Looks at the program's checkered history, and examines the massive technical problems the program presents, as well as the theoretical strategies to overcome them.

Includes index.

The birth of star wars -- The Hertz Foundation and the young geniuses -- The origins of MAD -- Making nuclear weapons impotent and obsolete -- How it would work -- The struggle to build it -- The Soviet threat -- Counterattack in space -- Europe's dilemma -- A war run by computers -- The dark side of star wars -- The threat to science -- The fate of arms control -- The case for star wars -- Why opponents say it is bad -- The future of star wars.