In this general history of the development of rockets and missiles, Chun traces the technology that made "attack from beyond the horizon" possible. A former missile launch officer, Chun focuses not only on the development and employment of the ballistic missile, from early German V-2 use to today, but the subsequent impact on national strategies, doctrine, force structure, and politics.

The development of ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads had a profound impact on superpower rivalries and structured international relations for decades. The advent of the ballistic missile changed the face of how nations believed war was to be fought in the future. Ballistic missiles are now global in scope, and the book reflects this with coverage of countries such as North Korea and India, as well as the traditional 'superpowers'. The book details actual use in combat, as well as current countermeasures and future missile defence systems. It also examines current concerns about their proliferation and the threat of WMDs.