Directive 51 (book)
Encyclopedia
Directive 51 is the title of a science fiction
novel by John Barnes
. It is the first of three books comprising the Daybreak series.
, the Presidential Directive which claims power to execute procedures for continuity of the federal government in the event of a "catastrophic emergency".
In the near future, a variety of groups with diverse aims, but an overlapping desire to end modern technological society (the "Big System") create a nanotech plague ("Daybreak") which both destroys rubber and plastics and eats away any metal conductors carrying electricity. An open question in the book is whether these groups, and their shared motivate, are coordinated by some conscious actor, or whether they are an emergent property / meme
that attained a critical mass.
The Daybreak plague strikes, and world governments are helpless to deal with it.
Industrial civilization rapidly breaks down, and tens of millions die in the US alone (the global death toll measures in the billions).
There is a presidential succession crisis.
Just as society in the US seems to start stabilizing, preemplaced pure fusion weapon
s detonate, destroying Washington DC and Chicago.
This is followed by additional pure fusion weapon strikes, which are determined to be weapons that are being created on the moon by nanotech replicators.
A shadowy neofeudalist
group (the "Castle movement") led by a reactionary billionaire may be inadvertent saviors of society ... or may have some deeper involvement in things.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novel by John Barnes
John Barnes (author)
-Writing:Two of his novels, The Sky So Big and Black and The Duke of Uranium have been reviewed as having content appropriate for a young adult readership, comparing favorably to Robert A. Heinlein's "juvenile" novels...
. It is the first of three books comprising the Daybreak series.
Plot
The title is a reference to Directive 51National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive
The National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive , created and signed by United States President George W...
, the Presidential Directive which claims power to execute procedures for continuity of the federal government in the event of a "catastrophic emergency".
In the near future, a variety of groups with diverse aims, but an overlapping desire to end modern technological society (the "Big System") create a nanotech plague ("Daybreak") which both destroys rubber and plastics and eats away any metal conductors carrying electricity. An open question in the book is whether these groups, and their shared motivate, are coordinated by some conscious actor, or whether they are an emergent property / meme
Meme
A meme is "an idea, behaviour or style that spreads from person to person within a culture."A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols or practices, which can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals or other imitable phenomena...
that attained a critical mass.
The Daybreak plague strikes, and world governments are helpless to deal with it.
Industrial civilization rapidly breaks down, and tens of millions die in the US alone (the global death toll measures in the billions).
There is a presidential succession crisis.
Just as society in the US seems to start stabilizing, preemplaced pure fusion weapon
Pure fusion weapon
A pure fusion weapon is a hypothetical hydrogen bomb design that does not need a fission "primary" explosive to ignite the fusion of deuterium and tritium, two heavy isotopes of hydrogen . Such a weapon would require no fissile material and would therefore be much easier to build in secret than...
s detonate, destroying Washington DC and Chicago.
This is followed by additional pure fusion weapon strikes, which are determined to be weapons that are being created on the moon by nanotech replicators.
A shadowy neofeudalist
Neofeudalism
Neofeudalism refers to a theorized contemporary rebirth of policies of governance, economy and public life reminiscent of those present in many feudal societies....
group (the "Castle movement") led by a reactionary billionaire may be inadvertent saviors of society ... or may have some deeper involvement in things.