This book-written by nine scholars based in Europe and another eight in the United States-is an
undertaking in American Studies where typically transnational intellectual currents and
cross-currents meet. Its sixteen chapters unite around three major themes and one common goal.
The themes are first technology and energy second place space and the environment and
third the theory and method of American Studies. At the same time the goal is to pay tribute
to David E. Nye one of the leading American Studies scholars of our time. Not only has he
dedicated the major part of his academic life to exploring those exact three themes as an
absent native son born in the United States yet working in Europe and for nearly three decades
chairing the Center for American Studies at the University of Southern Denmark he has
contributed mightily to stimulating those intellectual currents and cross-currents that make up
the stuff of American Studies.
