Title: The Armageddon Experience: A Nuclear Weapons Test Memoir
Author: Rod Buntzen
Publisher: Xlibris
ISBN: 978-1796011593
Pages: 236
Genre: Memoir/History
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina
Pacific Book Review
The late American scientist George Wald once said, “Nuclear weapons offer us nothing but a balance of terror, and a balance of terror is still terror.” In author Rod Buntzen’s book The Armageddon Experience: A Nuclear Weapons Test Memoir, the author brings his vast knowledge and personal experience in the development of nuclear weapons to highlight the very real threat that nuclear weapons present to our modern day world.
Exploring the response to nuclear arms technology following the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the author recounts the years before, during and after his time working with the NRDL (Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory). From his time as a student at Berkeley to the years spent working on secret projects for the NRDL that included powerful nuclear tests over the course of a few months, and finally exploring how nuclear weapons would affect United States cities if attacked (using his considerable knowledge of nuclear weapons overall), this book covers a wide range of aspects of the dangerous world of nuclear weapons development.
What really stuck out about the writing was the blend of personal experiences with historical context. Whether it’s the analysis of Berkeley’s student life and how it transitioned into the Hippie scene in the 60’s, to the author’s analysis of the nuclear bombs which destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki during WWII, and ultimately the experience of seeing an underwater nuclear test in motion; more specifically the Umbrella Shot, one of only five naval based underwater nuclear tests in US History. The detail and intricacy that the author puts into every aspect of his time at the NRDL is amazing to read, from daily life and the interactions with others working there at that time, to the reaction of seeing these tests unfold and seeing first-hand the consequences these weapons have on our world.
This is definitely a book for anyone interested in the history of nuclear war, academics or students interested in studying nuclear power overall, and any reader who enjoys a personal memoir that can affect society as a whole. As someone who is constantly seeking to understand the past to try and make a better future for themselves and the world, I responded to the author’s intent in this narrative that showcases a desire to fully illustrate the power and frightening nature of nuclear energy when weaponized, and the danger it poses to us now with so many nations in conflict with one another eager to develop their own nuclear programs. It’s a scary thought to have, but understanding the past and the development of such weapons could help us prepare and either prevent or adapt to the possibility of nuclear war.
Overall this is a fascinating, terrifying but powerful must read book. A mixture of memoir style writing with technical scientific facts regarding specific nuclear weapons tests and a historical throwback to the history of nuclear weapons development, this book pulls the reader in as the history of the NRDL and several powerful and scary weapons tests slowly plays out. A must read as we face another period of history in which nuclear war and nuclear weapons threats are a very real possibility, be sure to pick up your copy of author Rod Buntzen’s book The Armageddon Experience: A Nuclear Weapons Test Memoir today.
