A young computer hacker inadvertently initiates a global thermonuclear war simulation that threatens to become a reality. David Lightman, a high school student with a penchant for bypassing security protocols, gains access to a military supercomputer named WOPR. Believing he is playing a sophisticated game, he triggers a countdown that forces the United States military and the intelligence community to scramble to prevent a catastrophic nuclear exchange. The narrative follows a linear progression, alternating between the perspective of the civilian protagonist and the military personnel tasked with interpreting the machine's increasingly erratic behavior.

Readers frequently highlight the book's ability to capture the specific anxieties of the Cold War era regarding computer-controlled weaponry. Discussion often centers on how the novel expands upon the film's technical concepts, providing more context for the WOPR system's internal logic. Critics note that the pacing remains consistent with the cinematic source material, maintaining a sense of urgency throughout the narrative. The balance between the protagonist's personal growth and the broader geopolitical stakes is a common point of analysis for those interested in 1980s science fiction.