater combat.
- The Russian Su-57 Felons featured in the novel are assumed to be upgraded versions of the aircraft currently fielded by Russia, of which it has very few and has been afraid to send into combat in the Ukraine, for what we must assume are good reasons. To date, the Felon appears to be little more than an air show aircraft, but we have to assume it will be the basis of a Russian front line stealth aircraft one day.
Other interesting things from my research, and featured in the novel: the Iranian-built missile bunker north of Khartoum is real. It was constructed in the mid-1990s beneath the highlands of Jebel Jari, near Wadi Sayyidna Air Base. The complex includes 13 fortified entrances or missile doors and was refurbished in the 2020s with Iranian support to serve as a potential storage site and missile base. Given recent strengthening of military and economic ties between Sudan and Iran, Western intelligence is concerned Iran could use the site to strike targets in Israel or Djibouti, or attack shipping in the Red Sea. Don’t be surprised if you see it on a target list for a future US or Israeli air strike while other targets are being hit.
And on the geopolitical front, the novel deals with what happens when great powers become 'target fixated', either on their own internal issues, or on one particular region. The US administration is currently busy with internal politics, or to the extent it looks outside its own borders, its main 'pacing threat' China. The EU is fully focused on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia, Iran and China are entrenching themselves in Africa.
Russia’s Port Sudan agreement was re-ratified in February 2025, giving Russia the right to base four warships (including nuclear vessels) and logistical supplies there. This makes up nicely for the base Russia recently lost in Syria with the change of government there. Iran has also requested permission to build a port on Sudan’s Red Sea coast. Since 2023–24, Moscow has ramped up defense cooperation with the Sahel juntas of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—pledging military equipment, training and backing for their 5,000 strong joint force—while deploying its regime-supported “Africa Corps” paramilitary units (former Wagner PMC) across the region and negotiating nuclear and energy agreements worth billions of dollars in Mali and Burkina Faso.
In mid 2025, China pledged roughly US $51 billion in financing—including credit lines, investments, and assistance—for African countries, and offered US $150 million in military support to train 6,000 personnel, invited 500 young officers for joint exercises, and assists in demining and internal security efforts.
While the cat is away, the “Axis of Upheaval” will play (Russia, China, Iran and North Korea), and yes, sooner or later, an African storm will break on this strategically and economically important continent.
I hope you enjoy this two-volume stand-alone “appendix” to the Aggressor series - Antarctica and Africa STORM. If so, please do rate and review! Independent authors survive and fall based on reader ratings and reviews, and every one matters. I read them all, and often learn something to make my writing better!
A new FX Holden Aggressor Inc. novel—WORLD WAR H (for HYBRID)—is coming in December 2025.
In Antarctica STORM, the predecessor to this novel, I wrote about a race between the US and Russia to be the first to deploy antimatter weapons. My research for this novel left me convinced these terrifying weapons are no longer science fiction, but will be a reality in the very near future. Scientists are already able to generate antimatter, contain it and transport it. What happens when that containment is collapsed? An explosion thousands of times more powerful than atomic weapons.
Africa STORM looks at what could happen if antimatter is weaponized, and used in war.
Antimatter weapons will have profound consequences. As I wrote in the promo text, I believe they will either mean the end of war, or the end of life as we know it. A weapon so powerful leaves no room for anything in between.
The idea of a world in which more than one superpower possesses antimatter weapons, and doesn’t use them, seems as impossible to me as the idea that the present balance of nuclear terror—known as mutually assured destruction—will also last forever.
A lunatic like the one in Russia today will sooner or later resort to tactical nuclear weapons if their dreams of empire are threatened. And now, imagine that lunatic in possession of antimatter weapons. We need to have this discussion now, before the scientists of our quantum physics institutes progress their experiments beyond the phase of childlike joy at what might be possible to the terrifying weapons shown in this novel.
There ends your public service announcement for today.
A lot of speculative tech is included in this novel, but it’s tech that has its roots firmly in the present day. Let's look at a couple of examples from the novel:
- Wingless Electromagnetic Aerial Vehicle (WEAV) aircraft, such as the 'Pulserider' featured in this novel, are theoretical only, though Florida professor Dr. Subrata Roy and colleagues, with funding from the USAF, have been granted several patents. Their WEAV design employs no moving parts, and combines the aircraft structure, propulsion, energy production and storage, and control subsystems into one integrated system. To my knowledge, though, no prototype has yet flown—or has it? Maybe those declassified Pentagon “unidentified aircraft” videos are the first prototypes.
- The F-47 sixth-generation fighter project (named the Puma here) was finally greenlighted by the US administration in 2025, with Boeing the nominated manufacturer. See the glossary for a description of its expected development if you haven’t already.
