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Forbidden Area: A Classic Sci-Fi Cold War Thriller of Sleeper Agents and Nuclear Attack
From the author of the post-apocalyptic classic Alas Babylon, comes an eerie, cold war thriller
A young teenage couple having a rendezvous one night on a beach in Florida suddenly sees a submarine emerge from the ocean. Armed soldiers disembark the vessel and a Buick drives off its landing ramp. For Henry Hazen, who is scheduled to ship out to an army training camp the next day, the sight leaves him uneasy, but he tells no one what he has witnessed.
Katherine Hume is the only woman working for the Pentagon’s Atomic Energy Commission. From intelligence they have gathered, she and her team are convinced the Russians are poised to conduct a nuclear attack on the U.S. on or shortly before Christmas. But convincing their superiors an attack is imminent is proving far more difficult than she could have imagined—even after several stealth fighter planes and their pilots go missing over the Gulf.
Banker Robert Gumol sees all the signs that the big attack is finally coming. As a reluctant spy for the Russians, Gumol’s loyalties lie more with his adopted country than his motherland. Deciding to take the next flight to Havana, he risks being executed by the Russians if his betrayal is discovered—but he’s willing to put it all on the line for a chance at freedom.
With the clock ticking, the fate of America hangs by a very thin thread.
A classic of science fiction that is a cautionary tale of the dangers of nuclear power, Forbidden Area is as timely today as it was when it was first published in 1958.
A young teenage couple having a rendezvous one night on a beach in Florida suddenly sees a submarine emerge from the ocean. Armed soldiers disembark the vessel and a Buick drives off its landing ramp. For Henry Hazen, who is scheduled to ship out to an army training camp the next day, the sight leaves him uneasy, but he tells no one what he has witnessed.
Katherine Hume is the only woman working for the Pentagon’s Atomic Energy Commission. From intelligence they have gathered, she and her team are convinced the Russians are poised to conduct a nuclear attack on the U.S. on or shortly before Christmas. But convincing their superiors an attack is imminent is proving far more difficult than she could have imagined—even after several stealth fighter planes and their pilots go missing over the Gulf.
Banker Robert Gumol sees all the signs that the big attack is finally coming. As a reluctant spy for the Russians, Gumol’s loyalties lie more with his adopted country than his motherland. Deciding to take the next flight to Havana, he risks being executed by the Russians if his betrayal is discovered—but he’s willing to put it all on the line for a chance at freedom.
With the clock ticking, the fate of America hangs by a very thin thread.
A classic of science fiction that is a cautionary tale of the dangers of nuclear power, Forbidden Area is as timely today as it was when it was first published in 1958.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1956
38 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
Pat Frank
28 books648 followers"Pat Frank" was the lifelong nickname adopted by the American writer, newspaperman, and government consultant, who was born Harry Hart Frank and who is remembered today almost exclusively for his post-apocalyptic novel Alas, Babylon. Before the publication of his first novel Mr. Adam launched his second career as novelist and independent writer, Frank spent many years as a journalist and information handler for several newspapers, agencies, and government bureaus. His fiction and nonfiction books, stories, and articles made good use of his years of experience observing government and military bureaucracy and its malfunctions, and the threat of nuclear proliferation and annihilation. After the success of Alas, Babylon, Frank concentrated on writing for magazines and journals, putting his beliefs and concerns to political use, and advising various government bodies. In 1960 he served as a member of the Democratic National Committee. In 1961, the year in which he received an American Heritage Foundation Award, he was consultant to the National Aeronautics and Space Council. From 1963 through 1964 the Department of Defense made use of Frank's expertise and advice, and this consultancy turned out to be his last response to his country's call. His other books include Mr. Adam and Forbidden Area.
