Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Great Nuclear War of 1975 #1

The Great Nuclear War of 1975

Rate this book
The Great Nuclear War of 1975

In a Different 1975…


Superpower relations breakdown and a nuclear war all but annihilates the Soviet Union and devastates the United States.

100 million Americans are dead.

After Washington is destroyed, a smalltown judge delivers the oath of office to Vice President Rockefeller.

Surviving American forces on land, sea and in the air await orders from the new president.

Americans across the nation climb out of the rubble looking for a homeland that no longer exists.

In surviving capitals across the globe, governments ponder the implications of a world without the superpowers.

In Britain, a rump cabinet meets in the Cotswolds to plan a way forward without the United States

Commonwealth Prime Ministers in Canberra, Auckland and Ottawa look to the UK for leadership

In Buenos Ares, a weak government plots the takeover of the Malvines.

As radiation sweeps down from Siberia, the Chinese government faces unprecedented famine.

In New Delhi, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi wonders how she will feed India.

In Rhode Island, one man will start a trek halfway across North America to reunite with his family.

William Stroock is the author of 15 novels including the World War 1990 alternate history series.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 6, 2022

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

William Stroock

35 books30 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
217 (41%)
4 stars
179 (34%)
3 stars
89 (17%)
2 stars
24 (4%)
1 star
10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
102 reviews5 followers
March 11, 2022
Williams Stroock Does Not Disappoint

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.
3 reviews
October 31, 2025
Margaret Thatcher fanfic

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.
Profile Image for B Kevin.
461 reviews6 followers
October 24, 2023
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.
3 reviews
March 14, 2022
Wow, one of his best

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
24 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2022
Boy a bleak what-if I couldn't put down

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..."
4 reviews1 follower
March 31, 2022
Fun, readable and compassionate what if story.

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.
Profile Image for Chance.
1,135 reviews21 followers
April 25, 2022
it was madness

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.
1 review
May 1, 2022
Easy read

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.
156 reviews2 followers
July 19, 2022
Nightmarish

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.
53 reviews
July 20, 2024
Good read

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.
Profile Image for ZorroG.
75 reviews2 followers
April 26, 2022
alternative version of doomsday 1975

Okay, nobody appears to be sure how or why the nuclear exchange happened. Survival physically or emotionally seems to be the theme here.
11 reviews
February 2, 2023
FOR REAL!!

this tome really does lay out what could (and unfortunately what probably will happen) in the not to distant future. Makes one THINK!!
1 review
March 31, 2024
great sequel!

The story continued seamlessly. I’m about to begin the third book
In the series.
Great job, Mr. Stroock! Thank you!
53 reviews
November 4, 2025
World War z style storytelling with nukes instead of zombies, great read.
24 reviews1 follower
December 17, 2022
I Will Buy the Next E-book Sight Unseen

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.
Profile Image for Mike Glaser.
897 reviews34 followers
April 29, 2025
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.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews