The Virilio Reader

A collection of Paul Virilio's writings translated from French, including a personal interview that the editor conducted with him at La Coupole in Paris. Maintaining the principle themes of war and cinema, the focus of the reflections is on the darker aspects of the future. Over a diverse career as a professor of architecture, urbanist, film critic, military historian, and peace strategist, Paul Virilio has produced over a dozen influential books that chart new territory on the impact of new technologies on society, war and the media, the virtualization of international politics and most notably, for his theories on speed as the dominant element of modern life. Representing the next wave of French social theorists, Virilio's unique perspectives on modern society will capture the attention of the social sciences, computer sciences, communications and humanities as well as general readers interested in the impact of new technology on everyday life. In this remarkable collection of English language translations, The Virilio Reader contains five new translations: The Suicidal State, The Critical Space, The Strategy Beyond, Polar Inertia and The Desert Screen, and an interview conducted by Der Derian with Virilio in a Paris café, along with his other most influential works that have appeared over his vast career. Also includes: Military Space, The State of Emergency, A Traveling Shot Over Eighty Years, The Vision Machine, The Art of the Motor, and Continental Drift. First English language collection of the writing of French social critic, Paul Virilio. This volume represents his most important work, including five new translations and an exclusive interview with Virlio conducted by the editor reflecting the diverse career of this great social commentator on life in the late twentieth century.