3 ms·
In my opinion they get one "pass". Science fiction is best when you have one thing changed in the world and ask the question "How does this world behave?". OK,
by Beltiras 5y ago
In my opinion they get one "pass". Science fiction is best when you have one thing changed in the world and ask the question "How does this world behave?". OK, so the Expanse changes 2 things. Constant acceleration is possible, protomolecule is a thing.
- Symmetry 5y agoAtomic rockets did some math on the Epstein drive and it's theoretically possible, though well outside known engineering. It's supposed to have an exhaust velocity of .036 c and the theoretical max for fusion drives is well above that. http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/engines.php#id--Exhaust_Velocity--Deuterium-tritium_fusion_rocket http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/engines.php#id-...
- DennisP 5y agoBesides that I think most of the plot wouldn't be all that different with slower drives, there'd just be longer stretches of nothing happening and more spinning stuff.
- splatcollision 5y agoOne of Philip K Dick's essays about Sci-fi mentions this as well, as a way to make a world that 'doesn't fall apart'... Search found me this: https://web.archive.org/web/20080125030037/http://deoxy.org/pkd_how2build.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20080125030037/http://deoxy.org/... and previous discussion! https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23500469 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23500469
- thereddaikon 5y agoTVTropes calls this the One Big Lie, on their scales of Sci-Fi hardness. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MohsScaleOfScien...