Future of Geography

Tim Marshall is a leading authority on foreign affairs with more than 30 years of reporting experience. He was diplomatic editor at Sky News, and before that was working for the BBC and LBC/IRN radio. He has reported from 40 countries and covered conflicts in Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Israel. He is the author of the No. 1 Sunday Times bestsellers Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps that Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics and The Power of Geography: Ten Maps that Reveal the Future of Our World; the illustrated edition Prisoners of Geography: Our World Explained in Twelve Simple Maps, shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year; as well as Divided: Why We’re Living in an Age of Walls; Worth Dying For: The Power and Politics of Flags; and Shadowplay: Behind the Lines and Under Fire.

‘Very accessible and allows the author to lead the reader on a voyage of galactic discovery’ Robert Verkaik, The Mail on Sunday‘[An] engaging exploration of power politics in space’ Irish Independent‘A superb survey of planetary politics’ Bryan Appleyard, The Sunday Times‘[Tim’s] prose is brisk in pace and refreshingly crystalline in its clarity, affording a highly readable lesson in historical geopolitics… deeply thought-provoking’ BBC Sky at Night‘Marshall is an engaging writer, good at explaining the science as well as the politics, and with an eye for a telling fact’ Lawrence Freedman, The New Statesman‘A fascinating and crucial insight into how, even as humanity moves upwards into the final frontier, we’ll be influenced by the geographies of space. Marshall has done it again!’ Professor Lewis Dartnell, author of Being Human‘Astropolitics is a word I never thought would enter my lexicon – but after reading this fascinating book, I’m hooked!’ Dr Becky Smethurst, astrophysicist and author of A Brief History of Black Holes‘Tim Marshall captures the excitement, anxiety and strangeness of being at the beginning of a period of major geopolitical change. A fascinating book.’ Helen Gordon, author of Notes from Deep Time‘If space is our future, this urgent book reveals that we’re in danger of handing it over to warmongers, plutocrats and conquistadors as rapacious as those on Earth. Tim Marshall shows us why we need to look up – fast.’ Tom Burgis, author of Kleptopia‘A chilling, insightful exploration of the political and military implications of our presence in space.’ Brian Clegg, author of Final Frontier‘This stirring book shows why astropolitics matters for everyone on Earth – not just the scientists and the dreamers.’ Dr Bleddyn E. Bowen, author of Original Sin: Power, Technology and War in Outer Space‘In his typical style – wielding a wickedly clever pen – Marshall provides a thoroughly enjoyable, dizzyingly thought-provoking, and technologically plausible ride through the terrain of solar space.’ Professor Everett Dolman, author of Astropolitik: Classical Geopolitics in the Space Age‘The Future of Geography takes us on a gripping and amazing journey, to guide us expertly and often amusingly into the exploration of space and its profound implications for those of us left behind on planet earth.’ Professor Ian Goldin, author of Terra Incognita: 100 Maps to Survive the Next 100 Years‘Having conquered the world with his bestselling series on how geography shapes international relations, Tim Marshall is reaching for the skies. As states and companies compete aggressively for scarce resources on Earth, the desire to control space grows ever more powerful. The next stage of geopolitical rivalry is being shaped, he says, by who and what will dominate the final frontier. What could go wrong?’ Jason Cowley, The Sunday Times, Best Thought and Ideas Books of 2023‘In his latest analysis of international relations, our geopolitical columnist Tim Marshall turns his attention to the skies and the geopolitics of outer space, or ‘astropolitics’. We’re headed back to the Moon and this time we’re there to stay. Will it be a mission for the benefit of all humanity? Unlikely, says Marshall in his new book, The Future of Geography – at least, not unless we see a lot of changes, and we’re running out of time to make them.’ Geographical, The best books of 2023‘Marshall makes a complex topic accessible, as he combines vivid storytelling with sharp geopolitical insights, and blends the past and the future’ Space Signals