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post-war-survival
The narrative contrasts the devastation of societal collapse with the potential horrors of nuclear war, considering which scenario might be less catastrophic for humanity's future.
1 chapter across 1 book
Way Station (1963)Clifford D. Simak
Chapter 24
In this chapter, Enoch contemplates the catastrophic consequences of a sudden loss of knowledge and infrastructure, envisioning a collapse of civilization without war but through societal and technological decay. He wrestles with the moral dilemma of deciding whether to intervene in humanity's fate, questioning the right of one individual to make such a monumental choice. The chapter ends with Enoch feeling isolated and powerless, caught between loyalty to Earth and the wider galaxy.