What would happen if the United States was hit by a limited nuclear attack; an attack that because of the electromagnetic pulse given off by atomic weapons, all auto engines, computers, telephones, refrigerators, in fact, anything build after the mid-1970’s that ran on electricity was simply fried, incapable of working? That is the premise of this novel and no, it the attack was not carried out by terrorists but by the Soviet Union (the book was originally published in 1984. Yet, because of our concern over the possibility of terrorists getting a nuclear weapon, this book has suddenly had a second resurrection.
Aside from the obvious problems of tens of millions of Americans suddenly being forced to live as their great-great-great-great grandparents did, suddenly learning to farm, seldom being able to travel more than a few miles from their homes unless they had a horse, there could be the problems of parts of the United States going off on their own as the Federal government is either destroyed in the attack, or unable to impose its will beyond a short radius from their offices. Suddenly California, the Golden State creates heavily policed border crossings, not to keep out Hispanics, but to keep out millions of Americans who do not want to face typical winters and food shortages because coal is not available to heat their houses. Perhaps the old border between Mexico and Texas will become a no man’s land as local war lords fight both the Texas and Mexico governments as they try to create their own country. For those lucky enough to have cars or refrigerators build before they relied on computers, where will the fuel come from and how long will electricity be provided each day.
Finally, will countries like Japan, China and the Europeans see the natural resources of the United States as easy pickings to be plundered as the price paid from medicines and basic technologies will be provided on a rationed basis to the United States? Which of those countries would have a vested interest in having the U.S. become strong again when we could be kept weak and provide a willing work force.
Think it cannot happen? Think we could bounce back quickly? Then let me ask you this; if we had that type of catastrophe, if suddenly your car, your computer, your phone could not work, how long could you survive in such a brave new world?
Well written, thought provoking. Worth a read.
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