Blueprint for a Battlestar: Serious Scientific Explanations Behind Sci-Fi's Greatest Inventions by Rod Pyle

by Rod Pyle

Through stunning images, including 75 illustrations created exclusively for this book, 25 remarkable and memorable technologies from the world of sci-fi are explored. With expertly written text by NASA insider Rod Pyle, each concept is explained and dissected to reveal the real science behind it. Some are temptingly within our reach—such as cyborgs and artificial intelligence—others are further off, but fast approaching reality (think bio-ports or cloaking devices). All are fascinating and make wonderful explorations into the science of the future as we understand it today.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Reference

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Rod is the author of 15 nonfiction books (plus three for NASA) on his favorite subject, space exploration and technology. He tracks this fascination back to childhood, when his introversion led him to spend countless hours watching rocket launches, moonwalks and science fiction (which often led to truancy, countenanced by an understanding mother). While his contemporaries revered football players (basketball was not really a "thing" yet), he wanted nothing more than to become an astronaut. He now realizes that breaking into a sweat when it takes the elevator doors a few moments too long to open probably makes him a poor candidate for spaceflight.

While Rod actually attended seven colleges and universities in the search of the perfect major, he ended up getting a BA at the Art Center College of Design in film (because only poetry is less likely to get you a job), and an MA from Stanford University (where the weather is even better).

He lives in Pasadena, CA but dreams of azure seas and tropical shores.

Reviews

[Michael Norwitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tour through some standard sci-fi technologies and a discussion of many of the ways contemporary scientists are working towards making them reality. Clearly written and well illustrated, and a wealth of information for someone getting interested in writing science fiction.

[coslyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of his science is only so-so, and focuses a lot on military work rather than academic or commercial work. That might be because there were more sources for federal stuff, but I would have liked more variety.

4 stars, because I’m using it as a jumping off point for a sci fi novel, and so its good at offering a variety of good words, projects, and phrases for me to research more rigorously on my own

[Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sci-fi fans, especially Star Trek and Star Wars fans, will love this book!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty cool--but not quite as cool as I thought it'd be somehow. I mean, I wanted spaceship floor plans. You know. A girl needs to be prepared. :-)

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. My favorite was reading about the tricorder. I like that it had color pictures of what the book was talking about.

[Joseph Hirsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an accessible, entertaining, and somewhat informative overview of how various technologies presented in Science Fiction might actually come to pass, or, in some cases, how the hypothetical technologies might already exist, albeit in modified form. The book isn't exhaustive and doesn't try to be. To give one an idea of where author Rod Pyle is coming from, he spends as much time addressing "Star Wars" technologies as those of "Star Trek," which might cause a certain subset of nerd to hurl their rubber Vulcan ears at the man in anger, should they ever cross light sabers with him at their local Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con.

Everything from terraforming Mars to the race to perfect Fem-Bots is dealt with in these glossy pages (re: Fem-Bots, the reader will probably not be surprised to learn that Japan, land of machines that vend women's used underwear, is leading the way). The book is filled with lush illustrations and the promised blueprints. Set phasers to "Fun." Mine, in case you haven't noticed, are stuck on "Corny Pun." Recommended.

[Ivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides an entertaining overview of what the current state of some much dreamt about "technologies of the future". The execution of its stated mission, however - to describe what it would take to bring those technologies to life, is quite superficial and unfulfilling.

[Daniel Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly pretty interesting with some fun ideas and science around famous sci-fi inventions like lightsabers, hovercars, space lasers and more. It is well illustrated and thought out although it is a bit dry at times.

[Esha Nas · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a pop-science futurism catalogue for average people. Anyone who 'delves' into the various myriad topics probably knows everything so far presented, and most likely even more, leading to derision of the book itself. But to anyone who is a casual consumer of science, technology, and futurism, this book is a good primer to consume and hopefully jump from into heavier, more specialized work.

[Brannigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published at TheQwillery.com first.

Rod Pyle has spent 10 years working at the Griffith Observatory in California as well as working as the Vice President in Communications for the World Space Foundation. He’s written several books on space and technology. All this shows his qualifications for writing about space age and future technology.

Blueprint for a Battlestar is a very entertaining and educational read by Pyle. He breaks down his book into different sections: Weapons of the Future, Fantastic Voyages, and Life - But Not As We Know It. Within each of these sections he has 8-10 different topics he explores, such as: Swords of Heat, My Pet T-Rex, and Wormholes. To give more weight to his words and place of authority, he provides additional readings and sources at the back of the book.

Each article explains where the idea first shows up in popular culture, how the item would have to work if you use actual science and then goes into how or if the item is currently being developed. If it’s currently not possible, he theorizes how it might be possible to accomplish in the future.

It’s amazing the amount of detail and scientific laws he explains in such short articles. It feeds your mind completely. Each topic or item he discusses range from 4-8 pages. He also includes pictures or actual blueprint mockups. After reading the articles, you get a real sense of how ingenious some of our early Science Fiction writers were and also how their words have truly inspired science to try and emulate their created worlds. It’s a wonderful reminder how powerful art can inspire science and then how science can inspire art in return.

Blueprint for a Battlestar is a must have for any serious fan of science fiction either in the medium of books, movies or comics. It should also be a must read for any scientists who are currently working on future tech. I know this is going to be a much loved and much used book in my family as I use it to teach my children and to inspire them. This is appropriate for all ages and should be shared with everyone.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morning read-aloud, K pick. This could have used some more proofreading. One of the recurring parts the kids liked was when I would stumble over words thanks to typos and misprints. Hrm. Otherwise, a serviceable outline of cutting edge science. Both kids gave it 3.5.