- The FB-22 Nemesis I feature is entirely conceptual but based on a proposal from the manufacturer of the original F-22 for a longer range fighter able to carry a heavier payload, for Pacific theater combat.
- The Russian Su-57 Felons featured in the novel are assumed to be upgraded versions of the aircraft currently fielded by Russia, of which it has very few and has been afraid to send into combat in the Ukraine, for what we must assume are good reasons. To date, the Felon appears to be little more than an air show aircraft, but we have to assume it will be the basis of a Russian front line stealth aircraft one day.
Other interesting things from my research, and featured in the novel: the Iranian-built missile bunker north of Khartoum is real. It was constructed in the mid-1990s beneath the highlands of Jebel Jari, near Wadi Sayyidna Air Base. The complex includes 13 fortified entrances or missile doors and was refurbished in the 2020s with Iranian support to serve as a potential storage site and missile base. Given recent strengthening of military and economic ties between Sudan and Iran, Western intelligence is concerned Iran could use the site to strike targets in Israel or Djibouti, or attack shipping in the Red Sea. Don’t be surprised if you see it on a target list for a future US or Israeli air strike while other targets are being hit.
And on the geopolitical front, the novel deals with what happens when great powers become 'target fixated', either on their own internal issues, or on one particular region. The US administration is currently busy with internal politics, or to the extent it looks outside its own borders, its main 'pacing threat' China. The EU is fully focused on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia, Iran and China are entrenching themselves in Africa.
Russia’s Port Sudan agreement was re-ratified in February 2025, giving Russia the right to base four warships (including nuclear vessels) and logistical supplies there. This makes up nicely for the base Russia recently lost in Syria with the change of government there. Iran has also requested permission to build a port on Sudan’s Red Sea coast. Since 2023–24, Moscow has ramped up defense cooperation with the Sahel juntas of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—pledging military equipment, training and backing for their 5,000 strong joint force—while deploying its regime-supported “Africa Corps” paramilitary units (former Wagner PMC) across the region and negotiating nuclear and energy agreements worth billions of dollars in Mali and Burkina Faso.
In mid 2025, China pledged roughly US $51 billion in financing—including credit lines, investments, and assistance—for African countries, and offered US $150 million in military support to train 6,000 personnel, invited 500 young officers for joint exercises, and assists in demining and internal security efforts.
While the cat is away, the “Axis of Upheaval” will play (Russia, China, Iran and North Korea), and yes, sooner or later, an African storm will break on this strategically and economically important continent.
I hope you enjoy this two-volume stand-alone “appendix” to the Aggressor series - Antarctica and Africa STORM. If so, please do rate and review! Independent authors survive and fall based on reader ratings and reviews, and every one matters. I read them all, and often learn something to make my writing better!
A new FX Holden Aggressor Inc. novel—WORLD WAR H (for HYBRID)—is coming in December 2025.
January 24, 2026
A standalone thriller in continuation of Antarctica Storm which fails to catch the attention. unlike the previous books, there are no great action sequences or air battles. The antimatter weapon just destroys the enemy with overwhelming force. The introduction of this new weapon leaves only one country as the most powerful to dominate the world.
Even nuclear weapons are used as a deterrent, so a weapon which is more powerful than a nuclear weapon cannot be used this freely in any battle, especially when conventional means are available. Of course this is fiction but, I can connect it to the current geo political scenario and can imagine the worst. Reading 400 plus pages to just read about what an antimatter weapon can do, is no thrill. I sincerely hope the upcoming book has more action.
Even nuclear weapons are used as a deterrent, so a weapon which is more powerful than a nuclear weapon cannot be used this freely in any battle, especially when conventional means are available. Of course this is fiction but, I can connect it to the current geo political scenario and can imagine the worst. Reading 400 plus pages to just read about what an antimatter weapon can do, is no thrill. I sincerely hope the upcoming book has more action.
September 14, 2025
Yet another fantastic book by FX.
He is able to fast forward possible and extremely likely military and political futures for the world. He combines this with in-depth character reveals of a variety of the people involved so that you understand their backgrounds and motivations. There are very believable profiles of a number of characters in Africa Storm from the US President to a Sudanese goat herder. His detailed descriptions of forthcoming likely military technolgies and strategies and their application to possible war / conflict situations are fascinatinating.
A highly recommended read.
He is able to fast forward possible and extremely likely military and political futures for the world. He combines this with in-depth character reveals of a variety of the people involved so that you understand their backgrounds and motivations. There are very believable profiles of a number of characters in Africa Storm from the US President to a Sudanese goat herder. His detailed descriptions of forthcoming likely military technolgies and strategies and their application to possible war / conflict situations are fascinatinating.
A highly recommended read.
October 14, 2025
Another believable storyline.
