about The Second Pearl
Drawing from his decades of experience in Asia and deep understanding of Vietnamese and Chinese history, Michael Bentley delivers a chilling warning in the form of a meticulously researched military thriller. “The Second Pearl” envisions a terrifying scenario where China’s Communist Party accelerates its plan for global dominance, using Imperial Japan’s 1941-42 strategy as their blueprint—while learning from and improving upon its predecessor’s mistakes.
When Chinese leadership decides to move up their superpower timeline from 2049 to the present, they launch a sophisticated campaign of warfare that combines cutting-edge technology with time-tested military deception. Their first target: Taiwan. But as missile strikes and drone attacks rain down on American bases from Hawaii to Australia, it becomes clear that this is only the beginning of a much larger campaign.
Bentley’s unique background—combining military service, humanitarian work in Vietnam, and doctoral studies in Asian history—brings unprecedented authenticity to this cautionary tale. His intimate knowledge of the region, gained from nearly one hundred trips between the U.S. and Vietnam, informs every page of this geopolitical thriller.
More than just a military techno-thriller, “The Second Pearl” serves as a wake-up call about the comprehensive threat posed by modern China. Through pulse-pounding action and strategic warfare, Bentley shows how yesterday’s lessons could become tomorrow’s disasters if we fail to heed the warnings of history.
Editorial Review ★★★★★
In this meticulously crafted military thriller, Michael Bentley brings his extensive experience in Asian studies and international relations to bear on a compelling narrative of modern geopolitical tension. Drawing from nearly one hundred trips between the U.S. and Vietnam, combined with his military service and doctoral studies in Asian history, Bentley creates a technically precise and historically informed thriller.
What sets this novel apart is its remarkable attention to historical and cultural detail. Bentley’s deep understanding of Vietnamese and Chinese history informs every aspect of the narrative, while his experience in humanitarian work adds nuanced perspective to regional dynamics. His analysis of historical military strategies demonstrates particular insight into how past conflicts influence modern military thinking.
The book’s greatest strength lies in its technical authenticity. Through careful attention to military technology and strategic doctrine, Bentley creates realistic scenarios that feel both plausible and compelling. His portrayal of modern warfare, incorporating drone technology and missile systems, demonstrates sophisticated understanding of contemporary military capabilities.
Particularly impressive is the author’s handling of strategic and tactical elements. Drawing from his military background and academic expertise, Bentley crafts complex military scenarios while maintaining narrative momentum. His attention to both technological detail and strategic planning creates a thriller that satisfies both military enthusiasts and general readers.
The writing effectively balances technical precision with narrative drive. Bentley’s expertise allows him to create sophisticated military scenarios while maintaining accessibility for general readers. His combination of historical knowledge and contemporary insight provides depth to the geopolitical elements of the story.
“The Second Pearl” stands as a significant contribution to the military thriller genre, offering readers both entertainment and informed perspective on modern military dynamics.
About This Author
Mike Bentley is a fifth-generation Californian, raised on the central coast’s beautiful Monterey Peninsula. He is descended from two maternal great, great grandfathers who came west looking for different kinds of treasure: One hoping to find gold in 1850, and the second seeking land for farming in 1856. Both experienced reasonable successes, and the family lines eventually met and flourished. Mike’s paternal grandfather came for a visit from New York in 1900, and in the absence of lake-effect snow, decided the Bay Area was a great place to settle. One hundred and twenty years later, Mike and his immediate family still live with a view of San Francisco, and the world’s greatest natural harbor. After college, Mike decided to enter ministry, and after completing the graduate and practical training required for the Military chaplaincy, entered the US Army in 1980. He spent fourteen years serving in various locals including Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Fort Ord, California; and overseas in Korea; the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt; and in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. As a civilian, Mike traveled extensively in Asia, including in China, Vietnam, and Laos, and before that, lived five years in Canada. International humanitarian service in Vietnam was a recurring theme and strong call, so when the United States and Vietnam normalized relations in 1994, Mike resigned his army commission and began a new adventure creating jobs for the underserved. He started his projects in the southern part of the country, but as the years passed, the urban areas developed rapidly, and Mike gradually worked his way north so he could work with some of the country’s fifty-three ethnic tribal groups. In his fifties, he went back to school for two years and earned a medical ultrasound license, then returned to work for doctors serving the rural and remote poor. And during the early part of this sojourn, Mike married a Vietnamese member of the US Embassy staff who subsequently became an American citizen. Combined, he and his wife Becky have traveled between their respective home countries nearly one hundred times.
Mike’s academic field is history, and related research is reflected in his books. He completed his undergraduate and graduate history degrees in California, but split his doctoral studies in Vietnamese history between the Vietnam Center at Texas Tech University, and Vietnam’s National University in Hanoi. He is a protégée of the late Vietnam scholar, Douglas Pike, and his Master’s thesis, “United States Aid and the War in Vietnam 1965-1975” has appeared on government recommended reading lists. Mike also holds master’s degrees in divinity and religious education. Blessed with four sons and four grandchildren, Mike is thankful for his life of service and happily lives with his wife Becky and their cats, Stripe and Checkmate.
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