Biography courtesy of HarperCollins.com
Biography courtesy of HarperCollins.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 20, 2023
A true Cold War thriller in the vein of Fail-Safe and Red Alert and possibly an alternative outcome to Frank's famous novel Alas,Babylon. Published in 1956 Forbidden Area was one of the first novels (I believe) to look at the possibility of Soviet "Sleeper" agents infiltrating the United States. Like Frank's other novels it moves rapidly, keeps your interest and is more of a novella than a full-length work of fiction. It's suspenseful and the lack of 21st century communication technology will frustrate, but also ratchet up the suspense. The characters simply can't disseminate information as easily as we can in 2015. A situation which helps the Soviet agents at first. In addition to being a thriller about nuclear brinkmanship it's a warning to Americans about being too complacent and to be wary of Soviet assurances that they simply want peace. In other words, "The Big Red Dog" is out there and just waiting for us to let our vigilance waver.
Reading novels written during the 1950's and early 1960's can be a real eye opener. I recommend it to people trying to understand Senator McCarthy and the purges that occurred during the "Red Scare". When you read what people were actually thinking and, more importantly, what they believed the enemy was capable of things will begin to fall into place. While I am not justifying what occurred it can explain much. Fear is a powerful motivator and in the 1950's Americans were afraid. While we like to think of that decade as some type of Golden Age reading works written during that time period will show that many thought differently.
Forbidden Area is a product of its time and there is a a real Middle-Class morality running through the book - which is also to be expected. For example, the female protagonist is single has a high-level Federal Government job and, when the novel begins, has no desire to give up her independence for a husband and children. However, by the end of the book, she's changed her mind and realizes that true happiness will come from being domesticated. Whew. That was a close call.
In the past (other reviews) I've written that if older novels (attitudes and morals) offend one's modern-day sensibilities then one should avoid reading the older novels. I attach this same warning to "Forbidden Area". Mr. Frank was of the Depression and World War II generation. The post-modern angst and cynicism of the post-Vietnam/Watergate world did not yet exist. It's simply too much to expect a man writing in 1955 to be able to know what readers will be thinking in 2015. Okay you've been warned.
In conclusion Forbidden Area works. A fast-moving espionage thriller, but also a warning about staying on guard and the dangers of nuclear proliferation. I found my copy at a Goodwill Store in the greater Portland, Oregon area. Out of print for over fifty years that's the only way you're going to find it. However, that's part of the fun. Good luck and happy hunting.
Reading novels written during the 1950's and early 1960's can be a real eye opener. I recommend it to people trying to understand Senator McCarthy and the purges that occurred during the "Red Scare". When you read what people were actually thinking and, more importantly, what they believed the enemy was capable of things will begin to fall into place. While I am not justifying what occurred it can explain much. Fear is a powerful motivator and in the 1950's Americans were afraid. While we like to think of that decade as some type of Golden Age reading works written during that time period will show that many thought differently.
Forbidden Area is a product of its time and there is a a real Middle-Class morality running through the book - which is also to be expected. For example, the female protagonist is single has a high-level Federal Government job and, when the novel begins, has no desire to give up her independence for a husband and children. However, by the end of the book, she's changed her mind and realizes that true happiness will come from being domesticated. Whew. That was a close call.
In the past (other reviews) I've written that if older novels (attitudes and morals) offend one's modern-day sensibilities then one should avoid reading the older novels. I attach this same warning to "Forbidden Area". Mr. Frank was of the Depression and World War II generation. The post-modern angst and cynicism of the post-Vietnam/Watergate world did not yet exist. It's simply too much to expect a man writing in 1955 to be able to know what readers will be thinking in 2015. Okay you've been warned.
In conclusion Forbidden Area works. A fast-moving espionage thriller, but also a warning about staying on guard and the dangers of nuclear proliferation. I found my copy at a Goodwill Store in the greater Portland, Oregon area. Out of print for over fifty years that's the only way you're going to find it. However, that's part of the fun. Good luck and happy hunting.
November 25, 2025
2.6⭐️
Borderline 3 stars. The book is a Cold War era spy thriller about a Soviet plot to destroy the United States. It's classic "Red Scare" paranoia; deeply dated but also an interesting window into the past. It's hard to believe now there was a time people seriously thought that the Soviet Union's policy, above all else, was to destroy the US in a nuclear war. This is also the theme of Frank's much more famous novel, Alas, Babylon.
Frank viewed world domination as a strict Communist ideology and didn't realize Russia's fear of the west and NATO was, if anything, greater than America's "Red Meanace" worries. The Soviets had just survived a devestating "sneak attack" invasion by the Nazis. That doesn't tend to make a nation trusting.
Frank's views were proven wrong seven years after the book was published, during the Cuban Missle Crisis, when Kruschev and Kennedy did everything they could to avoid a nuclear war nobody wanted.
It's an early example of the "sleeper agent" story, where highly trained infiltators are sent to deal the US a devastating blow from within. Frank's an adequate writer and the action is fast paced, making for a passable thriller. His views on women were not quite as cringe worthy as you'd expect given the era, but still pretty bad. His female protagonist is shown as a capable Pentagon technocrat. But as the only woman on her top secret committe, she gets the coffee without protest, despite her PhD from MIT. And at the end of the novel she without hesitation trades in her career for wedded bliss with the hero.
The book was one of a number of WW III novels and films that were popular in the 50 's and early 60'S. The genre's made a comeback recently, with several bestsellers depicting a Korean nuclear attack on the US, which was also the theme of Netflix's House of Dynamite. I guess we're getting nervous, again.
Borderline 3 stars. The book is a Cold War era spy thriller about a Soviet plot to destroy the United States. It's classic "Red Scare" paranoia; deeply dated but also an interesting window into the past. It's hard to believe now there was a time people seriously thought that the Soviet Union's policy, above all else, was to destroy the US in a nuclear war. This is also the theme of Frank's much more famous novel, Alas, Babylon.
Frank viewed world domination as a strict Communist ideology and didn't realize Russia's fear of the west and NATO was, if anything, greater than America's "Red Meanace" worries. The Soviets had just survived a devestating "sneak attack" invasion by the Nazis. That doesn't tend to make a nation trusting.
Frank's views were proven wrong seven years after the book was published, during the Cuban Missle Crisis, when Kruschev and Kennedy did everything they could to avoid a nuclear war nobody wanted.
It's an early example of the "sleeper agent" story, where highly trained infiltators are sent to deal the US a devastating blow from within. Frank's an adequate writer and the action is fast paced, making for a passable thriller. His views on women were not quite as cringe worthy as you'd expect given the era, but still pretty bad. His female protagonist is shown as a capable Pentagon technocrat. But as the only woman on her top secret committe, she gets the coffee without protest, despite her PhD from MIT. And at the end of the novel she without hesitation trades in her career for wedded bliss with the hero.
The book was one of a number of WW III novels and films that were popular in the 50 's and early 60'S. The genre's made a comeback recently, with several bestsellers depicting a Korean nuclear attack on the US, which was also the theme of Netflix's House of Dynamite. I guess we're getting nervous, again.
February 18, 2012
Written in 1956 and taking place in the present or possibly the near future, this book imagines that the Russians have achieved the ability to destroy the US and are planning to do so very soon. The narrative follows the Intentions Groups, a multi-disciplinary committee with CIA, Army, Navy, Air Force and Atomic Energy Commission representatives. The latter is an incredibly intelligent woman in a high place of power, which is very forward-thinking of the author.
I don't really know much about military processes, particularly in the late 50's, but I learned a lot reading this book. It would probably better enjoyed by someone who could tell the difference between what was accurate and what was invented for the novel. Because of all the technical terms and descriptions of military operations, it was a little difficult to get into at first, but towards the end, with the attack creeping nearer, the pages turned almost of their own volition. Recommended!
I don't really know much about military processes, particularly in the late 50's, but I learned a lot reading this book. It would probably better enjoyed by someone who could tell the difference between what was accurate and what was invented for the novel. Because of all the technical terms and descriptions of military operations, it was a little difficult to get into at first, but towards the end, with the attack creeping nearer, the pages turned almost of their own volition. Recommended!
March 4, 2023
A Window Into the Past
Pat Frank gave us a look into what tensions were like during the early Cold War. Having been born in ‘53 and raised in the Air Force, I can relate to a lot of the situations in this book. This was long before Women’s Lib, so the characterizations of most of the women as housewives and being limited in their prospects are unfortunate, but valid. It was a time of great fear, which I had hoped was long behind us. Alas, the dogs of war seem to be gearing up for another run.
Pat Frank gave us a look into what tensions were like during the early Cold War. Having been born in ‘53 and raised in the Air Force, I can relate to a lot of the situations in this book. This was long before Women’s Lib, so the characterizations of most of the women as housewives and being limited in their prospects are unfortunate, but valid. It was a time of great fear, which I had hoped was long behind us. Alas, the dogs of war seem to be gearing up for another run.
September 24, 2020
In het Nederlands uitgegeven als 'de fatale 7 dagen'. Spannende koude oorlogthriller, prismapocket
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Read
March 12, 20174.5 stars from Jana, read the full review at FANTASY LITERATURE
Disclaimer: just so you know, some of the books we review are received free from publishers
Foreign espionage and sabotage undermining the credibility of American armed forces. A counter-intelligence group mocked and silenced for its theories. Shadowy plans, decades in the making. The fate of the world caught in the balance between devastation and salvation. Pat Frank describes all of these in Forbidden Area, which was first published in 1956 and is still terrifying sixty-one years later.
Harper Perennial’s 2016 re-issue of Forbidden Area only clocks in at just over 200 pages and contains four interlocking plotlines, each of which is essential to the overarching story. First there’s the introductory tale of Henry and Nina, two teenagers who happen to be necking in the Florida surf on what, in hindsight, will be an extremely momentous night. They see something that should be impossible: a large submarine discharging a smaller craft, out of which drives a Buick. The Buick contains the impetus for a second plotline concerning Stanislaus Lazinoff, alias Stanley Smith, and three co-conspirators who have all been trained by the Soviet government for deep-cover missions. The third plotline concerns the Pentagon’s “Intentions of the Enemy Group,” a carefully chosen task force comprised of seven civilian experts in various fields, all of whom work toward determining what a given enemy might do, then advising the American government with regards to the best course of reaction or avoidance. When B-99 bombers begin exploding on what should be utterly routine “milk run” training missions, the I.E.G. combines that information with troubling reports of Russian submarine movement around the world, and comes to a terrifying conclusion. Finally, there’s Robert Gumol, a banker with deep ties to the Soviet government, who spots a chance to flee Philadelphia for Havana under the pretense of a golf vacation, hoping that his many betrayals won’t incur execution by either the Russians or the Americans....4.5 stars from Jana, read the full review at FANTASY LITERATURE
Disclaimer: just so you know, some of the books we review are received free from publishers
Foreign espionage and sabotage undermining the credibility of American armed forces. A counter-intelligence group mocked and silenced for its theories. Shadowy plans, decades in the making. The fate of the world caught in the balance between devastation and salvation. Pat Frank describes all of these in Forbidden Area, which was first published in 1956 and is still terrifying sixty-one years later.
Harper Perennial’s 2016 re-issue of Forbidden Area only clocks in at just over 200 pages and contains four interlocking plotlines, each of which is essential to the overarching story. First there’s the introductory tale of Henry and Nina, two teenagers who happen to be necking in the Florida surf on what, in hindsight, will be an extremely momentous night. They see something that should be impossible: a large submarine discharging a smaller craft, out of which drives a Buick. The Buick contains the impetus for a second plotline concerning Stanislaus Lazinoff, alias Stanley Smith, and three co-conspirators who have all been trained by the Soviet government for deep-cover missions. The third plotline concerns the Pentagon’s “Intentions of the Enemy Group,” a carefully chosen task force comprised of seven civilian experts in various fields, all of whom work toward determining what a given enemy might do, then advising the American government with regards to the best course of reaction or avoidance. When B-99 bombers begin exploding on what should be utterly routine “milk run” training missions, the I.E.G. combines that information with troubling reports of Russian submarine movement around the world, and comes to a terrifying conclusion. Finally, there’s Robert Gumol, a banker with deep ties to the Soviet government, who spots a chance to flee Philadelphia for Havana under the pretense of a golf vacation, hoping that his many betrayals won’t incur execution by either the Russians or the Americans....4.5 stars from Jana, read the full review at FANTASY LITERATURE
January 2, 2019
I've always enjoyed reading this book ever since my father gave me a paperback copy years ago. The paperback is long gone, but I found a hardcover at John King in Detroit and needed to read it again.
It's a novel on the Cold War written in 1956 where the Russia is planning a sneak attack on the USA on Christmas Eve. Some parts of the novel have held up pretty well - the interactions between the military and civilians , the fact that we are still threatened by China and Russia and the major role that low-ranking seemingly insignificant people can take in times of crisis. Obviously, our world and society has changed a lot since 1956 and the salaries/prices that are quoted in the book are pretty funny in 2018.
Nevertheless, this book is always fun to read and author Pat Frank did a wonderful job in both describing the emotions and pressure that people lived under in those times (atomic bomb shelters) and in writing an enjoyable thriller. Tom Clancy did have at least one forerunner way back in the 1950s.
It's a novel on the Cold War written in 1956 where the Russia is planning a sneak attack on the USA on Christmas Eve. Some parts of the novel have held up pretty well - the interactions between the military and civilians , the fact that we are still threatened by China and Russia and the major role that low-ranking seemingly insignificant people can take in times of crisis. Obviously, our world and society has changed a lot since 1956 and the salaries/prices that are quoted in the book are pretty funny in 2018.
Nevertheless, this book is always fun to read and author Pat Frank did a wonderful job in both describing the emotions and pressure that people lived under in those times (atomic bomb shelters) and in writing an enjoyable thriller. Tom Clancy did have at least one forerunner way back in the 1950s.
May 15, 2019
Incredibly prescient for the year in which it was written (1956), as it presages many of the realities of the war scares and crises of the early sixties. It doesn't fully anticipate the Cuban crisis (the book is a few years pre-Castro), but as far as the rest of it, the close calls and near misses are all here.
The book is a bit slow, not really much of "thriller," but it does a great job driving home how often high-level strategy could be blown to hell by simple human foibles (a person doesn't answer a ringing phone, a cop doesn't pull over a car because he wants to finish his coffee, suspicious activity is not reported because a girl doesn't want her dad to find out she was out after curfew). The book relies heavily on coincidence, but that is kind of the point. It really is a wonder that the globe has not seen an accidental detonation all these years, from pure chance.
The book is a bit slow, not really much of "thriller," but it does a great job driving home how often high-level strategy could be blown to hell by simple human foibles (a person doesn't answer a ringing phone, a cop doesn't pull over a car because he wants to finish his coffee, suspicious activity is not reported because a girl doesn't want her dad to find out she was out after curfew). The book relies heavily on coincidence, but that is kind of the point. It really is a wonder that the globe has not seen an accidental detonation all these years, from pure chance.
January 3, 2018
If you think Tom Clancy invented the techno-thriller, think again. This novel was published in 1956 and depicts a prossable first strike by the Soviet Union. Yes, it is dated, but it is a wonderful window into the fears of the "duck and cover" world of the 1950s. The aulthor also wrote Alas, Babylon which I and many other read while in high school. The writting is clear and tention packed. You finish the book with the unsettling question, can we have another Pearl Harbor, that is a surprise attack by another nation. While dated, this novel is relevent to today as well.
June 8, 2024
Can’t believe this only has 164 ratings at the time of this review. I think it is nearly as good as Alas, Babylon. Pat Frank is so detailed and the characters and their backstories are so real and well developed. The story is also told in a way that is very grounded in reality and human nature that it makes it so plausible and almost shocked that something like this never happened (and a little bit worried about the size of our national security bureaucracy). I read this in basically one sitting on the beach and I wish I could do it again for the first time today.
February 12, 2018
Forbidden Area starts out a little slow. But, give it a little bit and it takes off. After the character introductions this book will keep you engaged. First time in a while I've really not been sure of how it will turn out. As with most of Pat Frank's work, the nuclear bomb is one of the main characters and you'll really wonder if or when someone uses one in this book. I felt connected to the characters and the plot so I'd recommend this as a good, quick read.
March 29, 2019
RIVETING
This book held my attention all the way through. During the times that I was unable to be actively reading, I was counting the minutes until I was able to climb back inside the story.
The only disconcerting thing that REALLY got under my skin was the discovery of five misspelled words (as best as I remember).
This book held my attention all the way through. During the times that I was unable to be actively reading, I was counting the minutes until I was able to climb back inside the story.
The only disconcerting thing that REALLY got under my skin was the discovery of five misspelled words (as best as I remember).
January 8, 2021
I had read another of Pat Frank's classics (Alas, Babylon) this summer, and enjoyed the 1950's view of the world. I did not enjoy Forbidden Area as much, but still enjoyed being transported to the 1950's again. It was a quick read for sure, and I felt that it was a bit predictable, but would recommend it anyway!
July 6, 2021
Very scary scenario of how close we were to nuclear war dozens of times during the early Cold War.
When reading Pat Frank's books you need to keep putting yourself in the mindset of the day. When this story was written Sputnik had not yet been launched, no satellites were orbiting earth and ICBM missiles were not yet a reality. It was submarines and airplanes delivering nuclear bombs.
When reading Pat Frank's books you need to keep putting yourself in the mindset of the day. When this story was written Sputnik had not yet been launched, no satellites were orbiting earth and ICBM missiles were not yet a reality. It was submarines and airplanes delivering nuclear bombs.
October 21, 2023
Pat Frank was a notorious doomsday author from the 1950’s. I previously read Alas Babylon and, while not remembering the plot, enjoyed it.
I went into this book as a 10 year old in 1956, reading this with sweaty palms and dry mouth. “That was some generation!” It was an entertaining read more like 4.25 stars.
I went into this book as a 10 year old in 1956, reading this with sweaty palms and dry mouth. “That was some generation!” It was an entertaining read more like 4.25 stars.
August 3, 2019
Dated but good story of a U.S. Soviet War begun by saboteurs planted ahead of time on US SAC bases. Foiled just in time by alert members of US military, gov't, and public. Written by the author of Alas, Babylon the classic sci-fi/disaster novel of a nuclear attack.
November 30, 2019
Almost Babylon
Another novel by Pat Frank, similar to Alas Babylon. In this story, the United States comes to the brink of nuclear war. Russia backs down, and their attack is thwarted. The nuclear exchange never occurs, and life in the atomic age returns to “normal.”
Another novel by Pat Frank, similar to Alas Babylon. In this story, the United States comes to the brink of nuclear war. Russia backs down, and their attack is thwarted. The nuclear exchange never occurs, and life in the atomic age returns to “normal.”
April 7, 2023
Truly surreal. A cautionary tale of the dangers of nuclear power published in 1956. This was written as science fiction but is as close to real life as it gets. This could be happening now which is a terrifying thought. An amazing book.
July 13, 2025
The start is slow but it’s mysterious. But man do the last 50 pages of this book deliver. A truly nail biting thriller after the half way point. While it includes only few deeper thoughts, still a great read.
May 30, 2017
Good WW2 book. Interesting topic (sleeper agent). Very Cold Warish.
July 4, 2018
Excellent!
December 6, 2018
A classic Cold War thriller written in the early 1950s. Good read if you read it in view of the context of the times.
April 21, 2019
Some slow moments but overall, a gripping read.
January 12, 2020
Not my kind of book but I enjoyed it being ahead of its time, could mirror us today. Will forget all about it in a few days time though.
May 15, 2020
Exciting prelude/alternate universe of Alas, Babylon where the US prevents the bombing. From about half way through I couldn't put it down.
November 19, 2025
A pretty good spy / imminent war / potential nuclear holocaust novel. I read it because Stephen Greenblatt mentioned reading it when he was young.
May 8, 2012
This is the third Pat Frank book I've read, and I've got to say I enjoyed it. It's a short-coupled tale that a t times feels like it could go places Frank doesn't take it, but still for the Atomic Age, it's a wonderful "what if" that gets you to thinking about military policy, political gamesmanship and general skullduggery. A good read all the way around.
August 16, 2013
This is the 2nd book from Pat Frank I have read, the first has been one of my favorite books, Alas Babylon. This is a great Cold War thriller, a quick read, and a real page turner. I look forward to reading more of Frank's work.
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June 27, 2012Really enjoyed it but not as good as Alas Babylon
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews