Cover of Countdown

Countdown

    Julian F. Grow's Countdown is a Victorian science fiction and classic fantasy novel. Key subjects include Cold War and nuclear weapons.

    On Project Gutenberg it was downloaded 307 times in the last 30 days.

    It is in the public domain in the United States and free to read on Project Gutenberg.

    About Countdown

    "Countdown" by Julian F. Grow is a science fiction story written in the early 1960s. This book explores the dire implications of nuclear warfare, set against the backdrop of a tense geopolitical climate. Through a countdown structure, it emphasizes the precarious balance of power between nations and the human capacity for destruction. The narrative unfolds in a world marked by ten years of uneasy peace after a catastrophic event, known as the Hour of Tragedy. The story revolves around three men from different nations, each positioned at the helm of their respective military networks, and faced with a dire choice: press the red button to unleash chaos or wait in uncertainty. Each man grapples with the burden of responsibility over millions of lives while confronting their existential fears. As tensions rise, the story delves into the fragility of the human psyche, ultimately culminating in a climactic moment where one man’s finger hovers over the button that could change the course of history forever.
    Summary from Project Gutenberg (automatically generated)

    Themes, setting & tropes

    Genres

    Subjects

    • Science fiction
    • Cold War
    • Nuclear weapons

    Quick answers

    Who wrote Countdown?

    Countdown was written by Julian F. Grow.

    What genre is Countdown?

    It is usually shelved as Victorian Science Fiction and Classic Fantasy.

    Is Countdown free to read?

    Yes. It is in the public domain in the United States and can be read free on Project Gutenberg in EPUB, Kindle and HTML formats.

    What books are similar to Countdown?

    Readers who like it often enjoy Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, The Time Machine and The Invisible Man.

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