Rockets and Ray Guns: The Sci-Fi Science of the Cold War

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Physics, General Physics, Technology
Cover of the book Rockets and Ray Guns: The Sci-Fi Science of the Cold War by Andrew May, Springer International Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Andrew May ISBN: 9783319898308
Publisher: Springer International Publishing Publication: May 26, 2018
Imprint: Springer Language: English
Author: Andrew May
ISBN: 9783319898308
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Publication: May 26, 2018
Imprint: Springer
Language: English

The Cold War saw scientists in East and West racing to create amazing new technologies, the like of which the world had never seen. Yet not everyone was taken by surprise. From super-powerful atomic weapons to rockets and space travel, readers of science fiction (SF) had seen it all before.

Sometimes reality lived up to the SF vision, at other times it didn’t. The hydrogen bomb was as terrifyingly destructive as anything in fiction, while real-world lasers didn't come close to the promise of the classic SF ray gun. Nevertheless, when the scientific Cold War culminated in the Strategic Defence Initiative of the 1980s, it was so science-fictional in its aspirations that the media dubbed it “Star Wars”.

This entertaining account, offering a plethora of little known facts and insights from previously classified military projects, shows how the real-world science of the Cold War followed in the footsteps of SF – and how the two together changed our perception of both science and scientists, and paved the way to the world we live in today.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The Cold War saw scientists in East and West racing to create amazing new technologies, the like of which the world had never seen. Yet not everyone was taken by surprise. From super-powerful atomic weapons to rockets and space travel, readers of science fiction (SF) had seen it all before.

Sometimes reality lived up to the SF vision, at other times it didn’t. The hydrogen bomb was as terrifyingly destructive as anything in fiction, while real-world lasers didn't come close to the promise of the classic SF ray gun. Nevertheless, when the scientific Cold War culminated in the Strategic Defence Initiative of the 1980s, it was so science-fictional in its aspirations that the media dubbed it “Star Wars”.

This entertaining account, offering a plethora of little known facts and insights from previously classified military projects, shows how the real-world science of the Cold War followed in the footsteps of SF – and how the two together changed our perception of both science and scientists, and paved the way to the world we live in today.

More books from Springer International Publishing

Cover of the book Environmental Challenges in the Baltic Region by Andrew May
Cover of the book Boko Haram’s Terrorism and the Nigerian State by Andrew May
Cover of the book Their World: A Diversity of Microbial Environments by Andrew May
Cover of the book Discourses of Ageing and Gender by Andrew May
Cover of the book Nutrition Therapy for Urolithiasis by Andrew May
Cover of the book New Perspectives on Surface Passivation: Understanding the Si-Al2O3 Interface by Andrew May
Cover of the book The Maritime Turn in EU Foreign and Security Policies by Andrew May
Cover of the book Controllability and Minimum Energy Control by Andrew May
Cover of the book Clinical Companion in Nephrology by Andrew May
Cover of the book Ethical Dimensions of Islamic Finance by Andrew May
Cover of the book Paleobiodiversity and Tectono-Sedimentary Records in the Mediterranean Tethys and Related Eastern Areas by Andrew May
Cover of the book Votes, Parties, and Seats by Andrew May
Cover of the book Séminaire de Probabilités XLVI by Andrew May
Cover of the book The Beginning and the End by Andrew May
Cover of the book Believing in Accordance with the Evidence by Andrew May
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy