 
SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY
Part 1 of 3
by Jules Verne. The story of Captain Nemo and his
incredible underwater machine, the Nautilus. A submarine of considerable modern content
(mysterious secret power plants, able to sustain underwater travel for extraordinarily
long periods of time, complete living quarters, etc.), the Nautilus is Nemo's chief weapon
in the war against Slaver's plying the African nations for their trade. This work was also
popularized by Walt Disney Studios, bringing a rich color view of Verne's machines. Nemo
while being a bit crazy is never-the-less a visionary both in terms of certain moralities
as well as, of course, in his scientific discoveries and application to the underwater
realm. Credit: Bob Hicks (pdcbob@aol.com) of America Online's PDA Forum.
An original work of science fiction, by Bruce Knight,
about the creation of the first genetically perfect human.
by Edgar Rice Burroughs. "At the Earth's Core"
was originally published in 1922. When David Innes and his inventor friend Abner Perry
pierced the Earth's crust in their Iron Mole, never did they expect to find a fantastic
inner world of eternal daylight! A world where prehistoric monsters still live and battle
with cave men and women against and even more inhuman master! Credit: Bob Hicks
(pdcbob@aol.com) of America Online's PDA Forum.
The information revolution and related organizational
innovations are altering the nature of conflict and the kinds of military structures,
doctrines, and strategies that will be needed. This study introduces two concepts for
thinking about these issues - cyberwar and netwar. Industrialization led to
attritional warfare by massive armies (e.g., World War I). Mechanization led to maneuver
predominated by tanks (e.g., World War II). The information revolution implies the rise of
cyberwar, in which neither mass nor mobility will decide outcomes; instead, the side that
knows more, that can disperse the fog of war yet enshroud an adversary in it, will enjoy
decisive advantages.
"THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE"
by Robert Louis Stevenson."The old gentleman took a step back, with the air of one
very much surprised and a trifle hurt; and at that Mr. Hyde broke out of all bounds and
clubbed him to the earth. And next moment, with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim
under foot and hailing down a storm of blows, under which the bones were audibly shattered
and the body jumped upon the roadway." Who is this apparent madman? And why does Dr.
Jekyll instruct his attorney to release everything he owns to the infamous Hyde upon his
untimely death or disappearance? The canswers lurk in the alleyways and backstreets of
19th century London in this bizarre story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Credit: Bob Hicks
(pdcbob@aol.com) of America Online's PDA Forum.
"Dracula", the gothic horror story by Brahm
Stoker, has inspired dozens of films and adaptations. None compare with the original text
chronicling Von Helsing's pursuit down a mysterious bloody trail to Dracula's lair and the
terror of the unspeakable horrors he finds there. Vivid imagery and detail create a
haunting picture of the miserable, power-mad existence of the vampire from Transylvania,
which will be remembered long after the last page is read. Credit: Bob Hicks
(pdcbob@aol.com) of America Online's PDA Forum.
by Bram Stoker. Note: "Dracula's Guest" was
excised from the original "Dracula" mss by his publisher because of the length
of the original book mss. It was published as a short story in 1914, two years after
Stoker's death. In spite of the warnings of his guide, Johann, "Dracula's Guest"
continues his journey on Walpurgis Night, an evening of terror when the Devil himself is
feared to be out and searching for victims. He soon finds himself, lost, amidst a snow
storm in a graveyard..."This was the place where I was alone unmanned, shivering with
cold in a shroud of snow with a wild storm gathering again upon me! It took all my
philosophy, all the religion I had been taught, all my courage, not to collapse in a
paroxysm of fright." Credit: Bob Hicks (pdcbob@aol.com) of America Online's PDA
Forum.
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