Adventures from the Technology Underground: Catapults, Pulsejets, Rail Guns, Flamethrowers, Tesla Coils, Air Cannons and the Garage Warriors Who Love

by William Gurstelle

Book Overview

The technology underground is a thriving, humming, and often literally scintillating subculture of amateur inventors and scientific envelope-pushers who dream up, design, and build machines that... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400050820
• ISBN13: 9781400050826
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter Publishers
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Great Intro to Alternative Science Projects!

Bill Gurtelle's latest book is a great intro to several fringe science & engineering contests & hobbies. It's a good read, without getting into too much technical detail (the Further Reading section @ the end leads you to sources for more details on the topics you liked reading about). Pick it up if you're a tinkerer, a hacker, or want to find something non-frumpy to do with your engineering degree! :]

A book I can relate to.

When Mr. Gurstelle contacted me asking for an interview for his book I immediately agreed; being familiar with his previous book (backyard ballistics) I knew exactly what to expect; this book provides not only an in-depth view at amateur scientists around the country and their unusual hobbies but also provides motivation for people like me to continue experimenting and looking for other areas of science to explore. A great read!

fresh machines from the underground

I've been waiting for this book to come out, and it's cool to finally see it. Gurstelle wrote my favorite -- the authoritative book of cool and potentially perilous home projects, Backyard Ballistics. "Adventures . . . ." describes projects and devices that are an order of magnitude more sophisticated (and probably more dangerous). No one is better at teasing out the details of these amazing and exotic home-built contraptions. There are the requisite tesla coils and air canons, but also stuff I'd never heard of before -- like coin shrinking machines, sky cars, and pulse jets (not to be confused with plain ol' turbine jets). Damn, the book made me realize that the world is just so full of specialists in so many odd areas. Gurstelle has covered the terrain longer than anybody. It's full of imagination, and made me start thinking bigger about my own home projects and new areas I could explore.

"I aim for the stars but sometimes I hit London"

I've enjoyed all of William Gurstelle's books so far and ordered "Adventures from the Technology Underground" as soon as it popped up on my radar. In the last week I've read the book a couple of times and give it a hearty recommendation. In a society that is frequently more and more out of touch with an enterprising spirit of scientific exploration this book makes it clear that all is not lost yet. (Who would have guessed that the Virginia Military Institute may be the foremost seat of siege warfare in the modern world?) It's best to sum this up as a celebration of ingenuity, curiosity and the limitless imagination of the human mind. I agree that some of the topics in the book aren't for the youngest of the curious and scientific but the book certainly isn't aimed at a younger audience. This is more of an introduction to topics that may or may not have crossed the path of the casual reader, not the hardcore enthusiast. With handy links and references the truly curious will easily be able to follow up on what the book offers. The mildly entertained will simply "wow" their friends at the next neighborhood block picnic or office water cooler round up. A great book by any practical measure.

One of the best books of 2006

If you liked the first two books, this one is even better. The book takes you through North America to all the coolest underground meetings, whether it be rockets, flamethrowers,tesala coils, or even sending pumkins to their doom. It has tons of illustrations and it gives great details on where these places are, if you ever want to go check it out for yourself. This is a must need book for backyard ballistic followers.