A Perfect War by Elvo Fortunato Bucci is a unique political novel that bounces from the perspectives of several characters embroiled in a potential plot for Japan to overthrow the USA, as revenge for the atomic bomb drops of World War II. CIA Director Bob Sterns is made aware of a plot by Japanese officials to buy nuclear arms from Russia. In his investigation, he is blindsided by the press jumping the gun and printing the story, officially ending his career. However, things change drastically when Japan makes a bid to buy IBM, a computer company. The response to this mysterious move is a mix of political and personal, the country not wanting to sell out their jobs to a company overseas. When word leaks that the government is going to challenge the buying of IBM, controversy breaks out. Will this decision have ultimate consequences for the world market? Or will the USA maintain their superiority? Even further, how will this impact the world at large?

My first impressions of A Perfect War were favorable. Mr. Bucci is a talented writer, presenting his characters and plot lines in a clear and concise manner. I would have liked a better idea as to the time period when this novel takes place, as my indications were that the USA was hosting the World Cup along with the introduction of the Euro in parts of the EU, so I had to assume it was 1994. This is definitely not an easy read, and would be geared towards someone who enjoys reading about political matters. I did feel the characters slipped in and out of the novel too quickly for me to really get a good grasp of them from a three-dimensional standpoint. I would guess they are there merely as supporting parts to Bucci’s overall premise, to show the impact of governmental decisions on the population at large. I would recommend to Mr. Bucci to provide a more engaging synopsis for his novel, as it does not give the reader any insight into what the book is really about, something that surprised me upon reading it. A Perfect War by Elvo Fortunato Bucci is certainly an interesting novel, but not something I would say is an easy read. It makes you think about the far-reaching consequences of governmental aspirations.

A Perfect War by Elvo Fortunato Bucci is an innovative novel that shows how the failure of the federal government to control its debt can lead to the devastation of the nation and its people. As the author says, it is only a work of fiction, but unless we take swift and assertive action to control the debt, it may not be. The novel begins when a group of people of Japanese background enters into a deal with the Russians. Naturally, they are propelled by the memories of the nuclear holocaust, Hiroshima, and possess a strong desire to pay back. The deal involves thousands of missiles with nuclear warheads, which causes the US National Security to be woken out of its slumber. Investigations begin and murky deals of international trade, the one-upmanship of intelligence gathering, as well as the frantic searches that go along with, fill the atmosphere. The country, faced with a Japanese bid for IBM Corporation and saddled by planned demonstrations across many of its cities, is forced to accept a Japanese rescue scheme. An audacious plan evolves to bring the United States of America out unscathed from this sordid state of potential disaster.

A Perfect War by Elvo Fortunato Bucci is an inspiring thriller. The care the author has taken to present each and every scene with an authentic flourish, as exemplified in the presidential addresses and other communiques, easily rewards the reader with a glib and arresting flow of words. The technique of inviting people's participation in meeting urgent needs facing the nation is shown with the pride and sense of belonging such a great effort would always accompany. A complete novel, it succeeded in holding my interest from start to finish and left me with no time to see any minuscule imperfections.

A Perfect War by Elvo Fortunato Bucci observes an intriguing and dangerous economical game of chess in which one influential Japanese politician plots to undermine the American economy in order to make Japan the leading country of the world. The plan is brilliantly crafted as it takes advantage of America’s delicate situation regarding its debt. Being on the edge of the chasm for years, all the Japanese have to do is give a gentle push to the US economy, thus unleashing a series of reactions and events for which they cannot be blamed. The story is a great example of faith and a warning to the US nation should it ever violate its founding values and freedom.

This perfect war is purely economic, having no military involvement or bombing. The world of economics can get hazy to the untrained eye, but it is not magical. It is simply too large to understand all of its implications at first glance. But Elvo does an amazing job of showing the power of economy at a global level by following its impact on the lives of different people in separate threads. There is a thread focusing on the head of the CIA as he falls into one of the Japanese setups and ends up losing his job; another two threads are dedicated to the private discussions between the leaders of the US and Japan; and two more focus on students and simple farmers. There are also chapters in which the narrator drops into a certain place, such as Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and eavesdrops on random conversations between traders to show how they are affected by the economic moves made by the country’s officials in previous chapters.

The book is dynamic, the scenes are well built, and the analysis of the economic situations is both entertaining and educational. It has been a surprising story and an overall enjoying ride. I would recommend it to any reader who loves the unraveling of ingenious plans with an economic flavor.