Talk:Arc Light (novel)

Loose Ends

 * What happens to China in the end? I would guess that the whole country is under fallout, but I wouldn't know that for a fact. 68.189.69.252 19:29, 5 June 2006 (UTC)


 * The nuclear attack on China was used tactically against the Army guarding China's border. The Russians never completed the invasion because of the subsequent events (China launching against Russia, Russia launching against the U.S.) Harry's next book talks about China and an invasion of it, but I don't know it it's a direct sequel to Arc Light. PeregrineV 18:07, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Techno-thriller turned alternative history?
This book was about a drastic change in human society, in the future, caused by application of scientific discoveries, and thus arguably was science fiction when it was published. Traditionally, most nuclear-war-and-aftermath novels are deemed science fiction, even though the publishing industry chooses not to market them that way.

Since the future depicted in this book did not take place, I believe the persons who tagged it as alternative history argue that it has become an alternative history, like all its kindred before it, from Hackett's The Third World War: August 1985 to Earth Abides. -- Orange Mike 18:43, 11 January 2007 (UTC)


 * In general I agree with Clute's take on techno-thriller vs. really speculative fiction, but I suppose if society-changing results of nuclear war are shown in enough detail (haven't read the book), it does cross the border of SF; feel free to add the tag/category.
 * However it takes place 5 years in the future from the time it was published; that the year has come and go doesn't make it AH any more than Clarke's 2001. --Malyctenar 18:44, 13 January 2007 (UTC)
 * It may be "alternate history" now, but at the time it was written, it was more like speculative history. That said, it should be listed as the former, as that was what it was intended to be at the time it was written and released. Illegitimate Barrister (talk) 09:35, 17 May 2013 (UTC)

Notability
I believe the article is notable enough, in that China and Russia are still currently nuclear armed world powers. The North Korea scenario may be a little outdated, as North Korea now has nuclear capabilities, but that really seems to make an invasion of the south more possible (with the use of tactical nuclear strikes, or at least the threat thereof) if not more probable.

In terms of a "nuclear war" novel, it's not as acclaimed as Warday, but that is a different type of novel. Although this does weigh in more on the technical aspects of a war, the politics and causes are included.

For now, I'm going to delete the notification and request help through the Project Novels newsletter, and will improve the article myself also.

If there is any specific information that is beleived to improve the notability of the article, please respond here. PeregrineV (talk) 19:38, 21 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Following a link from LibraryThing to "Wikipedia author page" for author Eric L. Harry, I got a strange error message stating that the page had been deleted because somebody had not "indicateed the importance or significance of a real person". This is extremely irritating, and not at all what I expect from a serious encyclopedia. Would you please repair the article? Mr. Harry is a real person, and I am looking for more information about him. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.164.124.6 (talk) 12:08, 24 March 2009 (UTC)

WTF?
"Russia's intent to recapture land lost to China in a previous conflict. The beginning of this invasion will be the use of tactical nuclear weapons to clear the way for the Chinese army advance"

If Russia is recapturing territory, why would the Chinese be advancing? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.182.254.36 (talk) 09:20, 17 January 2014 (UTC)

Update July 2017
I'm reading this novel for the fourth time, and I don't see where any portion of the current wiki warrants the "Needs Help" flag. I've read all the comments here on the talk page, and all viable, specific concerns have been addressed.

In particular, I cannot see where an article that provides the synopsis for a fiction novel needs source citations. Unless the entire novel is available online, there are (of course) no references to be had. How does one 'reference' the substance of a work of fiction, anyway? Do we need to interview Orcs and Ents to verify Tolkein's fiction?

Anyone who has further concerns with this article is invited to discuss them with me here, otherwise I will remove the no-longer-applicable flags in 48 hours. Big Lew 01:47, 15 July 2017 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Lew Sheen (talk • contribs)


 * I have removed the "multiple issues" flags citing a lack of "inline citations" and "verifications" from this article. I pinged the editor who placed the flags, explaining my intentions and motivation, and received no response. Please see my post above for my rationale for this action. Big Lew 23:27, 8 August 2017 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Lew Sheen (talk • contribs)