This work investigates the evolution of the 'future war' genre in literature and how these fictional narratives have shaped public perception and political policy regarding international conflict. I. F. Clarke, a scholar of military history and literature, utilizes an extensive bibliography of speculative fiction and political pamphlets to demonstrate how authors from the 18th to the 20th century used imagined wars to advocate for specific military reforms, technological investments, or geopolitical strategies. The book argues that these prophetic texts functioned as a distinct cultural force that bridged the gap between military theory and public anxiety.

Scholars and military historians frequently cite this text as the foundational study for understanding the intersection of speculative fiction and geopolitical strategy. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous examination of how literature has historically influenced the trajectory of global conflict.