Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence and Security

Rating:
Summary: Good coverage of bioscience topics
Review: I found articles with which I agreed and disagreed, but I appreciated that the book attempted not to pander to special interests, and avoided straying too far right or left politically. The emphasis on the importance of the biosciences, especially biometrics and genetics, makes the books valuable and interesting. The publisher was brave on two counts, for attempting these books during turbulent times where the "facts" and names of agencies seem to change every day, and for tackling tough and intricate topics in way that they challenge but do not overwhelm the average reader.

Rating:
Summary: Global perspective and coverage of US security issues
Review: I might knock a star or two off of the Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security if the books were intended for graduate students or intended as a substitute for professional level publications by security specialists, but there are few resources in this area that bring such clear writing and scientific expertise to younger students and the general public. The books are written from a global perspective (the editors are in the U.K. and the advisory board is diverse and internationally based), and touch on global issues and organizations. These books also offer excellent insight into the tumultuous reorganization of the United States security agencies and the complexities of problems brought about by the concept of homeland security. The typical Anti-American/pro-European world view is restrained, and criticism is directed at organizations, agencies, and politics on both sides of the Atlantic. It is refreshing to see a resource on this topic written by scientists and teachers rather than another insider "tell all." There are some errors and omissions (I would have liked to have seen greater coverage of Asian issues), but it is good to discover a resource in this area that is dedicated to fact rather than opinion. Perhaps most important for students is that the editors and publishers were unselfish in directing readers to excellent outside resources for more advanced study. The reference resources, especially the glossary, included at the end of each volume are outstanding and helpful to all students and researchers.

Rating:
Summary: Touts the cover stories
Review: I think the set overreaches in that it tries to cover too much material in three volumes. I think that compressive coverage of narrower focus would have been better than shorting really important political issues such as the potential for manipulation of the bacterial and viral genomes by governments to start pandemics in targeted racial or ethnic groups. There are some otherwise good science articles that fail to even hint at the still unknown the extent of the U.S. government's invasion into personal privacy. But I am most disappointed that the authors kept to the "official" historical line on the role of intelligence agencies in matters such as the Kennedy assassination. Other conspiracies, and the facts supporting them, are also ignored or glossed over in favor of science and technology articles that lose sight of the grander manipulation of intelligence by governments for political gain. While the book lists suspected terrorist organizations, the terrorist actions of the U.S. government and its sometimes allies are also ignored. Younger readers and the general public would be better served by a brighter light on the dirty corners into which secrets are sometimes swept.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent general reference resource!
Review: Of the approximately 800 to 850 articles in this set, I have reviewed nearly forty entries across a range of subtopics. Although I find the A-Z format to be cumbersome when attempting to link information related to a particular topic, the overall organization is logical and friendly to the average reader. The photos and article content make the set as readable as many single topic books. It is hard to turn the page without finding interesting or valuable reading on a topic recently in the news.

The set is at its best when tackling science and technology related topics. Written and edited by scientists and teachers for the general public, the articles often take the space to explain fundamental science concepts and how they relate to emerging security related technologies. The science articles are first-rate and show consistent effort to make tough and complex topics understandable.

The books set a modest goal of portraying the impact of modern science and technology on security issues, but the editors and writers achieve more by including interesting short articles on historical topics that also emphasize the impact of the science and technology on the history of espionage and intelligence. The selection of articles shows a crafted regard not to tread the well-worn path of prior books on spycraft, and the omissions allow the authors to explore fresh angles to old stories. While the political and historical articles often seem condensed, and in places oversimplified, they add readability, usefulness, and context to the more technical articles.

The non-science writing is utilitarian, but having the wide range of topics related to countries and organizations in one set is handy. Although certain articles may subtly convey a particular author's bias, the overall tone of the book is decidedly balanced and fair. In fact, although apparently written before the conclusion of the recent war in Iraq, and the rise of issues related to the search for WMD stockpiles, the book exhibits an eerie insight into the complexities of the intelligence issues and failures related the current WMD controversy.

This is an excellent general resource for high school students and the general public. The books are a sound starter resource for undergraduate students. Libraries, newsrooms, and emergency planners would find this encyclopedia a worthwhile investment.