Nuclear War: A Scenario
| Author | Annie Jacobsen |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Published | 2024 (Dutton) |
| ISBN | 978-0593476093 |
Nuclear War: A Scenario is a 2024 non-fiction book by American journalist Annie Jacobsen. It outlines a timeline of a hypothetical first strike against the continental United States by North Korea.[1][2]
Content[edit]
The book covers standard US military protocol in the event of a nuclear first strike against the United States. It particularly highlights launch on warning as a dangerous and potentially catastrophic policy of nuclear armed nations, and concludes that any nuclear conflict has the potential to end in near-total human extinction.[3]
The book is structured to show a minute-by-minute breakdown from multiple perspectives of a scenario in which North Korea attacks Washington, DC in a surprise attack with a Hwasong-17 ICBM and Diablo Canyon Power Plant with a Pukguksong-1 SLBM, destroying both completely and causing a nuclear meltdown. In response, the United States launches dozens of LGM-30 Minuteman ICBM missiles at North Korea, which must travel over the Arctic circle and Russia to reach its targets. Misunderstanding this as an attack on Russia, the Russian military launches a counterattack on the United States and NATO-allied states. After the scenario unfolds, a nuclear winter engulfs the planet, and renders the Northern Hemisphere uninhabitable.[3]
Adaptation[edit]
In April 2024, it was announced that production studio Legendary Entertainment purchased the rights to adapt the book into a film, with Canadian director Denis Villeneuve set to direct.[4]
Publication history[edit]
- 2024 (Hardcover, eBook, audiobook): Nuclear War: A Scenario. Dutton. 26 March 2024. ISBN 978-0593476093.
Reviews[edit]
- Gewen, B. (March 24, 2024), "Let's Say Someone Did Drop the Bomb. Then What?", The New York Times, retrieved 29 April 2024
- Gilsinan, K. (April 29, 2024), "'Holy S--t, What if Deterrence Fails?'", Politico, retrieved 29 April 2024
- Poole, S. (28 March 2024), "This is how nuclear war would begin – in terrifying detail", The Telegraph, retrieved 29 April 2024
See also[edit]
- Nuclear war
- The 2020 Commission Report on the North Korean Nuclear Attacks Against the United States
- Arms control
References[edit]
- ^ Borger, Julian (2024-03-31). "'My jaw dropped': Annie Jacobsen on her scenario for nuclear war". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ Gewen, Barry (March 24, 2024). "Let's Say Someone Did Drop the Bomb. Then What?". The New York Times. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Mechanic, Michael (2024-04-01). "An interview with Annie Jacobsen, author of 'Nuclear War: A Scenario'". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
- ^ Fleming, Mike (2024-04-04). "Legendary, 'Dune' Helmer Denis Villeneuve Re-Team On 'Nuclear War: A Scenario'". Deadline.
Further reading[edit]
- Borger, J. (March 31, 2024), "'My jaw dropped': Annie Jacobsen on her scenario for nuclear war", The Guardian, retrieved 29 April 2024
- Jacobsen, Annie (April 12, 2024), "Annie Jacobsen: 'What if we had a nuclear war?'", New Scientist, retrieved 29 April 2024
- Mecklin, J. (April 1, 2024), "An interview with Annie Jacobsen, author of "Nuclear War: A Scenario"", Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, retrieved 29 April 2024