Whilst delving into Nevil Shute's books, try his novel 'On the beach'.Very alarming, given the situation in Syria.
Or Iran.
Also try 'Trustee from the Toolroom' or 'Round the Bend'.
He didn't use his surname (Norway) for his writing because writing novels might have been viewed as an 'unprofessional' pastime for an engineer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevil_Shute
"His heroes tended to be middle class: solicitors, doctors, accountants, bank managers, engineers. Usually, like himself, they had enjoyed the privilege of university, not then within the purview of the lower classes. However (as in Trustee from the Toolroom), Shute
valued the honest artisan and his social integrity and contributions to society, more than the contributions of the upper classes."