jps (04/27/83)
I've just finished "The Highroad" by Ben Bova. Mr. Bova is more popularly known as a former editor of Analog magazine and a science fiction writer. "The Highroad" is a collection of essays on how the application of current or readily developable technology can be used to alleviate the worlds problems. The topics primarily are concerned with space and energy technology. The space shuttle, fusion energy, solar satellites, and hydrogen fuels are discussed. The problems and their solutions are given in historical and social context. I found "The Highroad" to be interesting. The reading was at times "choppy" and redundant, but this is expected when you bind a group of essays together and mislable them chapters. Many of the points Mr. Bova made where very good and difficult to dispute. Unfortunately, there was also alot of "soapbox" involved. Mr. Bova shows himself to be a just as rabid right-winger as can be found on the left. He believes that big government and the major corporations (properly directed) should fund "big ticket" high technology programs on the scope of the Apollo effort. This expendature will bootstrap the economy and in the process relieve us of many of our current problems. Good idea, unfortunately at times Mr. Bova hints at a conspiracy to keep mankind earthbound. He mentions certain liberal organizations and individuals (by name) as having sabotaged certain programs that would have raised the lot of mankind. He also is not above a little "red scare" tactics. If I wasn't able to personaly verify some of his facts and opinions I'd be very skeptical about his paranoid attitude. If anything I'd read "The Highroad" just for another opinion. You can find alot written on anti-technology, so give the other guys a break and read their stuff (with the same grain of salt) too. John