Everything Is Going to Kill Everybody: The Terrifyingly Real Ways the World Wants You Dead
2 journalers for this copy...
I picked up this trade paperback at Barnes and Noble after hearing about it in several of Brockway's columns on Cracked.com. Since I enjoy his columns and also enjoy reading about ways in which the world might end {wry grin}, how could I resist?
The author points out up front that he's not going to go for astronomically-distant threats or thoroughly fictional ones; instead, his criteria include things that affect the reader directly, that post a real threat, and that could happen soon. Yay?
The section on "Near Misses" points out actual events that could have had devastating global results, but didn't (this time); among these, the proposed release of an experimental gene-altered bacterium that might have been toxic to pretty much all plant life. "Current Threats" includes discussions of ongoing practices that may very well have disastrous effects. Then there are entries for natural disasters that definitely will happen, perhaps soon, such as the eruption of supervolcanos; I think these are pretty well-known by now, though that doesn't make them any less of a threat. And by way of advice on how to deal with them, the author suggests "duck and cover; sit and spin; bump and grind; whatever else distracts you for a brief moment from the inferno you now call home". Tsunamis, comet strikes, and other natural disasters get similar treatment, with a colorful description of what past incidents have done, how likely future incidents are, and how much damage they might do - all very cheerful stuff!
The "nanotechnology" section rather tickled me, as it's a popular topic for SF and horror writers, but is not well-understood by the public - and is (I hope) less likely to occur than some of the other things in this book.
There's also a biotech section, which includes bits on blood doping and other performance-enhancing substances, and on super-resistant bacteria.
Oh, and let's not forget the robot threats - which, as described here, seem more believable than anything from the "Terminator" films. I was especially tickled by the meat-eating robot.
While all of these things certainly could cause great harm (and many already have), the author does seem to have selected topics for amusement value as much as for shock-effect, and in general each topic is described in the worst-possible-scenario mode, again for the fun of being able to provide "how to avoid" advice like "don't live on a continent". Since I tend to be rather fatalistic about these things, I found it amusing rather than alarming, but there may be a few more topics that I'll watch for in the news, just... in... case!
The author points out up front that he's not going to go for astronomically-distant threats or thoroughly fictional ones; instead, his criteria include things that affect the reader directly, that post a real threat, and that could happen soon. Yay?
The section on "Near Misses" points out actual events that could have had devastating global results, but didn't (this time); among these, the proposed release of an experimental gene-altered bacterium that might have been toxic to pretty much all plant life. "Current Threats" includes discussions of ongoing practices that may very well have disastrous effects. Then there are entries for natural disasters that definitely will happen, perhaps soon, such as the eruption of supervolcanos; I think these are pretty well-known by now, though that doesn't make them any less of a threat. And by way of advice on how to deal with them, the author suggests "duck and cover; sit and spin; bump and grind; whatever else distracts you for a brief moment from the inferno you now call home". Tsunamis, comet strikes, and other natural disasters get similar treatment, with a colorful description of what past incidents have done, how likely future incidents are, and how much damage they might do - all very cheerful stuff!
The "nanotechnology" section rather tickled me, as it's a popular topic for SF and horror writers, but is not well-understood by the public - and is (I hope) less likely to occur than some of the other things in this book.
There's also a biotech section, which includes bits on blood doping and other performance-enhancing substances, and on super-resistant bacteria.
Oh, and let's not forget the robot threats - which, as described here, seem more believable than anything from the "Terminator" films. I was especially tickled by the meat-eating robot.
While all of these things certainly could cause great harm (and many already have), the author does seem to have selected topics for amusement value as much as for shock-effect, and in general each topic is described in the worst-possible-scenario mode, again for the fun of being able to provide "how to avoid" advice like "don't live on a continent". Since I tend to be rather fatalistic about these things, I found it amusing rather than alarming, but there may be a few more topics that I'll watch for in the news, just... in... case!
I'm sending this to BCer HI77 in Florida as a bonus RABCK, to fill a wish. Enjoy!
*** Released as part of the 2015 Oh the Places We Can Go challenge, for "world". ***
*** Released as part of the 2015 4 Elements challenge, for "world". ***
*** Released as part of the 2015 Oh the Places We Can Go challenge, for "world". ***
*** Released as part of the 2015 4 Elements challenge, for "world". ***
The world is bent over,
baring its bottom
with a target squarely there.
baring its bottom
with a target squarely there.
