California's huge defence and aerospace industry grew first from the second world war, then from the Korean war and the cold war (and, beyond the scope of this book, finally the Vietnam war).

ECONOMIST: The California dream

While the scope of the film is huge, it often feels like cold leftovers.

FORBES: Review: 'Cloud Atlas' is a Noble Disaster

The cold reality is that the effect has been the opposite, that the increasing length and scope of the war puts us at greater risk.

CNN: Will my grandkids be fighting our 'forever war'?