mutual-assured-destruction
The chapter discusses the concept of mutual assured destruction through the Nemesis asteroid, which was intended as a doomsday threat but ultimately destroyed, shifting the balance of power.
1 chapter across 1 book
Red Mars (1992)Kim Stanley Robinson
This chapter depicts the tense aftermath of a Martian revolution where Arkady Bogdanov and other rebels face the destruction of the Nemesis asteroid by hydrogen bombs launched from the Moon, symbolizing the collapse of a mutual assured destruction strategy. The rebels establish a Swiss defense posture, threatening total destruction of Mars if subdued, while sabotage and attacks on Martian towns escalate, highlighting the fragility and violence of the conflict. The chapter explores the psychological and social impacts of the revolution, including Arkady's reflections on memory, freedom, and the chaotic nature of revolutionary control.