Publishers Weekly
09/18/2023
Geopolitical analyst Marshall (The Power of Geography) turns his focus to the final frontier in this concise look at space and the emerging “era of astropolitics.” Sketching the history of human dealings with space from prehistoric lunar calendars to the launch of Sputnik, Marshall lays the groundwork for his view that “space is going to be a geopolitical narrative of the twenty-first century.” Marshall demonstrates how politically fraught and high stakes space has the potential to be, highlighting how telecommunications satellites utilize the “attractive piece of real estate” that is Low Earth Orbit and the untapped potential of mineral resources on the moon. He cites as precursors of the coming political turmoil the 2023 incident of a Chinese surveillance balloon passing over the U.S. and Elon Musk deploying his Starlink satellite dishes in Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022. Marshall makes the case that laws governing space, such as the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, “require drastic updating” to prevent future conflict. Marshall’s assessments intrigue, and he provides valuable insight into an overlooked aspect of space exploration, though forays into more speculative realms, such as what a solar system–wide war might look like, slow things down. Still, Marshall’s expedition into the political realities of space is a thought-provoking effort. (Nov.)
From the Publisher
"Insightful, hopeful and endlessly fascinating, Marshall’s latest non-fiction masterpiece sets out the possibilities and pitfalls that lie ahead." —Daily Express
"Written with insight and great wit, this is an essential take on power, politics and the future of humanity from the UK’s most popular writer on geopolitics." —Daily Telegraph
“Thought-provoking. . . . Marshall’s assessments intrigue, and he provides valuable insight into an overlooked aspect of space exploration.” —Publisher's Weekly
"Compelling . . . Marshall demonstrates a refreshing understanding of the new space age – one in which humanity will go into space and stay there . . . His book is an important contribution to the growing work of space-power . . . readable, intelligent and forward-leaning. It provides a practical vision of our necessary future in space, and I recommend it." —Brandon J. Weichert, Times Literary Supplement
"Tim Marshall boldly goes where no geopolitical thinker has gone before." —Business Post
"Lead[s] the reader on a voyage of galactic discovery." —The Mail on Sunday
"Marshall is an engaging writer, good at explaining the science as well as the politics, and with an eye for a telling fact." —New Statesman
"[An] engaging exploration of power politics in space." —Irish Independent
"A superb survey of planetary politics’ Bryan Appleyard." —The Sunday Times
"Thought provoking and worrying in equal measures." —Popular Science
"[Tim’s] prose is brisk in pace and refreshingly crystalline in its clarity, affording a highly readable lesson in historical geopolitics . . . deeply thought-provoking." —BBC Sky at Night
"A prophetic vision of what the geopolitics of space could look like over the next 50 years." —ClimateWithBrian.com
“The author of Prisoners of Geography examines how leaping into space is both technically feasible as well as economically necessary. . . . This is an engaging, informative read, and Marshall displays flashes of wit and a thorough understanding of the issues. A well-researched, insightful, infectiously enthusiastic book.” —Kirkus Reviews
“In his typical style—wielding a wickedly clever pen—Marshall provides a thoroughly enjoyable, dizzyingly thought-provoking, and technologically plausible ride through the terrain of solar space. Along the way, he shows how irretrievably entwined with space humanity has become, pathways to a space future we could take and, fortunately for us, a few that we should. I’m envious. This is a book I wish I could have written. Fortunately, I got to read it.” —Everett Dolman, professor of comparative military studies and strategy at the US Air Force's Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), and author of Astropolitik: Classical Geopolitics in the Space Age
“In The Future of Geography, Tim Marshall again demonstrates his unique ability to write wonderfully engaging must-read books which reveal startling facts. The Future of Geography takes us on a gripping and amazing journey, to guide us expertly and often amusingly into the exploration of space and its profound implications for those of us left behind on planet earth.” —Ian Goldin, professor of globalisation and development at the University of Oxford, and author of Terra Incognita: 100 Maps to Survive the Next 100 Years
“A chilling, insightful exploration of the political and military implications of our presence in space.” —Brian Clegg, author of Final Frontier
“This stirring book shows why astropolitics matters for everyone on Earth—not just the scientists and the dreamers.” —Dr Bleddyn E. Bowen, author of Original Sin and War in Space
“Astropolitics is a word I never thought would enter my lexicon—but after reading this fascinating book, I’m hooked!” —Dr. Becky Smethurst, astrophysicist at the University of Oxford and author of A Brief History of Black Holes
Sunday Times (London)
A superb survey of planetary politics.”
Popular Science magazine
Thought provoking and worrying in equal measures.”
Daily Telegraph (London)
This is an essential take on power, politics, and the future of humanity from the UK’s most popular writer on geopolitics.”
Times Literary Supplement (London)
Readable, intelligent, and forward-leaning. It provides a practical vision of our necessary future in space, and I recommend it.”
Daily Express (London)
Marshall’s latest nonfiction masterpiece sets out the possibilities and pitfalls that lie ahead.”
Kirkus Reviews
2023-08-17
The author of Prisoners of Geography examines how leaping into space is both technically feasible as well as economically necessary.
Marshall is a British journalist who has written a series of well-regarded books about geography and its impact on politics, history, and human affairs in general. Here, he looks in a different direction: up. The author begins with a review of the early days of rocketry and space research, although most of that ground has been already covered. The pace picks up when he turns to the Moon landings and the deployment of early-generation satellites. Military imperatives drove much of the early technology, but gradually the emphasis moved to commercial objectives. Marshall ably explains how satellites actually work and the strategic importance of certain points in space that allow for geostationary orbit. The next step, notes the author, should be a return to the Moon, which has critical resources, possibly including water and a potential energy source called helium-3, which could be used for nuclear fusion. The author sees a growing consensus about a new Moon project but accepts that it would be a massive undertaking. One possibility is establishing a space station as a staging post. A Moon settlement could then act as a steppingstone to Mars and beyond. Once again, it is becoming a race with military goals, mainly between the U.S. and China. Marshall examines China’s burgeoning space program, noting that Russia, now faltering, is hoping that a partnership with China will put it back in the game. Marshall worries that once established in space, humans will simply repeat their geopolitical mistakes and conflicts. The current treaties are obsolete, and negotiating a new legal framework will be tricky, but he suggests some useful ideas. This is an engaging, informative read, and Marshall displays flashes of wit and a thorough understanding of the issues.
A well-researched, insightful, infectiously enthusiastic book.
