Alas, Babylon- Setting

*Authors Note 
This is a response to a writing assignment. 
The setting of Alas, Babylon is one of the most important things about the 
novel, because without it, there would be no story.  I say this because this book was set in the era of the Cold War.  The Cold War was "fought" between the US and the Soviet Union.  What really happened throughout this war was that both countries had control over nuclear weapons and both countries were threatening to attack each other with them.  Neither ended up following through with the threat, but this book is about what would've happened if Russia really did follow through and there was a nuclear attack on the country.  If this wasn't set in the era of the Cold War, then there really wouldn't be a story.  
 
 
The place, of course, is also very important.  The main character Randy lives in Fort Repose, a town in Florida.  The reason it's so important for him to live in a small town like this is because it's not too close to any big military bases.  
The military bases are the direct targets of the Soviet Union's nuclear attack, so if he lives at or near any of the cities with military bases in them, no matter how deep he digs to hide from the radiation and the explosions, they will still kill him almost immediately.