KinoLivres
  • Blog
  • Index
    • Auteurs
    • Ratings
  • Adaptations
  • Chronology
  • Gurglings
  • Touchpoints
  • Contact
  • Rating Scale

Fail-Safe (1962) by Eugene Burdick & Harvey Wheeler

10/10/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
****

​Quintessential Cold War novel about the prospect of accidental nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. When a UFO is detected heading toward America, several bomber groups routinely plot a course for their “fail-safe” points, positions in the sky from which, if given a “go” signal, they can attack Russia. The UFO is identified as a friendly and all the groups are recalled — except one, which, due to a mechanical malfunction, receives its go signal and heads towards its target: Moscow. The action shifts between Strategic Air Command, the Pentagon, the White House, and the bombers. Authors Burdick and Wheeler eschew satire and ridicule, presenting instead a satisfying and realistic portrayal of intelligent, driven, and powerful men who in many ways are at the mercy of the machines they funded, created, and allowed themselves to become dependent on. With a great deal of interesting character-building through backstory that only underlines the cold and impersonal nature of the villain: the system itself and the computers and machines that make it possible. Gripping and suspenseful, this cautionary tale ends unflinchingly. Made into a film in 1964.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    KinoLivres

    Books. Movies. Mostly.

    Archives

    July 2017
    June 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015

    Categories

    All
    1 Star
    2 Star
    3 Star
    4 Star
    5 Star
    Action
    Book
    Comedy
    Comics
    Crime
    Detective
    Drama
    Fantasy
    History
    Horror
    Movie
    Musical
    Mystery
    Paranormal
    Romance
    Science Fiction
    Thriller
    True Crime
    Western
    Young Adult

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.