The Fantastic Inventions of Nikola Tesla (The Lost Science Series) (Paperback)

by Nikola Tesla (Author), David Hatcher Childress (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book is a readable and affordable collection of Tesla's patents, inventions and thoughts on free energy, anti-gravity, and other futuristic inventions. Covered in depth, often in Tesla's own words, are such topics as wireless transmission of power, death rays, and radio-controlled airships.

Product Details

• Paperback: 351 pages
• Publisher: Adventures Unlimited Press (August 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0932813194
• ISBN-13: 978-0932813190
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #186,759 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #39 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Patents & Inventions

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A fairly good collection of Tesla Material, October 19, 2000

By	"deinonychus" (Denver) - See all my reviews

I recommend this book for people who want to get an overview of the man and get straight to the more technical stuff. Just ignore chapter 9.

The book contains a short biographical sketch (1 chapter), many pictures of the patents, two of Tesla's own presentations/papers, and more supporting information. For most of the patents, only the diagrams are reproduced not the legends. This will not be a problem to most anyone with any knowledge of electricity. They can figure out what the various parts are.

The works of Tesla reproduced in the book are a delight to read.

Unfortunately, I guess to make the book more "fantastic", in the last chapter (chapter 9) the author departs from being good information and becomes speculation. It reproduces tired UFO photos from the 50' and 60's trying to connect them to Tesla.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good patent info, Some far-fetched themes are covered., January 5, 1999

By A Customer

This book provides much information of Telsa's patents. AC motor and other apparatus are covered, the bulk of the book pertains to Tesla's "Experiments with Alternate Currents of High Frequency and High Potential" Wireless power and "Death Ray" are critiqued. The other stuff in the book (Atlantis, Mars, saucers, etc.) seems to be almost purely speculative and should be taken with a generous grain of salt. In the end there is a copy of the supreme court documents associated with the demolition of Wardencyffe Tower.

Adam Parker

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good book for Tesla fans, July 11, 2002

By	Steve (Santa Ana, California United States) - See all my reviews

I found this book to be quite informative and satisfying. The only thing I hate about it, was Ch. 9. It was total nonsense, however, let it not ruin the whole book. It may not go into great detail about all of Tesla's inventions (which was a dissapointment), but for those whom are interested in Tesla coils, mainly how Tesla finally came to such a beautiful invention, I highly recommend this book. The book mainly is about Tesla's experiments with alternate currents of high potential and frequency, which is how the Tesla coil was born.(However, this book does not mention the Tesla coil or teaches you how to make one). It is heavily illustrated with diagrams of Tesla's inventions, which I found pleasing (however, the diagrams arent explained, so do not expect to be able to duplicate any inventions after reading this book ). Overall, this book should not necesscarily teach you all about Tesla's invention (most of them are either briefly mentioned or illustrated), but it would greatly inform you about what Tesla was famous for, and especially act as an excellent introduction to the marvelous work's of Nikola Tesla.