Warning

 

Close

Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Confirm Cancel
BCM
User Panel

Site Notices
Posted: 7/2/2012 2:05:35 PM EST
I just started reading it today and actually had to stop. Turkey threatening Syria in the beginning of the book, Russia warning against an American/NATO response to Syria. Kinda crazy to read a book written in '59 that touches on relevant topics today. I don't think we are bound for any nuclear holocaust but I was wondering if this whole Turkey/Syria saber-rattling has been done before.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 2:13:40 PM EST
[#1]
May have to go back and re-read it.  Been a while.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 2:26:02 PM EST
[#2]
That was assigned reading for us in 10th grade, after we were done the teacher let us watch Red Dawn. Good book.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 2:26:18 PM EST
[#3]
Great book and scary how much it mirrors today's world.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 2:27:57 PM EST
[#4]
Completely forgot what the catalyst was.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 2:33:40 PM EST
[#5]
Great book.  Well written.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 2:38:22 PM EST
[#6]
What a great book, I first read it based on a recommendation here in GD.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 2:38:42 PM EST
[#7]
It's my favorite book ever. I read it about once a year. Chilling how it can stay relevant despite it's age.
 
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 2:39:02 PM EST
[#8]
As soon as I saw the title I knew what this thread was about.

Patrick AFB was still a SAC base when I was younger and being that it is 40 or so miles north of me and the story takes place in Florida, made it very interesting reading for a young (at the time) kid like me.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 2:42:05 PM EST
[#9]
Excellent book. I've read it several times.

Link Posted: 7/2/2012 3:00:03 PM EST
[#10]
Glad to hear the rest is excellent! I put it aside while I did a little more quick research and posted this thread.

This page was interesting, for the perspective precursor to the story and a mirror to today oddly enough. 1950's

Tensions between the United States and the Syrian government spilled over to 1957. In January, CIA Director Dulles wrote that the Syrian cabinet had "an increasing trend toward a decidedly leftist, pro- Soviet government." In mid-1957 the Defense Department recommended a coup against Syria's leftist leaders.

While plans to overthrow the Syrian government were transpiring, next door in Jordan King Hussein fired Prime Minister Suleiman Nabulsi after it was discovered that a coup against the king was planned by Egypt, Syria, and Palestinians in Jordan. While Hussein was overtly pro-Western, Nablusi followed a neutral course, opposing foreign aid from both the United States or the Soviet Union.

Following the dismissal of Nabulsi, riots broke out in several Jordanian cities, and Hussein blamed pro-communist leaders with orchestrating the violence. On the other side of the globe, Eisenhower sent a fleet of warships –– 18 ships including an aircraft carrier –– into the eastern Mediterranean. The CIA followed by providing secret payments in the millions of dollars each year to Hussein. The king reciprocated by providing the CIA with intelligence reports of the region. After 20 years, the CIA terminated its payments to Hussein.

Soviet aid to Damascus increased in the late 1950s. Moscow provided Syria with both economic aid and military hardware. The Eisenhower administration responded by referring to Syria as a Soviet satellite and a brutal left wing regime. Eisenhower once again dispatched American warships to the region and sent military equipment to Jordan Turkey, Lebanon, and Iraq. The Soviets claimed that the United States also amassed approximately 50,000 soldiers in Turkey alongside the Syrian border. At the same time, the Soviet Union continued to send more military hardware to Syria as well as to Yemen and Egypt.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 3:06:55 PM EST
[#11]
I lived in Central Florida during the time the book was written.  We recognized many of the landmarks in the book including McCoy AFB.  We always thought Ft Repose was Haines City except we didn't have a river running thorough the town.  The book scared the crap out of any of us that read it.

After retiring I taught a few college course where I assigned a case study.  I used the name of the city to be Ft Repose and the players to be the characters in the book.  None of my students ever indicated they recognized the references.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 3:08:09 PM EST
[#12]
I read Alas, Babylon years ago. Very good book.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 3:17:11 PM EST
[#13]
Is that the one where someone stole and ate the kids goldfish?  

