Overview

In this provocative history, Mike Davis traces the car bomb's worldwide use and development, in the process exposing the role of state intelligence agencies-particularly those of the United States, Israel, India, and Pakistan-in globalizing urban terrorist techniques. Davis argues that it is the incessant impact of car bombs, rather than the more apocalyptic threats of nuclear or bio-terrorism, that is changing cities and urban lifestyles, as privileged centers of power increasingly surround themselves with 'rings of steel' against a weapon that nevertheless seems impossible to defeat.

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9781844672943

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Davis creates a fascinating genealogy that raises chilling questions about the future of terrorism. * Atlantic Monthly * Mike Davis, long-time chronicler of apocalyptic terror, has done it again: he has made me scared ... The brilliance of Davis's story is undeniable. * Times of London * Mike Davis follows the evolution of the car bomb from the Balkans to Palestine, Vietnam, Northern Ireland, Lebanon and, of course, Iraq. * New York Times * Brilliantly terse ... Davis writes with icily suppressed fury. * Guardian *

Mike Davis, long-time chronicler of apocalyptic terror has done it again: he has made me frightened... The brilliance and power of Davis' story is undeniable. Joanna Bourke, The Times Cold-eyed diagnostic intelligence. Evening Standard A brilliantly terse book. Guardian Davis's story gains in detail, effectiveness and horror as it proceeds. Independent A catalogue of horrors. Financial Times Compelling history of the 'poor man's air force' Scotland on Sunday Davis has produced a captivating work. Metro A serious, disturbing and pessimistic book that resonates with wide-spread contemporary terrors... An excellent analysis of the arrogant miscalculations, cruelties and sometimes wanton stupidity of various governing elites. TLS Brilliant... Buda's Wagon escorts us with a savage sarcasm from the first-known instance of the art... to present-day Gaza and Iraq, where most people reside outside the Green Zone. Harper's Riveting... a whirlwind survey of the car bomb's historical hot spots. Time Out New York

Author Information

Mike Davis is the author of several books including Planet of Slums, City of Quartz, Ecology of Fear, Late Victorian Holocausts, and Magical Urbanism. He was recently awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.

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