I won this book on Librarything and forgot I had it on my kindle, but found it again to review it. The author knows a lot about history and warfare based on his content and writing style and his premise was kind of interesting. He basically shifts between the Second World War and several hundred years in the future. He also introduces post war Russian occupation and general Patton's involvement in some things that influenced the future world. He also had a future premise that asked, what if one small part of history had changed and set a whole AI research scenario on how it would have changed their current experience. The thing were all interesting. Plus, he had a future world where there was harmony in every country like a global peace treaty had happened. That is a very unlikely scenario but this is fiction and the what ifs and how would it be accomplished kept me reading. I found the book interesting enough to finish and very unique in its perspective. I like "What if" premises and the details were well done. I also saw that the author left room for a sequel, though if you never read the sequel you would still feel like you experienced completion and were not left on a cliffhanger, which is good. There was a bit of cussing but it was only when military people were arguing, so it was realistic. So all in all it was a good book that makes you ponder the what ifs. ( )

This is a review of a free copy.
Example of the 'What if ...' books. In this case what would have happened if the general Patton hadn't died in a car crash, mixed with a future view on it.
The 'future' chapters are not very interesting, and I, sincerely, don't think that events would have changed much. ( )

In the future, humans live in a utopia. They use an AI to look at an alternate end to WWII. Have you wondered how things would have gone had the USA kept fighting after the war ended? This book looks at that reality.

While this book is marketed as SciFi I think it of a historical fiction book since the majority focuses on the the war. This book is a lot of guns and tanks interspersed with some vague hand-wavy science in a rather vague (but utopian) future that is watching the alternate reality play out. This book has so much potential but it ended up being rather uninteresting.

There is also at least one inaccurate point when the author talks about cloning. While it is not about the process itself (which I know far less of so won't comment on), it still irked me. He says that no sentient lifeform capable of cognitive thought or self-awareness has been cloned shortly after saying that this society has cloned "tool-wielding apes". There is already much evidence for these traits in the higher apes, and indeed, in many other species. It may be minor but it still stuck out to me. ( )

This alternative history asked, "What if the US kept going after it won WW2." There is a all-knowing AI in the middle of the 2500s. This advanced society isn't well-fleshed out, and the book is very boring to me. I suppose if you like historical fiction this book will be more for you. Sci-fi readers might not like it. ( )

★★★★★ Readers’ Favorite review
"Sometimes a single event can change the course of history. Author Matthew William Frend explores just such a possibility in a future world that enjoys peace, stability and prosperity. The government of the new era bases its cornerstone philosophies on lessons from the past and from time to time announces new revelations which are referred to as Enlightenments. Having pondered how the brutality of warfare led to the lasting peace, the central character in the form of Arjon looks back through the digitized archives from his vantage point in the year 2265. Advances in artificial intelligence make it possible for him to replay complex scenarios based on historical facts. This will identify critical moments and predict alternative outcomes if circumstances had been different. The result of Arjon’s investigation points to the death of American General George Patton in a car accident during World War II as a pivotal moment in world history. In The Free World War scenario, Patton survives the accident and goes on to defeat not only Germany, but also the forces of communist Russia in an alternative 1946. Due to Patton’s dynamic leadership and his influence over key politicians, the overthrow of Stalin leads to world peace on a much larger scale than was achieved at the time. With Patton dead, this could not have occurred. Ultimately, Arjon launches his own concept for a new Pillar of Enlightenment, based on a revised understanding of history where peace is the result of sacrifice and purpose.

The decision by Matthew William Frend to use the survival of the mercurial General Patton as the basis for a new world order is both original and inspired. Although his military career was at times controversial, Patton’s bold and aggressive style and anti-communist stance would have made him a leading candidate to take the fight against communism directly to its source. The Free World War alternates between a hypothetical reality in the future and a retrospective look at World War II. There is a very different outcome that, in turn, makes the alternative and better future possible. The events of World War II are vividly described in their stark reality, as well as newer weapons that never saw action in the conflict but came into play in the revised scenario. The idealized future world is portrayed in a manner that raises many questions as to what mankind will eventually achieve. The expanded role of artificial intelligence is explored and I particularly enjoyed the alternative reality game that was made possible through its application. This is a thought-provoking book and the action progresses simultaneously on two fronts at a brisk pace. The characters are interesting, authentic, and the book will have wide appeal."
( )