Sandra Miesel's Summary Of The Build-Up To Poul Anderson's Psychotechnic History

1956. Eisenhower dies. Nixon becomes President in June. US aids Hungarian rebels. Soviet Union backs Egypt in Suez crisis. Middle East war leads to Russian control of northern Iran. Tito assassinated. Soviet Union regains Yugoslavia. Conflict between Krushchev, Bulganin and Zhukov.

1958. Soviet Union threatens Berlin blockade. China seizes Nationalist-held islands. Pre-emptive strike against the West on Christmas Eve. Capitals and military bases destroyed but other territory spared for conquest. US counter-strike more damaging. USSR crosses the Rhine but cannot supply armies. Mutinies within USSR. War of attrition liberates Europe. Conflict continues in Asia. Social conflicts break out in the US and Europe. Worldwide economic collapse.

1964. New possibilities.