That still pisses me off.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 3:18:14 PM EST
[#14]
Awesome book.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 3:19:12 PM EST
[#15]
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 3:20:48 PM EST
[#16]
Quoted:
Is that the one where someone stole and ate the kids goldfish?  

That still pisses me off.


The kid (Peyton) used the fish for bait, and caught several large bass in a time of need. The fish belonged to one of the eldrely ladies, Randy's next door neighbor.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 3:25:57 PM EST
[#17]
The only book I actually enjoyed reading in high school.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 3:30:12 PM EST
[#18]
Quoted:
May have to go back and re-read it.  Been a while.


Me too. I read it a while ago.
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 3:34:27 PM EST
[#19]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Is that the one where someone stole and ate the kids goldfish?  

That still pisses me off.


The kid (Peyton) used the fish for bait, and caught several large bass in a time of need. The fish belonged to one of the eldrely ladies, Randy's next door neighbor.


Been a while since I read it, obviously.  
Link Posted: 7/2/2012 5:20:57 PM EST
[#20]
Quoted:
As soon as I saw the title I knew what this thread was about.

Patrick AFB was still a SAC base when I was younger and being that it is 40 or so miles north of me and the story takes place in Florida, made it very interesting reading for a young (at the time) kid like me.


Patrick AFB was never a SAC base; you're thinking of McCoy Air Force Base, now Orlando International Airport.  Even though McCoy has been shut down since 1975, Orlando's airport IATA designator is still MCO to this day.

Parts of the story in AB occur at MCO; Patrick is never mentioned, IRC.

Link Posted: 7/2/2012 5:28:12 PM EST
[#21]
Read this back in the late 60's.I think that the Cuban missile crisis made us focus on these possible outcomes.
"On the Beach" is another good of the end of the world read.
Link Posted: 7/3/2012 3:57:53 AM EST
[#22]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Is that the one where someone stole and ate the kids goldfish?  

That still pisses me off.


The kid (Peyton) used the fish for bait, and caught several large bass in a time of need. The fish belonged to one of the eldrely ladies, Randy's next door neighbor.


Been a while since I read it, obviously.  


I am such a nerd. For some reason I remembered that part. I read it in HS first in the late 70's and I guess it stuck.

Link Posted: 7/3/2012 4:02:26 AM EST
[#23]
Quoted:
Quoted:
As soon as I saw the title I knew what this thread was about.

Patrick AFB was still a SAC base when I was younger and being that it is 40 or so miles north of me and the story takes place in Florida, made it very interesting reading for a young (at the time) kid like me.


Patrick AFB was never a SAC base; you're thinking of McCoy Air Force Base, now Orlando International Airport.  Even though McCoy has been shut down since 1975, Orlando's airport IATA designator is still MCO to this day.

Parts of the story in AB occur at MCO; Patrick is never mentioned, IRC.



Patrick was mentioned in passing a couple of times, debating whether or not it was a target as a missle test base.

Link Posted: 7/3/2012 4:05:01 AM EST
[#24]
Read it years ago and remember liking it. Maybe I'll have to read it again.
Link Posted: 7/3/2012 4:12:56 AM EST
[#25]
I started reading again 2 weeks ago now that I have it on kindle.
Link Posted: 7/3/2012 4:15:54 AM EST
[#26]
Quoted:
Quoted:
As soon as I saw the title I knew what this thread was about.

Patrick AFB was still a SAC base when I was younger and being that it is 40 or so miles north of me and the story takes place in Florida, made it very interesting reading for a young (at the time) kid like me.


Patrick AFB was never a SAC base; you're thinking of McCoy Air Force Base, now Orlando International Airport.  Even though McCoy has been shut down since 1975, Orlando's airport IATA designator is still MCO to this day.

Parts of the story in AB occur at MCO; Patrick is never mentioned, IRC.



