Solution T-25

by Theodora Du Bois

The survivors of a catostrophic future war prepare for the last battle.

221 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

Aka Theodora McCormick

Theodora Du Bois was born Theodora Brenton Eliot McCormick in Brooklyn in 1890. She wrote mysteries, historical fiction, short stories and children's literature.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhere in the near future after the end of WWII, the US has been invaded by a foreign country (unspecified, likely Asian) that has blasted nearly all major cities mostly out of existence and killed most Americans. Those who remain alive are roped into slave labor, or agree to serve as collaborators. Attractive women are sent to the invaders homeland. Children are sent to concentration camps for reeducation and indoctrination.

Will the small band of heros, and the absentminded Yale scientist at the secret Tortugas laboratory, develop a new secret weapon that will enable the growing underground resistance to retake the US from its invaders? Will hero John Dean and his fianee Joyce Van Pelt ever have a chance at a normal suburban life? Hmmmm....

I picked this up at "The Place of Forsyth County" a thrift shop in Cumming, which has a small collection of used books. It lived up to my low expectations, but still made for a pleasant read on vacation.

[Dee Rogers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this in an English-language used bookstore in Montreal that has a collection of old pulp novels.

There's more to this book than a two-star rating would indicate but the virulent racism, particularly anti-Asian racism, precludes a higher rating. The interest isn't in the science fiction aspect, which is fairly minimal. It's better as a spy thriller but I imagine there's better works out there. But actually the love triangle between the protagonist, John, his longtime-girlfriend, Joyce, and the woman he meets in the aftermath of a nuclear strike, Jane (J-names, I know, it's a choice...there's also a Jeff) was my favorite bit.

Jane is immediately described as "homely" but she's probably the most vivid, hence attractive, character in the book, decisive and passionate and meeting every crisis with a strangely-effective intensity (I can't help but think she must have been DuBois' favorite). John comments repeatedly whenever she comes up how much he isn't attracted to her and could never be in love with her, which of course is exactly what he is. It's a nice little touch.

I like to read older genre fiction by women because I often feel like I can see something we have in common through whatever's become dated in the work, and Jane felt like a little moment of connection like that.

Too bad about the racism though.

[Ray Savarda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clearly a cold-war era (1951) Russia bombs US and tries to conquer and assimilate the population, with a resistance group fighting to develop a weapon to use against them.
The brutality from the 2nd world war, and Russian purges, clarly comes thru in the beahvior of the Russian overseers.

[L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's technically science fiction in the sense that the resolution is brought about by science, but it's really a sociological look at life in Soviet-occupied America after the nukes have fallen. Interesting.