When nuclear power can destroy everything ...

It all starts very simply. A small village in France, somewhere in the south. And then suddenly, nothing. Except the smell of death. A temperature becomes very high for long moments, no one could also say exactly what does the word "time" in these conditons there. In a castle, Malevil, Emmanuel Comte and his friends in political discussion at the time of the tragedy survived. But when the radio on again, it realize the empty waves, a chilling empty. They will quickly understand: the atomic threat has become reality, crazy toppled the first domino of nuclear deterrence. Emmanuel and his friends will learn how to rebuild a society where the marks have disappeared before. Back to square the Middle Ages. Back to famine, disease and war.
This book traces with detail and emotion the microcosm that grows in a fortress. With new military and social rules such as the establishment of sentinel to watch day and night on potential robbers, the end of monogamy (since women are outnumbered by men), the richness of nature and animals Robert Merle shows us how our future and even our present are constantly threatened by the sword of Damocles and teaches us that humility and sharing are always triumphant values.