In his 1985 work, Anthony Burgess reflects on the looming threat of a new world war, likening it to a well-developed fetus, suggesting that its emergence is inevitable. The unpredictability of its triggers and the potential destructiveness raises concerns. He notes that society has already explored the concept of war through various forms of media, indicating an underlying desire for conflict lurking within human nature.

Burgess critiques the narrative that portrayals of war in literature and film serve as warnings against its horrors, arguing instead that these representations fulfill a deeper yearning for chaos. He posits that war is a recurring theme in culture, highlighting its role as a legitimate means of expressing societal patterns and transmitting cultural values, suggesting that humanity has a troubling fascination with the concept of war.