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An Introduction to Planetary Defense: A Study of Modern Warfare Applied to Extra-Terrestrial Invasion
This book describes a serious look at defending the planet in the event of an extra-terrestrial invasion. Travis Taylor, et al, have written the definitive book on the defense of earth against a potential alien incursion. Whatever your beliefs on the subject, and despite many of my own popular novels I am agnostic at best, the book also serves as an important primer on the potential future of warfare on every level. It is tightly grounded in current day realities of war and extrapolates thoughtfully but closely about future potentials. It should be on the reading list of anyone who is serious about national security and the future of war.
216 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2006
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About the author
Travis S. Taylor
52 books222 followersTravis Shane Taylor is a born and bred southerner and resides just outside Huntsville, Alabama. He has a Doctorate in Optical Science and Engineering, a Master’s degree in Physics, a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, all from the University of Alabama in Huntsville; a Master’s degree in Astronomy from the Univ. of Western Sydney, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Alabama.
Dr. Taylor has worked on various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for the past sixteen years. He is currently working on several advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space based beamed energy systems, future combat technologies and systems, and next generation space launch concepts. He is also involved with multiple MASINT, SIGINT, IMINT, and HUMINT concept studies.
He has published over 25 papers and the appendix on solar sailing in the 2nd edition of Deep Space Probes by Greg Matloff.
His first science fiction novel is, Warp Speed, and his second is The Quantum Connection published by Baen Publishing. He is also working on two different series with best-selling author John Ringo also by Baen Publishing. He has several other works of both fiction and nonfiction ongoing.
Travis is also a Black Belt martial artist, a private pilot, a SCUBA diver, races mountain and road bikes, competed in triathlons, and has been the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of several hard rock bands. He currently lives with his wife Karen, his daughter Kalista Jade, two dogs Stevie and Wesker, and his cat Kuro.
Dr. Taylor has worked on various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for the past sixteen years. He is currently working on several advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space based beamed energy systems, future combat technologies and systems, and next generation space launch concepts. He is also involved with multiple MASINT, SIGINT, IMINT, and HUMINT concept studies.
He has published over 25 papers and the appendix on solar sailing in the 2nd edition of Deep Space Probes by Greg Matloff.
His first science fiction novel is, Warp Speed, and his second is The Quantum Connection published by Baen Publishing. He is also working on two different series with best-selling author John Ringo also by Baen Publishing. He has several other works of both fiction and nonfiction ongoing.
Travis is also a Black Belt martial artist, a private pilot, a SCUBA diver, races mountain and road bikes, competed in triathlons, and has been the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of several hard rock bands. He currently lives with his wife Karen, his daughter Kalista Jade, two dogs Stevie and Wesker, and his cat Kuro.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 2, 2011
This a book that takes itself pretty seriously, and it's a really interesting read. Kind of dry in places, and it leans a little to heavily on sci-fi movie references where it could relying on foreign policy examples, but hey, you're reading a book about defending the planet from aliens.
May 17, 2020
Just read "An Introduction to Planetary Defense: A Study of Modern Warfare Applied to Extra-Terrestrial Invasion" (whew -- long title) by Travis S. Taylor. I must congratulate the author on writing about a subject that is seldom spoken of these days: What will we do if extra-terrestrials come calling? As someone who always felt how foolhardy it was to launch something into space with our home planet drawn on it -- obviously the people behind the launch never read what happened when Europeans "discovered" the Americas -- it was nice to know that others have taken our own history into account.
That said, I found parts of the book too abstruse for my taste, due to its diagrams and...equations (?), so I skimmed over them. I must also state that it's hard to make plans for planetary defense when you don't know what the aliens even look like, what their technology is like, or what their strengths and weakenesses might be. Still, it's comforting to know that the United States government has made plans -- I didn't know that before, although my impulse was to laugh when I heard about it -- however nebulous. It's true that these people will be immediate and high demand when a "first-contact" occurs (if they can shoulder the politicians out of the way, should it be a "friendly-alien" scenario).
The major piece of advice I took from the book was, that in case of hostile aliens attacking, your best bet is to do about the same thing you would do before a nuclear attack: get at least 200 miles away from any major population centers. Okay....that makes sense, but it's a small piece of, admittedly, sensible advice to be gleaning after reading the entire b
In short, there just isn't enough known about extra-terrestrials to be able to lay much in the way of plans. It amused me to read this book, and it was an interesting thought-exercise, but I wouldn't read it again. This might be a decent "beach" read. More than that I cannot say.
Go. Read. Enjoy!
That said, I found parts of the book too abstruse for my taste, due to its diagrams and...equations (?), so I skimmed over them. I must also state that it's hard to make plans for planetary defense when you don't know what the aliens even look like, what their technology is like, or what their strengths and weakenesses might be. Still, it's comforting to know that the United States government has made plans -- I didn't know that before, although my impulse was to laugh when I heard about it -- however nebulous. It's true that these people will be immediate and high demand when a "first-contact" occurs (if they can shoulder the politicians out of the way, should it be a "friendly-alien" scenario).
The major piece of advice I took from the book was, that in case of hostile aliens attacking, your best bet is to do about the same thing you would do before a nuclear attack: get at least 200 miles away from any major population centers. Okay....that makes sense, but it's a small piece of, admittedly, sensible advice to be gleaning after reading the entire b
In short, there just isn't enough known about extra-terrestrials to be able to lay much in the way of plans. It amused me to read this book, and it was an interesting thought-exercise, but I wouldn't read it again. This might be a decent "beach" read. More than that I cannot say.
Go. Read. Enjoy!
July 17, 2011
So this is a big-time nerd book. But I did enjoy it. This is an actual threat we face - seriously. Hopefully not in my lifetime.
December 28, 2011
Yes I read it. Yes I know its non-fiction. Yes it is a must read if you are interested in ways to defend Earth should the aliens come knocking.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews