The Nuclear Catastrophe (a fiction novel of survival) [Kindle Edition]

Barbara C. Griffin Billig (Author), Bett Pohnka (Author)

Book Description

Introduction

It's a beautiful sunny day in Southern California. Ben Harrington is arriving at work where he is project manager at a local nuclear power plant. He and his pregnant wife, Sara, live nearby. All is well until the unexpected happens. Suddenly the plant starts to roll and shake. What could NEVER happen.....does happen.

From there the plant workers, the people living in surrounding areas, and those in adjacent cities all have to make decisions – stay with their homes, their families, their security. Or flee – if they can. All choices have have both good and bad consequences. All choices affect the character's lives both immediately and for a long time thereafter.

This fictional story brings home the reality of what would or could happen. No one can be so arrogant as to believe it might NEVER happen. History has shown us time after time that......what can go wrong....will go wrong. What would YOU do? Your answers may be different after reading this novel.

As of January, 2011, there are 442 nuclear power plants operating or under construction in the world. The United States has 104 of these plants, France has 58, and Japan has 54

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Barbara Griffin Billig graduated from Washington University in St. Louis at age nineteen with a degree in biology and chemistry. She taught for several years in St. Louis before moving to Southern California. There she owned a variety of businesses including pet shops, restaurants, and a real estate brokerage firm. Deciding to take a sabbatical from the business world for several years she wrote, in conjunction with another teacher, Bett Pohnka, “The Nuclear Catastrophe”, published in 1977. This fiction novel portrayed what ultimately came to pass with 3 Mile Island, Chernobyl, and the Japan Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown. A new updated edition of this has been created and is currently for sale for download on a kindle reader at Amazon.com or as a printed paperback. Bett Pohnka (1935-1991) did her graduate work thesis on a comparative study of the Genetic and Somatic effects of Radiation upon the cells of man. She taught and wrote. Barbara Griffin Billig is also the author of “A Successful Business of Your Own”. She and her husband, Edward Billig currently own Clearview Investments, Inc. which has several different businesses under that corporation name including construction and real estate. They live in Southern California.

Product Details

• File Size: 590 KB
• Print Length: 308 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0615479820
• Publisher: Clearview Investments, Inc.; 3 edition (April 12, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004WDRWXY
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,663 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Actually, 4.75 stars, Highly Enjoyable. March 1, 2012

By Jacqueline Druga

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Until I am able to post my video review, I thought I'd leave a written one in the meantime.

I was excited to read this book, as I lean toward favoring watching the apocalypse in my novels, this one grabbed my attention.

The writer does a superb job of setting the tone in the introduction. In the first chapter she educates us on nuclear power plants. Her characterization was visualizing and her dialogue, especially Sara's dialogue, is realistic.
Now, for me, characters are important, to have a believable character makes the world of difference in a book. You believe that the people you are reading are real, so in fact, you feel for them, engage in their struggles and pain. The author did a good job in that. I especially applaud her in building of her female characters.

We get to see a very detailed and horrifying story that could very easily happen. The negative outcomes as things break down are plausible. The choices these characters make and how it changes their lives is gripping.

I'd like to note that while a reader may find it unbelievable that people are `ignorant' of radiation, please keep in mind that those of us who read these types of books are far more educated in things like radiation than the average Joe. Because we read these books, we take for granted that everyone knows what we do. So untrue. Ask a twenty year old about Chernobyl. Ask five. Only one will probably know. Ask them about the recent radiation in Japan. Most, I kid you not, will say, `huh?' I know this, because I am a DJ and I asked a group of 15 people under 25 those two questions.
In my opinion, the author did a good job in capturing what could be true ignorance if the situation arises. She tells an excellent story that will stay with you for days and weeks.

I enjoyed this book very much. In fact, I finished reading it in two days. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a strong read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible and dated July 15, 2012

By Robert Gay

Format:Kindle Edition

The book is dated and it shows: written before both Chernobyl and Fukushima, the book takes unusual stances on how nuclear plants operate and how such a disaster would unfold. Perhaps the blatantly most ridiculous is, "There was no plan to deal with it." Really? I find it hard to express how stupid such a thought is.
The characters suck too. Cardboard and hard to get into, the author none the less puts them in stupid situations. The "strong black female" knows her neighborhood is dangerous (according to the text) but then two paragraphs later leaves her keys in her car. In a bad neighborhood. In a disaster. While trying to save her mother's life. Totally ludicrous.
Even with it being free to rent I regretted downloading this book. Avoid it.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Nuclear catastrophe February 27, 2012

By Maru604

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is one of the poorest books I've ever read. The characters are cardboard cutouts, the author clearly has zero knowledge of nuclear power plant operations, and the plot appears to be scare as many people as possible. Ignorant emotional junk. I am sorry I wasted my time and money on it.