Another adventure with the Aggressor squads who are found in another war zone in Sudan where their fighting skills are again put to the test. They have to rely on a new weapon system to stop the Russians from taking over Sudan in one of their deadliest missions and force the Russians to retreat,but not before they use nuclear weapons for the first time since WW2 with the Aggressor team suffering the loss of a lot of their friends in the ensuing combat.
The author introduces you to a fictional storyline that has the potential to become reality in the world of today.
Another adventure with the Aggressor squads who are found in another war zone in Sudan where their fighting skills are again put to the test. They have to rely on a new weapon system to stop the Russians from taking over Sudan in one of their deadliest missions and force the Russians to retreat,but not before they use nuclear weapons for the first time since WW2 with the Aggressor team suffering the loss of a lot of their friends in the ensuing combat.
The author introduces you to a fictional storyline that has the potential to become reality in the world of today.
October 4, 2025
Deus ex machina
This really is the first book in the future of war and Aggressor series in which the balance between tech and plot falls flat. The tech is simply too dominant and even if this is the whole point of the plot it kills any suspense. Very little character development either and the Russians are total cartoons. Nothing like the tension of the long drawn out war with China and its allies. Still some interesting ideas but overall disappointing.
This really is the first book in the future of war and Aggressor series in which the balance between tech and plot falls flat. The tech is simply too dominant and even if this is the whole point of the plot it kills any suspense. Very little character development either and the Russians are total cartoons. Nothing like the tension of the long drawn out war with China and its allies. Still some interesting ideas but overall disappointing.
September 26, 2025
Africa Storm
A frightening almost sci-fi look at modern warfare to come. FX Holden takes a look at upcoming antimatter technologies, both the good and promising and the negative affecting war technology. As usual Holden's written out a good storyline with continuing character development from his previous books. This is a guaranteed good page turner which led me into binging !
A frightening almost sci-fi look at modern warfare to come. FX Holden takes a look at upcoming antimatter technologies, both the good and promising and the negative affecting war technology. As usual Holden's written out a good storyline with continuing character development from his previous books. This is a guaranteed good page turner which led me into binging !
October 4, 2025
GREAT PLOT
FXHolden is much better than Tom Clancy. Great imagination, fantastic plots and Wells developed characters. I want more soon. I'm glad there's another one coming up next December..
FXHolden is much better than Tom Clancy. Great imagination, fantastic plots and Wells developed characters. I want more soon. I'm glad there's another one coming up next December..
December 1, 2025
This book in the Aggressor series is a little different, but as always, it's fast-moving, very enjoyable, and with a few surprises.
The only thing I'd like differently would have been a denouement of the goatherder and what his story was. He was very mysterious and interesting.
The only thing I'd like differently would have been a denouement of the goatherder and what his story was. He was very mysterious and interesting.
December 25, 2025
Just gets better
Great vision and as my title suggests better than the last one, more expansive and explosive to a suitable conclusion. I hope my thoughts on what's next are correct, looking at the big picture over our heads.
Great vision and as my title suggests better than the last one, more expansive and explosive to a suitable conclusion. I hope my thoughts on what's next are correct, looking at the big picture over our heads.
January 27, 2026
Clancy?
Great series with well developed characters. Like original Clancy great story line with enough military jargon and future weapon systems to make it all believable and definitely possible.
Great series with well developed characters. Like original Clancy great story line with enough military jargon and future weapon systems to make it all believable and definitely possible.
September 18, 2025
The end of an age
When in war the heroes don’t ride into the sunset after every thing ends they just make a world for to live in with are without them.
When in war the heroes don’t ride into the sunset after every thing ends they just make a world for to live in with are without them.
October 4, 2025
Africa Storm
Another excellent techno thriller from Mr Holden set in the deserts of Sudan. Again Agressor are thrown in at the deep end
Another excellent techno thriller from Mr Holden set in the deserts of Sudan. Again Agressor are thrown in at the deep end
October 22, 2025
Great read,
Bunny O'Hare is back with a vengeance. Great to have her back with Aggressor Ink. Kicking Russian butt. Go Bunny.
Bunny O'Hare is back with a vengeance. Great to have her back with Aggressor Ink. Kicking Russian butt. Go Bunny.
November 8, 2025
I liked the whole danged series. Go writing and lots of drama.
November 9, 2025
Outstanding
Another Really Outstanding Book in an outstanding Aggressor Series. I found it to have Great Story lines that are easy to follow.
Another Really Outstanding Book in an outstanding Aggressor Series. I found it to have Great Story lines that are easy to follow.
December 1, 2025
Another can’t put down read
FX Holden does it again in his plausible war stories. Very readable , good plot development a fun read. Enjoy it this winter.
FX Holden does it again in his plausible war stories. Very readable , good plot development a fun read. Enjoy it this winter.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews