Another great book from William Stroock as he delivers another alternative military history masterpiece. In this novel he takes us back to 1975 at the height of the Cold War. He delivers a harrowing story of nuclear war breaking out and the devastating effects it has on the USA and the world. Stroock absolutely nails the time period with vivid descriptions of the culture and characters of 1975. One thing you can always expect from a Stroock novel is impeccable and thorough research and that is the case with this book. The book is also terrifying in considering the unthinkable scenario of nuclear war. In 1975 I was a junior high student growing up in New Jersey and the possibility of a US/USSR war was something that was a real fear as the two superpowers kept an uneasy peace. I highly recommend this book.
Adequately written account of the aftermath of massive USA/USSR nuclear exchange. The novel switches between civilians trying to survive, the efforts of the government to maintain order and the actions of the UK government. The events and problems faced by the US government are plausible but there are too many characters to hold any interest in any of the non-government plot threads and it's hard to tell the difference between one poor civilian trying to survive and another. The UK sequences are entertaining but not sufficiently so that I'll read the rest of the series. Also, unclear how Mrs Thatcher becomes PM with Denis Healey still alive.
Wow! Just wow. I love "end of the world as we know it" stories. This is one of the best I have ever read. Could not put it down. I think this is because most of the stories are written with generic political leaders, but this was not. Set it 1975, it has all of the then current world leaders, names everyone will recognize, making the story more realistic. For those of us politically cognizant at the time, they act true to form.
Very well done, gripping and alarming at the same time. The story tells what how it could have gone or how it still could. I was unable to put it down. In spite of some depressing aspects, the story keeps you enthralled
I'm a big fan of alternative history and this is something different, from the mid 70s. I feel this type of scenario could occur today with the same results as are in this book. Ready for the "to be continued..."
I enjoyed this book a lot! Mr Strook nails the zeitgeist of the 70s and creates an awful and chilling world. Putin’s folly and lunacy makes this book quite timely. I’m looking forward to the next installment.
The story summary made me think this was was going to be a single novel not a series. Has I read to the end and find found ‘to be continued’ I was p##sed, and annoyed has this story was overtopped in a run-a-away mentality flavor of worldleaders.
Easy read. Varied cast of.characters. some well developed.w.some just seen in passing. Fast Book to read I usually take weeks to finish this I completed without forgetting about it and remembering days later.
Here it is. The world I thought might be in stark detail. There is also the fact that we thought that threat was gone. Now we are tempting fate again.Well done and engaging.
Would have given this book 5 stars but there were quite a few grammatical / editing errors that caught my attention. Other than that, it was a great read that kept a fast pace.
Move over Pat Frank. Goodbye Neville Shute. See ya later Red Alert. William Stroock has written the best book describing a nuclear attack and its aftermath that has ever been written. If you are a , "Boomer" (no nuclear pin intended), you will find this book full of 70s flavor. If you enjoy reading about how a 1970's nuclear war would play out. you 'll remain enthralled from the first Emergency Broadcast message until the last roundup (again no pun intended) of how the ultimate weapons of war we unleashed.
Interesting scenario with a major question mark at the end which is the prompt to get the next book. While depressing in its description of the devastation from a full on nuclear war, if anything it probably is underestimating the destruction and death toll.
Well after reading the 4th book, I had to come back and look at the series again. I think that I would raise my rating a little now but not enough to get to a 4. But still, enough to say that I recommend the series.