Alas, Babylon

A powerful theme of war resonates throughout the entirety of Alas, Babylon; it takes place during the Cold War, a time in which nuclear threat from the Soviet Union shook up the entire United States. This novel illustrates how brutally war can alter the lives of average citizens—not only adults, but children too, as evidenced by Peyton and Ben Franklin who lost their father as a result of the attack. Alas, Babylon reminds readers that war affects everyone, not simply those doing the fighting. At the same time, Frank illustrates the foolishness of war in general by displaying the total destruction that would result if the Cold War actually erupted.