This is a classic 'After the Apocalypse' novel (published in 1961.) Perhaps 'post-Holocaust' is a better term, since men destroyed their world without benefit of any deity. But the few, maimed survivors battle on.
From back cover: The time shortly after the Great Nuclear Spasm: in all the world there is nothing but ruin, famine, barbarism. Worst of all, residual radiation is causing an ever increasing rate of abnormal births. The human race is doomed to slow extinction, but among the ever increasing numbers of mutants a few are not less but more than what came before. Yet even for them survival is a fading hope as the nations once more grope toward their former power, and prepare to wage another war. If the new supernormals are to become the new bearers of the human heritage they must find a way to leave the ruined earth.
From back cover: The time shortly after the Great Nuclear Spasm: in all the world there is nothing but ruin, famine, barbarism. Worst of all, residual radiation is causing an ever increasing rate of abnormal births. The human race is doomed to slow extinction, but among the ever increasing numbers of mutants a few are not less but more than what came before. Yet even for them survival is a fading hope as the nations once more grope toward their former power, and prepare to wage another war. If the new supernormals are to become the new bearers of the human heritage they must find a way to leave the ruined earth.
