eBook An Introduction to Planetary Defense: A Study of Modern Warfare Applied to Extra-Terrestrial Invasion ePub

While I emphatically agree that a more modern, serious treatment of the subject matter for mainstream consumption is long overdue, I was somewhat disappointed in this effort. The book, as others have observed, is fraught with grammar and spelling errors and amateurish drawings (I blame the editor more than the authors) and overall the work feels...well, rushed.

I did get a sense of the authors' passion of the subject matter. Certainly, boring details aside, they plainly state their opposition to others who cite less than obvious, apples-to-oranges mathematical/ probability models to disprove any likelihood of intelligent alien life. As much, the authors are clearly particularly opposed to those who adhere to the belief in advanced ETs who adhere to a benign utopian ideal. One author tellingly relates a past personal confrontation with the late Carl Sagan, in which Dr. Sagan reportedly patently refused to discuss even the possibility of hostile aliens. In this light, such non-substantive errors may be construed as urgency for an opinion to be heard, and to be taken seriously.

Multiple mainstream scifi/space opera references are made, in a seeming attempt to find common ground with the reader of average knowledge/interest; however, several chapters are devoted to mathematical modeling that likely makes many of those same readers either accept these hypotheses as granted (counter to the whole point of the exercises), or skip over such chapters completely. Also, while some such references have clear credibility (for example, the clandestine research facilities in Robert Heinlein's "Sixth Column"), others are somewhat lacking (notably, references to the film "Independence Day"). And some references obvious to my generation of readers (say, Larry Niven's "The Ethics of Madness") are conspicuously absent (possibly due to copyright issues?). Thus, the book teeters somewhere between reference text and pulp entertainment.

Having said all that, I found they do get their point across; the probability of ET existing, being more advanced AND dangerously hostile demonstrably outweighs the possibility of humans being adrift alone in the universe, or accompanied by the beatific angels supposedly "evolved" past all conflict; indeed, the latter viewpoint appears naive (bordering on childish). And if they are out there, we really should be doing something to prepare, other than sending out "WE ARE HERE" messages to anyone who might be listening. To paraphrase Heller, it isn't paranoia if they ARE indeed out to get you, just simple common sense.

I really wanted to like this book. Particularly, other works by Dr. Taylor that I'd read displayed impressive technical knowledge and ideas, and I was looking forward to reading something honest and serious. So while I can easily recommend it to those with similar opinions (that is, if they can stomach technical references to "Independence Day"), I honestly don't know if it would convince someone sitting on the fence, much less on the other side.

Lastly, there's one aspect of Dr. Sagan (as well as Robert Heinlein, Stephen King and even the Church of Scientology) the authors (and publisher) could adopt: release the book in standard mass-market paperback form, at STANDARD PRICES. Almost everything I've ever owned or read by Sagan, Heinlein or Arthur C. Clarke (or for that matter, Niven, Steinbeck, Conan Doyle and the Boy Scout Manual) was in good, old, relatively affordable, easy-to-carry paperback, not some expensive soft-cover pseudo-textbook. If the authors feel their message is that important, they should give the public an alternative to "Cosmos", which even in hardback doesn't cost $34.95. I hold some hope for a revised edition.

As other commenters have noted both the editing and the science behind the book are sloppy and careless. The strategies and tactics for defending earth have not been well thought out. A section of the book amounted to a paen to governmental secrecy and why the authors think it is important. And to why the government should give large amounts of money to aerospace companies and lie to the people about it.

Some interesting ideas, and might be worth buying for about a third of the price.

EDIT TO ADD: If you really think the risk of alien invasion is worth the unaccountable spending by sub-competent engineers and scientists that this book recommends, you should read Charles Stross's essay,[...] , discussing the near impossibility of travel over interstellar distances.

First, some bona-fides. In my previous military career, I flew B-52Gs as an Electronic Warfare Officer, Instructor Electronic Warfare Officer, and Staff Instructor Electronic Warfare Officer, with a combined total of over 4500 hours of in-flight and simulator time, and spent 18 months on the Battle Staff of the 42nd Bombardment Wing (Heavy). I've helped plan missions that have never been flown (i.e. monthly contingency planning exercises), and planned what became the first few nights of B-52s in Operation DESERT STORM, 2 years before Kuwait was invaded.

Dr. Taylor's book provides the same type of background information on tactics, strategy, and alternatives as we used in formulating effective missions. The information is concise and informative, and yet engagingly written. This book needs to be on the reading list of every Intelligence officer as well as part of the reading for mid-level and higher Officer Development, and definitely covered during War College attendence.

And, frankly, it's also a interesting read, and would also make an interesting special for something like the Discovery Network. While written as a scholarly textbook, the level is suitable for the average college graduate.

This book is billed as the first, serious look by defense professionals at how the people of Earth might analyze, comprehend, and then defend against an Alien invasion. There are interesting and thought provoking ideas here but, their impact is lessened considerably and the credibility of the entire book itself is called into question by the occasionally illogical, and often clumsy and semi-literate writing style of the authors, for example, p.15 "If we are the only intelligent life form in the universe, why is there such a vast universe?" or p. 21 "It is most likely that any advanced civilization could eventually detect any lesser-advanced civilization." or p. 49 "We must refrain from automatically assigning the science of Earth as the set of natural laws that govern other celestial bodies. The natural laws, or at the least the understanding of them, are probably different in each alien civilization"

Given the book's subject, impeccable presentation is essential to convince readers that this is a serious book by professionals on a very serious topic; anything less relegates the book to science fiction status, and feeds the "giggle factor." Such a book as this could hold crucial ideas if we were ever faced with such an invasion but, it needs a complete re-write to be anywhere near as informative and influential as it could be. Attention also needs to be paid to upgrading many of the illustrations, which are also less than professional in quality.