Aerial bombing, one of the 20th century's most devastating military tactics, was initiated in 1911. This fascinating book is an overview & interrogation of the cultural & political dimensions -- & the devastating effects -- of war from above. Forming a labyrinth of events that illustrates the genocidal fantasies underlying so much conflict & the devastation wrought by aerial bombing, the book links the total war of World War II, the Korean War, & the Vietnam War with centuries-past colonial warfare. Mining such diverse topics as military history & strategy, the evolution of international law, turn-of-the-century science fiction, & the civilian experience during wartime, Lindqvist has produced a rich meditation on the past & the future of human conflict. Illus.