SCIENCE fiction is a genre that normally divides people into two camps — either you love it or you don't!

Personally I'm in the latter camp — looking back or reading about the present or the near future holds more interest for me than any speculation of what's going to happen in the year 2500AD.

However, I do appreciate that, with a bit of imagination, being transported into the world of the future has enormous possibilities — and so it proves with 'Atomic Warriors' by Hatherleigh-born writer Richard J Daw.

As it states on the cover, 'Atomic Warriors could be our future'.

'Society is looking forward to a new era of peace and tranquility under the guidance of a benevolent genius, who can promise a utopian dream. His all powerful fusion reactor is about to enable a fully automated weather control system to make this dream a reality.

Roger Thain aims to provide perfect weather on a global scale — but it will also be used to help police the planet. On New Year's Eve 2100 AD he will launch his vision to an expectant world. However, there are others who want to use the limitless power for their own purposes. An invasion is planned, and with Earth's defences almost gone, who will be able to stop them?

What brings this book closer to home is that the characters and places are set in Devon — Hatherleigh- born Richard, who now lives near Bristol, obviously has not forgotten his roots, even when he looks to the future.

Atomic Warriors is published by Authorhouse. ISBN 9781449063429.

JOHN HUTCHINS