Doomsday Men: The Real Dr Strangelove and the Dream of the Superweapon

New
Paperback
2008
$12.74

It was the weapon to end all weapons: the doomsday device. A huge nuclear bomb so powerful that it could envelop the entire planet in a cloud of radioactive dust, and bring about instant extinction. This is the untold story of the Cold War's most insane plan, the men behind it and how it nearly happened. It is also the history of humanity's nightmare vision of a superweapon, showing how popular culture, from the stories of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne to films such as Planet of the Apes , Mad Max and Dr Strangelove itself have both shaped and reflected our darkest dreams.

Synopsis

It was the weapon to end all weapons: the doomsday device. A huge nuclear bomb so powerful that it could envelop the entire planet in a cloud of radioactive dust, and bring about instant extinction. This is the untold story of the Cold War's most insane plan, the men behind it and how it nearly happened. It is also the history of humanity's nightmare vision of a superweapon, showing how popular culture, from the stories of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne to films such as "Planet of the Apes", "Mad Max" and "Dr Strangelove" itself have both shaped and reflected our darkest dreams.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 576
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 25 Sep 2008
ISBN 10: 0141019158
ISBN 13: 9780141019154

Media Reviews

Superb... it's his eye for revealing anecdotes and his ability to distil it all into lively prose that makes this a real pleasure to read Sunday Business Post Chillingly compelling New Scientist The gripping, untold story of the ultimate weapon of mass destruction TLS Packed with striking anecdotes... this is a readable, informative work exploring why intelligent men worked on such insane projects Metro 'A lively read packed with both information and anecdote ... It is a powerful reminder that weapons of mass destruction are still 'out there Independent He puts the nuclear age into a new context, engagingly and excitingly Financial Times

Author Bio

Peter Smith teaches at University College London where he is an Honorary Research Fellow in the Science and Technology Studies Department. He regularly reviews for the Guardian, and has written for the Independent, the Financial Times and the Times Literary Supplement. His previous books are Metaphor and Materiality: German Literature and the World-View of Science 1780-1955 and a biography of Einstein. He lives in London.