Tesla : inventor of the modern / Richard Munson.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 263-290) and index.

Introduction: Everywhere is energy -- Born between today and tomorrow -- A glorious dream -- Reverberation of Heaven's artillery -- A whirling field of force -- As revolutionary as gunpowder was to warfare -- Order of the flaming sword -- Divine organ of sight -- Earthquakes and friends -- Fire and robots -- Like a god controlling nature's power -- Sheer audacity -- Too much of a poet and visionary -- So far ahead of his time -- Epilogue: Boldness of ignorance -- Appendix: The marvel of electricity.

Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American, invented the radio, the induction motor, the neon lamp and the remote control. His breakthrough came in alternating current, which pitted him against Thomas Edison's direct current empire and bitter patent battles ensued. But Tesla's technology was superior and he prevailed. He had no business sense, could not capitalise on this success and his most advanced ideas were unrecognised for decades.