Lethal Mists: An Introduction to the Natural and Military Sciences of Chemical, Biological Warfare and Terrorism [Hardcover]

Eric R. Taylor (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1560724595 | ISBN-13: 978-1560724599 | Publication Date: February 2000

Lethal Mists is a nontechnical narrative of chemical, biological warfare and terrorism (CBWT) for the general, non-scientist, non-military background reader. It examines the scientific and military basis and considerations behind the use of chemical and biological agents to injure and kill people. It explains in the simplest terms possible the various agent types, their use, effects on people, how they injure or kill, and the means of detection, treatment, antidotes and decontamination. Where technical terms are introduced, they are clearly and simply defined. The tactical considerations for the use of CBWT agents also are explained as they apply to terrorist use against civilian populations. Lethal Mists also views the nature of the threat to civilians, self-defense and warning techniques, and measures one may take to protect family and self if living near a chemical plant. This book is designed to explain to the nontechnical reader just what CBWT is, threats and how you may be alerted to such an act in progress. It is not a cookbook for the production of these highly lethal and indiscriminate agents. It is for education and where possible, self-defense and awareness. After all, the greatest weapons used by the terrorist are ignorance and fear.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Eric R Taylor

Product Details

• Hardcover: 405 pages
• Publisher: Nova Science Pub Inc (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560724595
• ISBN-13: 978-1560724599
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,147,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very important contribution, December 7, 2000

By 

Eric Croddy "Ace" (Monterey, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lethal Mists: An Introduction to the Natural and Military Sciences of Chemical, Biological Warfare and Terrorism (Hardcover)

Dr. Taylor's Lethal Mists is a very important book, and should be regarded as one of the main texts for modern study of chemical and biological warfare (CBW). The author explains in precise detail the mechanisms of chemical warfare (CW) agent injury, and he does so by making these rather complex issues very comprehensible. Dr. Taylor's perspective is a very insightful, educated, and objective one, not given to handwringing or other distractions. In addition to the excellent scientific background, Lethal Mists provides some very thought provoking issues concerning the future of CBW and American defense policy. We should all read this book before finding out the hard way.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Has value according to nervegas.com, July 16, 2002

By 

Reid Kirby (St. Charles, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lethal Mists: An Introduction to the Natural and Military Sciences of Chemical, Biological Warfare and Terrorism (Paperback)

Eric Taylor recognized that most written materials on CBW were too technical for the average reader, and he intented to resolve this by demonstrating the natural sciences that CBW is based on.

I unfortunately read too much into the title, and thus was greatly disappointed. Expecting to read a well illustrated book that discussed the natural sciences behind CBW - I read a book that was more-or-less a sectioned biochemistry textbook followed by a sectioned description of CBW agents. Whereas the author could have shown the basis for selecting CW agents based on volatility, vapor density, etc., as was commonly discussed after WWI; or detailed the mechanisms for atmospheric difussion - he dwelt on chemical bonds, basic biology, and the typical over-emphasis on CBW agents that is common to many CBW writers.

Eric Taylor makes a good attempt at writing what he perceived was needed. It is full of many good examples, and presents interesting historical facts. I hold him in high regards in this respect.

The author is a biochemist, and thus his emphasis is on biology and chemistry as it relates to CBW. This aspect will undoubtedly loose many readers, appearing to be a 101 microbiology or chemistry textbook with unrelated CBW Agent afterwards. The books structure is topical, focusing on each topic while loosing focus on the over-all purpose (i.e., post hole method).

I did enjoy the authors historical treatment of many topics.