Some years ago I became rather irrationally obsessive about the possibility of
nuclear war. I had my fallout room picked out, my alternate bathroom, my canned
goods and water, I'd worked out how much damage my town would suffer depending
on megatonnage, etc. etc....I don't know how I fell into that morbid state --
oh, yes I do...I read Pat Frank's Alas Babylon...

Well, anyway, supposing some Strangeloveish scenario were to trigger a
full-scale nuclear war; I often hear it said that not only is it possible, but
it's more likely today than it was during the Cold War. (Actually, I think a
nuclear war is inevitable; as long as the weapons exist, someday someone will
use them, but I think a global nuclear holocaust a la The Day After is
unlikely.) But supposing some computer glitch or sudden international crisis or
crazed general were to trigger a nuclear war which devastates a large percentage
of the East and West -- I've heard nuclear winter is out, we'd more have a
"nuclear autumn," but I think that's a small consolation in light of the mass
destruction, wildfires, lethal radioactive fallout, and the end of our
prosperity and way of life... Given the cold, the plagues, the radiation, the
complete loss of the technological infrastructure we've come to rely on for
everything, the loss of medical care, waste disposal...well, you know the
drill...would anyone survive in the long term? Would the human race face
extinction?

I personally don't think so, though all the humans might die in the affected
lands. I think the southern hemisphere and the Third World would rise to
power...but I wonder who, how long it would take, and whether a modicum of
modernity would be restored to the world...the Internet, satellites, cars.

Collin