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Original poster

Book about the build up to nuclear war, read in the 90s

36 replies

Latenightreader · 01/11/2022 22:36

I have been trying to find a book I read in the mid 1990s. It was about the build up to a nuclear war and finished with the characters looking up at the sky and seeing the streak of the bombs (or possibly just knowing the bombs were coming - I might have imagined the rest). I think there were two teenage characters in a star-crossed lovers type relationship - possibly one was of Chinese origin. It was set in a real city in England. The final scene was at a 'Stop the Countdown' rally which ended when someone announced that the war had started, people started running away, and I'm pretty sure that it ended with the two characters holding each other as they looked at the sky. The downbeat ending really seared itself on my mind.

I have been through the wikipedia list of nuclear war related fiction, but with no luck. It is possible it was a short story, but it was definitely in a book in the upper school library, so probably aimed at 14-18 year olds. It would be wonderful if someone recognised it!

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Original poster
Latenightreader · 30/10/2025 20:34

The book arrived today and it is definitely the one I remember. Thank you @Drew1234, it has been bugging me for many years.

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Original poster
Latenightreader · 26/10/2025 08:24

Drew1234 · 26/10/2025 00:30

Endgame by Chris Wooding

Goodness, that could be it! I thought I read it earlier than that, but it may well have been then. I have ordered a copy to check, thank you.

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Drew1234 · 26/10/2025 00:30

Endgame by Chris Wooding

Original poster
Latenightreader · 21/12/2024 18:47

The problem with chatgpt is that quite often the descriptions for its solutions sound great but when you look at the actual books they are are completely different. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Only-End-World-KelpiesEdge/dp/1782505172

Sometimes it just invents books!

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pinacollama · 20/12/2024 07:13

Okay so my husband suggested I turn to ChatGPT… this is what it said:

Your description of the setting in Manchester and the apocalyptic ending with the falling "star" being a nuclear missile, the book you're referring to sounds like "The End of the World as We Know It" by Jason Henderson.
This book was first published in the early 2000s and involves a teenage protagonist in a relationship, set over a short period of time, with the ominous backdrop of a nuclear threat. The scene you're recalling, where the protagonist watches a "star" that turns out to be a missile, fits well with the apocalyptic tone of the story.

Original poster
Latenightreader · 20/12/2024 02:15

pinacollama · 19/12/2024 23:02

I’ve been trying to find this book too @Latenightreader ! It haunted me when I read it as a young teenager and I’ve never gotten it out of my mind.

No, no luck. I asked on Reddit the other day, but no answers at all there. It is such a relief that other people remember it as I sometimes think I imagined it…

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pinacollama · 19/12/2024 23:03

I’ve always thought it was called War Games or something similar but when I search that title I can’t find it, so I must be wrong.

pinacollama · 19/12/2024 23:02

I’ve been trying to find this book too @Latenightreader ! It haunted me when I read it as a young teenager and I’ve never gotten it out of my mind.

Original poster
Latenightreader · 14/04/2024 23:32

Bethkin · 14/04/2024 07:38

I know it's been a while, but any luck? I've been looking for a book that I read in school in the 90's also. The family made it into their backyard fallout shelter. I believe they leave the shelter and see the aftermath.... But my memory is bad. I wanted to reread it. But it could be the opposite. They go through a lot before they get to the shelter.

Sadly not - I'm still searching though...

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Bethkin · 14/04/2024 07:38

I know it's been a while, but any luck? I've been looking for a book that I read in school in the 90's also. The family made it into their backyard fallout shelter. I believe they leave the shelter and see the aftermath.... But my memory is bad. I wanted to reread it. But it could be the opposite. They go through a lot before they get to the shelter.

Original poster
Latenightreader · 12/10/2023 00:13

listsandbudgets · 11/10/2023 21:01

I want to know now.. I am marking my place.

Have you read On the Beach by Neville Shute? If not, it sounds like it may be one to add to your reading list

Still traumatised by On the Beach. When my DD was tiny I used to lie awake at night thinking of the man teaching his wife how to kill their baby…

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Charlattanus23 · 11/10/2023 22:20

You could also ask on the forum on the abebooks website, I've had some success there when I've been trying to track down an obscure item.

herbygarden · 11/10/2023 21:50

Z is for Zachariah was about nuclear war but I'm not sure it's as you describe?

VanillaImpulse · 11/10/2023 21:49

If it was a book you read in the 90s then you could try asking on the Instagram account @kneedeepinthe90s as she often posts questions that her followers answer. Probably more people will see it there than here.

listsandbudgets · 11/10/2023 21:01

I want to know now.. I am marking my place.

Have you read On the Beach by Neville Shute? If not, it sounds like it may be one to add to your reading list

Original poster
Latenightreader · 11/10/2023 20:54

ShermansSherberts · 07/10/2023 01:26

The Fire Eater by David Almond? Build up to the Cuban missile crisis and threat of nuclear annihilation?

Sadly not - it was published in 2013 and I read the book in the 90s. The book I recall ended with a nuclear war actually starting and it was really grim. Thank you though, I will look up The Fire Eater in the library, I have enjoyed other David Almond books.

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ShermansSherberts · 07/10/2023 01:26

The Fire Eater by David Almond? Build up to the Cuban missile crisis and threat of nuclear annihilation?

Original poster
Latenightreader · 31/12/2022 23:49

doughnuts12 · 31/12/2022 02:21

Know this thread has been quiet for a bit but I think I’ve been looking for the same book - details all sound the same but I swear it was set in Sheffield. Also remember it from my school library too.

Yes, I think it could have been set in Sheffield. Glad I’m not the only one who remembers it!

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Pieceofpurplesky · 31/12/2022 03:02

How I Live Now? I think that was later though

doughnuts12 · 31/12/2022 02:21

Know this thread has been quiet for a bit but I think I’ve been looking for the same book - details all sound the same but I swear it was set in Sheffield. Also remember it from my school library too.

Original poster
Latenightreader · 11/12/2022 00:02

It also isn’t The Burning Book by Maggie Gee, although that also covers the build up to nuclear war.

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Original poster
Latenightreader · 15/11/2022 11:58

RandomMess · 04/11/2022 23:24

There was one when the children ended up in Osmotherley North Yorkshire post nuclear incident/war cannot remember anything else about it and Google is feeling me.

That was Brother in the Land - I looked at the wikipedia page for Osmotherley and found it on there. It seems to have had an impact on a lot of people!

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Original poster
Latenightreader · 15/11/2022 10:41

JelliedWheels · 11/11/2022 18:47

Was it Tomorrow When The War Began?

Sadly not (I've read that series too). Thanks though.

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JelliedWheels · 11/11/2022 18:47

Was it Tomorrow When The War Began?

Original poster
Latenightreader · 05/11/2022 06:48

RandomMess · 04/11/2022 23:24

There was one when the children ended up in Osmotherley North Yorkshire post nuclear incident/war cannot remember anything else about it and Google is feeling me.

Pretty sure that’s Brother in the Land and this was definitely not that book - I remember Brother in the Land well shudders.

Not When the Wind Blows either, but thank you for all the suggestions!

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