After the Holocaust: The Nuclear Devastation of America: Recovery and Reunification Main Designers: Redmond A. Simonsen/ Irad B. Hardy, 1977

The year given for this game on the cover-box is 2002 (said to be twenty years after the massive strategic nuclear war, i.e. 1982 - which would have placed it during Reagan's presidency). Ironically, in the rather curious back-round notes, the trigger for the nuclear war is said to be the attempted deployment by the U.S. of a "foolproof' missile defense system against nuclear strikes, which prompts a Soviet first strike.

In fact, real world events proved to have been almost the opposite. Many analysts now concede that Reagan's announcement of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) (which was quickly derisively termed "Star Wars" by a hostile media), was one of the many kinds of pressure put on the Soviet Union in the 1980s, which led to its collapse at the end of the decade. The idea that the U.S. could in any sense proceed on such a major project without it becoming public knowledge; as well as the idea that the imminent prospect of such a "space shield" would invariably trigger a Soviet first-strike, could both be said to belong to a reflexively liberal mindset.

Considering that this game appeared in 1977, it can be seen that the idea of a space-based missile defense system - as well as of the approach which many liberals would invariably take towards it was "in the air" already in the Carter era.

It is a mistake to think that the U.S. could dissolve as a nation only in the aftermath of a nuclear war. In fact, in the U.S. of today, all manner of possible lines of fracture and shatter are to be seen -- some very easily, some less so.

For example, the factions from which the regional govemments of After the Holocaust are derived are readily perceivable today:

North-East Bell Telephone Company - Although the AT&T monopoly has been broken up, regional telephone companies still command vast resources. There is an enormous struggle taking place in the possible convergence of telecommunications, electronics' computers, and cable. For example, there is the possible break-up of Microsoft (which simply got TOO big), as well as various megamergers, notably that of AOL and Time Warner, which combine new-media technology with old-media content.

South-West combination of National Guard, state police and veteran's associations - The military continues to play a huge role in American life. There are also the Patriot Militias, which thrive on a paramilitary mindset.

Far West Bank of America - The big, banks continue to be huge players on the American and international scene.

Mid-West Church of the Chosen Few The power of televangelism, the Christian Coalition, etc., easily leads into this kind of model. Amon-- the ,groups originating this Church are said to be (in the game notes) Missouri Synod Lutherans. This branch of Lutheranism is indeed one of the most conservative in America.

These factions could be seen as existing in some form today, and throughout the 21st century. While strategic nuclear warfare now appears to be extremely unlikely, America might possibly be prone to some kind of regional fracture, in which megacorps rations, the military as a political interest group, the Patriot Militias, and Protestant fundamentalist factions, might appear as some of the possible contenders, albeit with greatly varying potential for success, and greatly varying approaches to obtaining influence and power.

Mark Wegierski is a Canadian freelance writer. His interest in gaming began in the early 1970s. Returning to the hobby after several years, he has recentlly published in Fractal Spectrum, Vindicator: Science Fiction and Fantasy Boardgames, and Simulacrum.

The Future-History of SPI An Attempt at Integration

Introduction
List of Relevant Games
The Time Line
Issues About the Star Force Background