About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherUniversity of Massachusetts Dartmouth

ISBN-101558496513

ISBN-139781558496514

eBay Product ID (ePID)64203893

Product Key Features

Number of Pages320 Pages

Publication NameWar Stars : the Superweapon and the American Imagination

LanguageEnglish

Publication Year2008

SubjectMilitary / Nuclear Warfare, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Public Policy / Military Policy, United States / 20th Century, Science Fiction / Collections & Anthologies, Military / Weapons, Sociology / General, Subjects & Themes / Historical events, Military / United States, Film / Genres / Action & Adventure, General, Military / Aviation

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaLiterary Criticism, Political Science, Performing Arts, Social Science, Fiction, History

AuthorH. Bruce Franklin

FormatTrade Paperback

Dimensions

Item Height1 in

Item Weight18.1 Oz

Item Length9 in

Item Width6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceScholarly & Professional

LCCN2008-000064

Reviews"A searing and penetrating history of the American obsession with finding a technology that will end wars forever--and our conviction that, unlike other nations, we can be trusted not to misuse weapons of mass annihilation. Its analysis of American fiction and films provides a new dimension to the subject."--Carl Sagan "War Stars, a penetrating and often disturbing study of why we create superweapons in the pursuit of 'security and peace,' places our culture on the analyst's couch."--New York Times "In War Stars, H. Bruce Franklin writes American history from a new angle. It astonished me--but it was totally convincing throughout."--Isaac Asimov "In this carefully researched and revealing inquiry into American cultural history, Bruce Franklin brings to light themes of great significance. One is the fear that we are about to be destroyed, and at the last minute are saved, miraculously, by a superweapon or superhero. More ominously, in his words, 'the American imperial eagle' commonly turns out to be 'a bird that habitually views its own behavior as "defense" against its prey.' Unless this pathology is understood and overcome, it will continue to cause great harm, which we will not escape."--Noam Chomsky "War Stars is so crammed with fascinating facts and ideas that it should interest people of all political persuasions. It should be required reading."--Bulletin of Atomic Scientists "A marvelous study that weaves together some of the most important developments in US military history, a survey of popular literature, and an overview of American culture. . . . The story of America's conversion to belief in the efficacy of air power . . . is told better here than anywhere else. No source provides so profound a historical perspective."--Choice "War Stars is a solid work, exploring the cultural history of the search for security by emphasizing 'peace through strength.' It is an important study, worthy of anyone's consideration."--Quest, "A searing and penetrating history of the American obsession with finding a technology that will end wars forever--and our conviction that, unlike other nations, we can be trusted not to misuse weapons of mass annihilation. Its analysis of American fiction and films provides a new dimension to the subject."--Carl Sagan"War Stars, a penetrating and often disturbing study of why we create superweapons in the pursuit of 'security and peace,' places our culture on the analyst's couch."--New York Times"In War Stars, H. Bruce Franklin writes American history from a new angle. It astonished me--but it was totally convincing throughout."--Isaac Asimov"In this carefully researched and revealing inquiry into American cultural history, Bruce Franklin brings to light themes of great significance. One is the fear that we are about to be destroyed, and at the last minute are saved, miraculously, by a superweapon or superhero. More ominously, in his words, 'the American imperial eagle' commonly turns out to be 'a bird that habitually views its own behavior as "defense" against its prey.' Unless this pathology is understood and overcome, it will continue to cause great harm, which we will not escape."--Noam Chomsky"War Stars is so crammed with fascinating facts and ideas that it should interest people of all political persuasions. It should be required reading."--Bulletin of Atomic Scientists"A marvelous study that weaves together some of the most important developments in US military history, a survey of popular literature, and an overview of American culture. . . . The story of America's conversion to belief in the efficacy of air power . . . is told better here than anywhere else. No source provides so profound a historical perspective."--Choice"War Stars is a solid work, exploring the cultural history of the search for security by emphasizing 'peace through strength.' It is an important study, worthy of anyone's consideration."--Quest, "A searing and penetrating history of the American obsession with finding a technology that will end wars forever--and our conviction that, unlike other nations, we can be trusted not to misuse weapons of mass annihilation. Its analysis of American fiction and films provides a new dimension to the subject."--Carl Sagan " War Stars , a penetrating and often disturbing study of why we create superweapons in the pursuit of 'security and peace,' places our culture on the analyst's couch."-- New York Times "In War Stars , H. Bruce Franklin writes American history from a new angle. It astonished me--but it was totally convincing throughout."--Isaac Asimov "In this carefully researched and revealing inquiry into American cultural history, Bruce Franklin brings to light themes of great significance. One is the fear that we are about to be destroyed, and at the last minute are saved, miraculously, by a superweapon or superhero. More ominously, in his words, 'the American imperial eagle' commonly turns out to be 'a bird that habitually views its own behavior as "defense" against its prey.' Unless this pathology is understood and overcome, it will continue to cause great harm, which we will not escape."--Noam Chomsky " War Stars is so crammed with fascinating facts and ideas that it should interest people of all political persuasions. It should be required reading."-- Bulletin of Atomic Scientists "A marvelous study that weaves together some of the most important developments in US military history, a survey of popular literature, and an overview of American culture. . . . The story of America's conversion to belief in the efficacy of air power . . . is told better here than anywhere else. No source provides so profound a historical perspective."-- Choice " War Stars is a solid work, exploring the cultural history of the search for security by emphasizing 'peace through strength.' It is an important study, worthy of anyone's consideration."-- Quest, "In War Stars, H. Bruce Franklin writes American history from a new angle. It astonished me--but it was totally convincing throughout." -- Isaac Asimov, War Stars is so crammed with fascinating facts and ideas that it should interest people of all political persuasions. It should be required reading., "A searing and penetrating history of the American obsession with finding a technology that will end wars forever--and our conviction that, unlike other nations, we can be trusted not to misuse weapons of mass annihilation. Its analysis of American fiction and films provides a new dimension to the subject." -- Carl Sagan, War Stars, a penetrating and often disturbing study of why we create super-weapons in the pursuit of 'security and peace, ' places our culture on the analyst's couch., "In this carefully researched and revealing inquiry into American cultural history, Bruce Franklin brings to light themes of great significance. One is the fear that we are about to be destroyed, and at the last minute are saved, miraculously, by a superweapon or superhero. More ominously, in his words, 'the American imperial eagle' commonly turns out to be 'a bird that habitually views its own behavior as "defense" against its prey.' Unless this pathology is understood and overcome, it will continue to cause great harm, which we will not escape." -- Noam Chomsky, War Stars is a solid work, exploring the cultural history of the search for security by emphasizing 'peace through strength.' It is an important study, worthy of anyone's consideration., A marvelous study that weaves together some of the most important developments in US military history, a survey of popular literature, and an overview of American culture. . . . The story of America's conversion to belief in the efficacy of air power . . . is told better here than anywhere else. No source provides so profound a historical perspective.

