Tomorrows War: The Threat of High-Technology Weapons [Hardcover]

David Shukman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996

The arms race has not stopped--it has only become more complex, unpredictable, and theatening to world stability. In this fascinating tour of top-secret weapons research, journalist David Shukman provides invaluable insight not only into the armaments being developed for future wars, but into the interplay between new weapons systems and the geopolitical order which they will help create.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The next time Tom Clancy writes a techno-thriller, he will want to have this book by his side. David Shukman, a defense correspondent for the BBC, shows how the military may take full advantage of the information age over the next 30 years. Electronics, computers, miniaturization, automation, and genetic engineering will all play a role in future conflict, he writes. Tomorrow's War covers the somewhat mundane (improved missile targeting) as well as the seemingly improbable (ant-sized robots). And throughout this well-written book is an implicit argument for why we will still need advanced weapons in the 21st century.

From Publishers Weekly

Shukman, BBC-TV's chief European correspondent, argues that the world is standing on the edge of a breakthrough in warfare unprecedented since the introduction of gunpowder. An information revolution based on computer and communication technologies is being complemented by militarily applicable developments in chemistry and biology, laser technology and nonlethal weaponry. Shukman takes his readers through the laboratories, onto the testing grounds and into the field in Britain, Russia and the U.S. to show the potential of the new tools of war and the risks of ignoring them. He warns especially against balancing military budgets by reducing research and development funds, even if the projects seem arcane. Neither a scientist nor a soldier, Shukman tends to accept claims made for technical innovations at face value. A certain critical distance would have significantly improved the book. Nevertheless, this is a useful popular introduction to one plausible path warfare may take.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0151001987
• ISBN-13: 978-0151001989
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,104,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If they really become operative in War?, January 6, 2003

By 

Datar (India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tomorrows War: The Threat of High-Technology Weapons (Hardcover)

1. This is a fascinating book on tools and accessories of war. A book written with detailed research on issues related to future of weapon technologies namely Nuclear, Space, Rocketry, Robotics, Biological, Chemical and other related fields.

2. Two important characteristics of the book stand out. They are as follows:-

(a) While this book is a detailed one, it does not make readers confused in jargons. One easily understands the author's point of view.

(b) Despite the book being related to future but not so distant weapons and their technology, it holds the readers attention till the end.

3. The author has been highly successful in highlighting the positive and the pitfalls, the obvious and the dichotomy and the dilemma of haves and have not of modern weapons, the conventional and the unconventional. It is really scary to read about some areas of research and realise that if this is given in to hands of armies and the radicals alike, it could well be the final weapon in those hands. They would not require any thing more to realise their objective.

4. Only hope from such a scenario is also well covered in the book that somebody somewhere would be working in an area of research, which would counter such weapons.

5. All those who have any stake in weaponry or the mankind or both should read this book. Even for the others, its worth reading for knowledge sake.