H G Wells - Things to Come (1936)

The effects of war are shown on an everytown and its residents, it not so coincidentally named Everytown. The story focuses largely on three different time periods. The first is Christmas Day 1940. While there had been chatter about the possibility of war, most people are enjoying the Christmas reverie. One exception is John Cabal, who is worried about what war may mean, he right to be concerned as bombs start dropping on Everytown that evening in the declaration of war. The second is thirty years into the war in 1970. Plague and pestilence had been a direct effect of the war, it killing approximately half the world's population. It is now largely eradicated in the extermination of the wandering infected. Many traditional skills have been lost in they not being needed during wartime. Most people in Everytown have no memory of what caused the war, including Everytown's autocratic leader, who, like most world leaders, veers toward barbarism in achieving his own desired goals. Long away, John makes an auspicious return to Everytown, he now representing an organization called Wings Over the World, who advocate for a different way of doing things to rebuild civilization in an environment of peace. In his mission in Everytown on behalf of the organization, John has the biggest obstacle in overcoming the objections of the autocratic leader. The third is the year 2036. The effect of progress in the aftermath of war is presented.