Disunion is a work of fiction in the science fiction, adventure, and space-military subgenres, and it forms the first novel of The Mantiz Gambit science fiction series. Penned by author John Whitman, the work is best suited to the general adult reading audience. In this engaging series-opener, we are introduced to a far-flung world where the planet Acadia seems set to leave the Union of Earth. Torn between the planet he was born on and the ties he has that bind him to Earth, Ex-Fleet Commander Matt Ryder finds himself on the brink of a burgeoning civil war.

Author John Whitman has crafted an enjoyable and suitably complex civil war drama set in a technologically advanced but no less gritty future, and this certainly felt like a novel where no stone had been left unturned in its development. The character journey, dynamics, and relationships were realistically developed, with plenty of great banter and character-forming clashes between Amanda, Matt, and the rest of the crew she puts together to rectify the situation. I liked the dialogue for its sharp character portrayals, and it was utilized well to move huge sections of the plot forward without the need for long-winded prose exposition, which helps keep the pace and flow going. The twists in the conspiracies and conflicts keep things interesting as we uncover the true root causes of the war, and I absolutely loved the cinematic description of the battles out in the vacuum of space. Overall, Disunion is an exciting series opener with plenty of accomplished writing and worldbuilding that will certainly please any science fiction fan looking for a great wartime read.

Disunion by John Whitman portrays a galaxy-wide crisis set in the context of Acadia, a planet inhabited by humans who harbor racist and segregationist beliefs. The narrative unfolds as Acadia seeks to secede from the Union of Earth, an interstellar alliance formed to confront alien threats across Earth and its colonies. This secession triggers a chain reaction that reverberates throughout the universe. Amidst the imminent outbreak of civil war, two humans find themselves entangled in the conflict: Amanda Chester and Matt Ryder. Amanda and Matt collaborate on a clandestine intelligence mission, piloting a vessel and investigating the motives behind Acadia's secession. Intense battles ensue between Acadian and Union forces, resulting in significant human casualties, and the discovery of a coalition between unexpected alien races, conspiracy, and the deadly betrayal of a high-ranking Unionist leaves the probability of peace in tatters.

If I could only say one thing about Disunion and John Whitman's skill as a writer, it would be that the author sure can write one heck of an action scene. Imagine a new type of Revolutionary War between Earth and one of her precious colonies, and then amp it up with the idea that the motive of those running the show behind the scenes is not even in the same stratosphere as the reasons they are pushing to justify a war, and you have the foundation of Disunion. There are a lot of chess pieces in play and we understand the choice of this science fiction series' name, The Mantiz Gambit. Whatever transpires, the matriarchal structure of the namesake alien race took us into a throne room, one of the many bits of world-building and social orientation that Whitman delivers. It's also kind of nice to know that deception comes with a limo. Overall, this is a fast-paced, strong, and extremely engrossing novel and I look forward to seeing where we get to next. Very highly recommended.