Missed opportunities?

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2002-12-28 02:38am

I made a thread about what can be done in sci-fi that is the exact opposite of most cliches. But what can be done yet that we haven't seen?

I think there are wonders within our own solar system that can be used as backdrops for stories, such as the moons of the outer planets.

While I'm on the subject of moons, has anyone ever seen the moon of Saturn (Dione, I believe), that looks so much like the Death Star that one would assume that's where they got the inspiration?

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2002-12-28 08:51pm

Actually it's Mimas:

[/img]

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2002-12-28 09:03pm

There are several writers that have our solar system as a backdrop, Kim Stanley Robinson, with the Mars trilogy, Ian Douglas, with the Heritage trilogy, John Hemry, witht the Stark Trilogy, Arthur C. Clarke with the 2k saga, those spring to mind almost imediately.

And, yes, our solar system has a lot of possibilities for great stories.

I think the writers fall into the trap of wanting to show stranger worlds, strange aliens, wonder-tech. And that just doesn't happen in our neighbourhoodm, so off they go into the outer space, leaving poor old solar system unexplored...

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2002-12-28 09:06pm

i think we need more scifi looking into the past. theres so many worlds based on what would happen half a millenia from now, but not enough looking back to the past. I can imagine a story about gods being aliens. I know! I'll name it Stargate.. yeah :p

But seriously, theres too few stories exploring scifi past. I'd love to see what some people think could have happened in a mythical yet scifi sense.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2002-12-28 11:56pm

Pu-239 wrote:Actually it's Mimas:

[/img]

that's no moon. . . it's a space station. . .

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2002-12-29 12:25am

Interestingly enough, IIRC the Death Star was designed before such images of Mimas became available. In other words, Nature copied George, not vice versa

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2002-12-29 12:28am

FANFIC IDEA!!

What if that really IS an abandoned Death Star? Perhaps it blew up one of Saturn's other moons and the remains of that are what covered it with rock?

Morning Star · Post by **Morning Star** » 2002-12-29 12:43am

Bug-Eyed Earl wrote:FANFIC IDEA!!

What if that really IS an abandoned Death Star? Perhaps it blew up one of Saturn's other moons and the remains of that are what covered it with rock?

You've been drinking, haven't you?

I've never seen that moon before...freaky.

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2002-12-29 12:47am

Morning Star wrote:
Bug-Eyed Earl wrote:FANFIC IDEA!!

What if that really IS an abandoned Death Star? Perhaps it blew up one of Saturn's other moons and the remains of that are what covered it with rock?
You've been drinking, haven't you?

No, but I'm not serious either.

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2002-12-29 01:02am

Warspite wrote:There are several writers that have our solar system as a backdrop, Kim Stanley Robinson, with the Mars trilogy, Ian Douglas, with the Heritage trilogy, John Hemry, witht the Stark Trilogy, Arthur C. Clarke with the 2k saga, those spring to mind almost imediately.

And, yes, our solar system has a lot of possibilities for great stories.

I think the writers fall into the trap of wanting to show stranger worlds, strange aliens, wonder-tech. And that just doesn't happen in our neighbourhoodm, so off they go into the outer space, leaving poor old solar system unexplored...

You forgot Heinlein, Barnes, Sheffield, and so on. So many others do the same.
Kojikun you should watch B5, it predates Stargate and is better.

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2002-12-29 10:40am

Bug-Eyed Earl wrote:FANFIC IDEA!!

What if that really IS an abandoned Death Star? Perhaps it blew up one of Saturn's other moons and the remains of that are what covered it with rock?

David Weber did a similar thing in Mutineer's Moon, where the Moon is in reality a millenia old planetoid sized spaceship.