The vertigo hook

"The Vertigo Hook" by Richard Ashby is an early science fiction story dealing with the perils of future technology during war. The book is centered around Ed Wilkes, a math professor, who, with his colleague Julie Mosby, is pulled into a classified military project by Major Peter Hall. This project involves creating high-tech weaponry; the discussions between Ed and Julie bring up ethical problems and historical events, connecting them with Mosby's heroic past. As the narrative unfolds, the characters faces the moral implications of their work, and an unknown force called the Irritant tries to mess with their thoughts. Ultimately, the book weaves together humor, scientific concepts, and historical facts, showing how the past can shape the future in unpredictable ways.