"Fail-Safe" is a novel written by Eugene Burdick and Harold C. McGrath, published in 1962. The story revolves around a malfunction in a nuclear defense system that mistakenly sends American bombers to attack the Soviet Union. As tensions escalate, the U.S. government scrambles to prevent a catastrophic war. The narrative explores themes of technology, human error, and the moral dilemmas of nuclear warfare. It raises questions about the reliability of automated systems and the potential consequences of miscommunication during a crisis, reflecting the anxieties of the Cold War era.