Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Richard Aubry’s latest political-military thriller, La fin en trois temps, transports readers to a near-

future where Quebec has become an independent nation grappling with immense challenges.

The novel, available now through BouquinBec’s online store, is a gripping exploration of

geopolitical tensions, cultural identity, and leadership in a fractured world.

The story unfolds in a Quebec newly freed from Canada but far from secure. As linguistic and

political tensions escalate between the two neighbors, a conservative Canadian government,

led by Prime Minister Pierre Poilievre, takes issue with Quebec’s laws protecting the French

language, including Bill 96. Accusations of discrimination and false information spread across

the media, pushing the relationship between Quebec and Canada to a breaking point. Aubry’s

detailed depiction of this strained dynamic feels startlingly plausible, rooted in real-world political

trends and historical divisions.

When asked about the inspiration behind the novel, Aubry explained that the story builds on

themes explored in his earlier books. After the Canadian Department of National Defence

expressed concerns over his use of military terminology, Aubry took a creative turn, imagining a

sovereign Quebec with its own National Guard. This decision not only sidestepped bureaucratic

restrictions but also opened new narrative possibilities. “Given the current rise of the political

right in many Western countries, it’s easy to envision a scenario where a conservative Canadian

government might respond aggressively to Quebec’s independence,” Aubry noted. “A divided

world and destabilized geopolitics could lead to radical actions.”

The characters in La fin en trois temps embody resilience and leadership—qualities that Aubry

says were inspired by his 36-year military career. Their traits are drawn from people he admired

during his service, an amalgamation of courage, selflessness, and a commitment to the greater

good. Aubry’s protagonists navigate crises that test their convictions, echoing the leadership

challenges of real-world politicians, military officers, and business leaders.

Aubry also sees the novel as a commentary on the preservation of the French language, a

subject close to his heart. “Our language is a cornerstone of our identity,” he said. Protecting the

French language isn’t just a policy—it’s essential to who we are.” Citing Stendhal, he added,

“The first instrument of a people’s genius is its language.”

In his novel, he paints a vivid scenario in which an independent Quebec becomes a target in a

global chess game dominated by superpowers like the United States, China, and Russia. Aubry

imagines Quebec as both an alluring and vulnerable prospect for a United States influenced by

a Trump presidency—a chilling reflection of how small nations can be swept into the currents of

global politics.

Writing a novel that bridges fiction and reality was not without challenges. Aubry admitted to

revising the manuscript multiple times as global political events unfolded. He described his work

as “fiction-reality,” where plausibility is as critical as imagination. “Recent developments,

including Trump’s cabinet appointments, kept forcing me to adjust the narrative,” he said,

laughing about the unpredictability of world politics.

The novel is available exclusively through BouquinBec’s online store:

https://boutique.bouquinbec.ca/?s=Richard+Aubry+La+fin+en+trois+temps

Photo: La fin en trois temps by Richard Aubry is a gripping political-military thriller that imagines

an independent Quebec navigating cultural identity, geopolitical tensions, and the high stakes of

global power struggles. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo