How to Build a Robot Army: Tips on Defending Planet Earth Against Alien Invaders, Ninjas, and Zombies

  Author:    Daniel H. Wilson
  ISBN:    1596912812
  Sales Rank:    29586
  Published:    2007-12-26
  Publisher:    Bloomsbury USA
  # Pages:    176
  Binding:    Paperback
  Avg. Rating:    4.0 based on 6 reviews
  Used Offers:    9 from $7.68
  Amazon Price:    $9.86
  (Data above last updated:  2009-01-02 09:30:55 EST)
  
  
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How to Build a Robot Army: Tips on Defending Planet Earth Against Alien Invaders, Ninjas, and Zombies
  
Defend yourself—and your planet—against the onslaught of evil at your door.



It goes without saying that robots kill. They hunt, swarm, and fire lasers from their eyes. They even beat humans at chess. So who better to stand with us when the real villains arrive? Movies instruct us that, whether we like it or not, we will one day be under siege by pirates, ninjas, zombies, aliens, and Godzilla. Also great white sharks. And—let’s face it—we’re not prepared. But with the advice contained in this brilliantly illustrated, ingenious book, you can build your own robot army to fend off hordes of bloodthirsty foes. From common-sense injunctions (“never approach an unfamiliar robot in a militarized zone”) to tactical pointers (“low-power radar beats cameras for detecting mummies in a fog-shrouded crypt”) to engineering advice (“passive-dynamic exoskeleton suits will increase sprint speeds but not leg strength”), this book contains all the wisdom you’ll need to fend off the coming apocalypse. Witty, informative, and utterly original, How to Build a Robot Army is the ideal book for readers of any age.
                  Reader Reviews 1 - 6 of 6                 
  
  
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12-16-08 3 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Hmmm... not that funny or interesting
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I purchased this book after reading "How To Survive a Robot Uprising: Tips on Defending Yourself Against the Coming Rebellion". HTSARU:TODYATCR was a wonderfully funny book, this book lacks the humor of the first book and really doesn't seem to contain the background research of the first book.

I'd say give this one a pass. Get "How To Survive a Robot Uprising: Tips on Defending Yourself Against the Coming Rebellion" instead, it is a far better book or "The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead" by Max Brooks, both are similar, but superior.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2009-01-02 09:35:13 EST)
12-16-08 2 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  For entertainment only
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If you're a mad scientist looking for pointers, or some techno-geek trying to take over the world, this book really isn't good for much besides a few pointers. The author details a few types of robots, including humanoid robots and intelligent vacuum cleaners. However, it's fairly vague after that.

I wasn't planning on building an army when I got the book, but I was hoping for a bit more than "well, you could try this..."
(Review Data Last Updated: 2009-01-02 09:35:13 EST)
06-01-08 3 2\2
(Hide Review...)  Not as Good as His Other Work
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Daniel H Wilson has a very unique style of writing. His first two books How To Survive a Robot Uprising: Tips on Defending Yourself Against the Coming Rebellion and Where's My Jetpack?: A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future that Never Arrived were absolutely brilliant, masterpieces in fact. How to Build a Robot Army although still good, when compared to those other two books doesn't come anywhere near to jumping over the extremely benchmark. The other books have a lot more humour and spend a little less time on the technical side and explain it in a lot more entertaining way than this. If you haven't read Wilson's previous two books I would suggest reading them first.

Richard Horne (the illustrator) has done another magnificent job with this volume though. I can't fault him at all.

How to Build a Robot Army is basically using your everyday robot companions to combat the Hollywood threat scenarios of aliens, vampires, Jaws and other unwanted visitors.

Although Wilson stumbled to maintain his high benchmark with his third effort, Wilson's fourth book Mad Scientist Hall of Fame: Muwahahahaha! will be worth checking out.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-12-17 06:11:49 EST)
04-30-08 4 1\1
(Hide Review...)  Beware the Kill-bot
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Daniel Wilson, robotics PhD, presents us with his third book regarding technology. He originally taught us how to survive when the robots eventually rise up against us in How To Survive a Robot Uprising: Tips on Defending Yourself Against the Coming Rebellion. Now that we know how to defeat the robots, we can use them to defend us as we must be aware of other dangers such as zombies, ninjas, aliens, Godzilla, pirates, and great white sharks to name a few. Wilson's ideas are scientifically sound and completely viable as he uses his knowledgeable background in robotics for his writing. He mixes in humorous scenarios based on cliched Hollywood movies to give the reader a light spirited trip through a robotics debriefing lesson and where the world stands in robotic advancements. Not quite as funny as the first book but just as informative. The book itself is made of foil-edged glossy pages and filled with silhouetted artwork that stands out on its own. It's entertaining, educational, and amusing to read. Also check out Where's My Jetpack?: A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future that Never Arrived to round out his writing collection.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-06-02 02:57:41 EST)
04-07-08 5 (NA)
(Hide Review...)  Fantastic, funny, educational robotics primer
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Wilson reviews the latest robotics technology and creatively tackles how we might best use it to conquer some of our most-feared enemies: Zombies, aliens, etc. While the read is light and hilarious, the advice is good and the science is sound. A someone who doesn't read anything like Popular Mechanics, this was also a neat update on real military robotics progress. I never knew that I might need to trick out my roomba to kill alien home invaders, but now I know how!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-04-27 02:55:20 EST)
02-12-08 4 4\11
(Hide Review...)  Heard this guy on late night radio - Wow!
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heard this guy, Dr. Daniel Wilson on AfterDark. I had to listen to the full program. his tech knowledge is unbelievable and his mind is like an encyclopedia of cyber-geek-robot info. Can't wait to get the book....ordering another for my techno-son. can't believe I've never heard of him!
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-04-08 02:54:09 EST)
  
                  Reader Reviews 1 - 6 of 6                 
  
  
  
  
  
  

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