by P. W. Singer
First published 2009
Military technology stands at a crossroads where science fiction becomes reality. More than seven thousand robotic systems operate in Iraq while Nevada-based pilots eliminate targets in Afghanistan from thousands of miles away. Singer examines this transformation through field interviews and historical analysis. Scientists debate how intelligent and deadly their robotic creations should become. Science fiction authors work secretly with Pentagon officials to design next-generation weapons. These technologies will reshape both frontline combat and domestic politics. Removing humans from battle makes conflicts easier to initiate but harder to conduct. Machine soldiers may preserve some lives while reducing moral barriers to killing. The warrior identity that has long defined military service faces erosion. Traditional laws governing warfare will struggle to adapt. Singer travels from Iraqi battlefields to suburban research facilities where tomorrow's war machines take shape in quiet laboratories.
Genres: science-fiction, military-fiction, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism
Setting: Afghanistan, Iraq, Nevada
Period: 21st-century
499 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Press