The Next Logical Step

"The Next Logical Step" by Ben Bova is a science fiction story that examines the frightening results of high-tech military tools on people's minds and decision-making. The book tells about a war simulation program and the psychological damage it causes to soldiers. A physicist and a general show a CIA agent a powerful computer that can predict war outcomes with scary accuracy. While using the machine, the agent sees terrible scenes of global warfare, including the destruction of nuclear war and the end of civilization. The story makes us think about what war really means, the craziness it can create, and the moral duties of leaders. In the end, it hints that the best thing to do might not be to build more weapons, but to make sure these terrible events never happen.