It is multiple times as a research/test base.
Link Posted: 7/3/2012 4:32:56 AM EST
[#27]
We were assigned to read it in 11th grade English.  We were told on a Friday to read chapters 1-3 for discussion the next Monday.  I read the whole book Saturday.  I couldn't put it down.



That's the only time that has ever happened to me with a school book.  Most of the "classics" are awful.


 
Link Posted: 7/4/2012 11:54:08 AM EST
[#28]
Quoted:
Read this back in the late 60's.I think that the Cuban missile crisis made us focus on these possible outcomes.
"On the Beach" is another good of the end of the world read.


I definitely need to read "On the Beach" again.
Link Posted: 7/4/2012 12:09:21 PM EST
[#29]



Quoted:



Quoted:

Read this back in the late 60's.I think that the Cuban missile crisis made us focus on these possible outcomes.

"On the Beach" is another good of the end of the world read.




I definitely need to read "On the Beach" again.



hide you razor blades first.

RIP humanity



 
Link Posted: 7/4/2012 12:34:22 PM EST
[#30]
I thought this was a "FO TIME!" thread.  
 
Link Posted: 7/4/2012 12:40:07 PM EST
[#31]
Quoted:
I thought this was a "FO TIME!" thread.    


Wow, thankfully no! Just a book I discovered a few decades too late apparently!
Link Posted: 7/4/2012 12:53:44 PM EST
[#32]
Great Book, I read it for school in the early seventies, when it was very relevent. Read it several times since, but not in twenty years or so.

Time for another look!
Link Posted: 7/4/2012 1:18:43 PM EST
[#33]
Quoted:

Quoted:
Quoted:
Read this back in the late 60's.I think that the Cuban missile crisis made us focus on these possible outcomes.
"On the Beach" is another good of the end of the world read.


I definitely need to read "On the Beach" again.

hide you razor blades first.
RIP humanity
 


No doubt...probably THE most depressing book EVAR!!!1!!
Link Posted: 7/4/2012 1:21:46 PM EST
[#34]
Quoted:
Quoted:

Quoted:
Quoted:
Read this back in the late 60's.I think that the Cuban missile crisis made us focus on these possible outcomes.
"On the Beach" is another good of the end of the world read.


I definitely need to read "On the Beach" again.

hide you razor blades first.
RIP humanity
 


No doubt...probably THE most depressing book EVAR!!!1!!


It is depressing...but also very enlightening.

Link Posted: 7/4/2012 1:30:39 PM EST
[#35]
I originally red that book because it mentions my home town Palatka FL as a teenager.  I thought it was surprisingly relevant in 1980 and even more so today.
Link Posted: 7/4/2012 1:38:22 PM EST
[#36]
Quoted:
I thought this was a "FO TIME!" thread.    


Wasn't that the "Fo" code in Heinlein's "Farnum's Freehold"?

I almost BO too!
Link Posted: 7/4/2012 2:06:35 PM EST
[#37]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I thought this was a "FO TIME!" thread.    


Wasn't that the "Fo" code in Heinlein's "Farnum's Freehold"?

I almost BO too!


Well at least next time I know not to post it up without appending book to the end! I know arfcom is partial to foing, fo, and pmag popping but I vote for Alas Babylon as the go code!
Link Posted: 7/4/2012 2:08:26 PM EST
[#38]
Great book I read about once a year.
Link Posted: 7/4/2012 2:11:55 PM EST
[#39]
Quoted:
Quoted:

Quoted:
Quoted:
Read this back in the late 60's.I think that the Cuban missile crisis made us focus on these possible outcomes.
"On the Beach" is another good of the end of the world read.


I definitely need to read "On the Beach" again.

hide you razor blades first.
RIP humanity
 


No doubt...probably THE most depressing book EVAR!!!1!!


And thats an understatement.



The original movie is pretty good, too.
Never saw the remake.


Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
Close Join Our Mail List to Stay Up To Date! Win a FREE Membership!

Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!

You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.


By signing up you agree to our User Agreement. *Must have a registered ARFCOM account to win.
Top Top