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- Feb 5, 2005
- Messages
- 857
Roberto Vacca is an Italian engineer and computer scientist. Years ago, as a teen, I stumbled across a reference to his book The Coming Dark Age in a non-fiction article in Analog. I found a copy in my hometown library and enjoyed the book immensely.
Now, almost 20 years later, I saw the book referenced in a sci-fi novel (a quote from The Coming Dark Age appears in Niven and Pournelle's Lucifer's Hammer) and I wanted to re-read it to see if it stood the test of time (and my newfound appreciation for preparedness). I found a used copy on Amazon and I thought I would mention the book in this forum.
The Coming Dark Age is not a "how to" or survival manual; rather, Vacca examines the various technological systems and networks that, to quote Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs, "make civilized life possible." Although the book is over 25 years old, Vacca's take on fundamental issues such as electrical power distribution, food distribution, telecommunications networks, and related matters is still relevant. For anyone who wants a 'big picture' understanding of how the (inevitable?) failure of our complex modern technological systems could lead to a Dark Age*, this is a must read.
An excerpt of The Coming Dark Age is available here (PDF).
*I should point out that this is not "end of world porn." Vacca is no alarmist; he merely posits that (1) many civilizations have declined in the past and (2) why should modern Western civilization be immune to a decline and fall?
Now, almost 20 years later, I saw the book referenced in a sci-fi novel (a quote from The Coming Dark Age appears in Niven and Pournelle's Lucifer's Hammer) and I wanted to re-read it to see if it stood the test of time (and my newfound appreciation for preparedness). I found a used copy on Amazon and I thought I would mention the book in this forum.
The Coming Dark Age is not a "how to" or survival manual; rather, Vacca examines the various technological systems and networks that, to quote Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs, "make civilized life possible." Although the book is over 25 years old, Vacca's take on fundamental issues such as electrical power distribution, food distribution, telecommunications networks, and related matters is still relevant. For anyone who wants a 'big picture' understanding of how the (inevitable?) failure of our complex modern technological systems could lead to a Dark Age*, this is a must read.
An excerpt of The Coming Dark Age is available here (PDF).
*I should point out that this is not "end of world porn." Vacca is no alarmist; he merely posits that (1) many civilizations have declined in the past and (2) why should modern Western civilization be immune to a decline and fall?