more so than any previous bond novel, "the man from barbarossa" acknowledges then-current world events. the story begins in january 1991 just prior to the end of the persian gulf war, and later includes a description of the early stage of the war against iraq. gardner also predicted that hardliners within the soviet union might attempt a coup against the government, which did occur later in 1991 but under different circumstances. the book also strongly suggests that the cold war was soon to end, which did occur that year in december.