Dewey Edition19

Grade FromCollege Graduate Student

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal355.8/2/0973

Edition DescriptionRevised edition,Expanded

SynopsisSweeping through two centuries of American culture and military history, this work traces the evolution of superweapons from Robert Fulton's eighteenth-century submarine through the strategic bomber, atomic bomb, and ""Star Wars"" to a twenty-first century dominated by ""weapons of mass destruction,"" real and imagined., In this new and expanded edition of an already classic work, H. Bruce Franklin brings the epic story of the superweapon and the American imagination into the ominous twenty-first century, demonstrating its continuing importance both to comprehending our current predicament and to finding ways to escape from it. Sweeping through two centuries of American culture and military history, Franklin traces the evolution of superweapons from Robert Fulton's eighteenth-century submarine through the strategic bomber, atomic bomb, and Star Wars to a twenty-first century dominated by "weapons of mass destruction," real and imagined. Interweaving culture, science, technology, and history, he shows how and why the American pursuit of the ultimate defensive weapon -- guaranteed to end all war and bring universal triumph to American ideals -- has led our nation and the world into an epoch of terror and endless war., In this new and expanded edition of an already classic work, H. Bruce Franklin brings the epic story of the superweapon and the American imagination into the ominous twenty-first century, demonstrating its continuing importance both to comprehending our current predicament and to finding ways to escape from it. Sweeping through two centuries of American culture and military history, Franklin traces the evolution of superweapons from Robert Fulton's eighteenth-century submarine through the strategic bomber, atomic bomb, and Star Wars to a twenty-first century dominated by "weapons of mass destruction," real and imagined. Interweaving culture, science, technology, and history, he shows how and why the American pursuit of the ultimate defensive weapon--guaranteed to end all war and bring universal triumph to American ideals--has led our nation and the world into an epoch of terror and endless war., In this new and expanded edition of an already classic work, H. Bruce Franklin brings the epic story of the superweapon and the American imagination into the ominous twenty-first century, demonstrating its continuing importance both to comprehending our current predicament and to finding ways to escape from it. Sweeping through two centuries of American culture and military history, Franklin traces the evolution of super-weapons from Robert Fulton's eighteenth-century submarine through the strategic bomber, atomic bomb, and Star Wars to a twenty-first century dominated by "weapons of mass destruction," real and imagined. Interweaving culture, science, technology, and history, he shows how and why the American pursuit of the ultimate defensive weapon--guaranteed to end all war and bring universal triumph to American ideals--has led our nation and the world into an epoch of terror and endless war., In this new and expanded edition of an already classic work, H. Bruce Franklin brings the epic story of the superweapon and the American imagination into the ominous twenty-first century, demonstrating its continuing importance both to comprehending our current predicament and to finding ways to escape from it. Sweeping through two centuries of American culture and military history, Franklin traces the evolution of superweapons from Robert Fulton's eighteenth-century submarine through the strategic bomber, atomic bomb, and Star Wars to a twenty-first century dominated by "weapons of mass destruction," real and imagined. Interweaving culture, science, technology, and history, he shows how and why the American pursuit of the ultimate defensive weapon?guaranteed to end all war and bring universal triumph to American ideals?has led our nation and the world into an epoch of terror and endless war.

LC Classification NumberUA23.F788 2008