Walt Trizna's Blog, page 31

SHORT STORY PROGRESS UPDATE

                                SHORT STORY PROGRESS UPDATE

First, I was wrong in stating that The Ultimate Experiment was not published. It was published by Aphelion in issue 143 in May 2010.

So much for my record keeping.

I know I posted that I would not continue to post The Ultimate Experiment dure to technical problems. Well, I have managed to rescue a copy of the story. What I intend to do is continue to post Doomed by Progress until the completion of the story. Then I will begin reposting The Ultimate Experiment.

I hope you enjoy both stories.

DOOMED BY PROGRESS: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART II

DOOMED BY PROGRESS

Due to technical difficulties, I will need to postpone my posting of The Ultimate Experiment. So for now, I will begin posting my short story, Doomed by progress. This is an unpublished story.

The United States had decided to turn back to coal for the main source of power, primarily based on politics. Also decided was to relax pollution standards also the product of a weak president bowing to industry. The coal industry, auto industry and whatever industry had been closely regulated in the past to prevent pollution were overjoyed. However, lurking in the future was a development no one could have anticipated. A development which would drastically alter the Earth’s atmosphere. This change would result from countries known for their rapidly growing economies and lack of regulations. They were on the road to an improved life.

The circumstance which no one could predict was precipitated by increased income. With new money flowing to those who once had little was the spread of air conditioners. Populations in countries such as India, who once suffered unbearable heat, with a devastating toll to the population, now found relief through air conditioning.

Other countries also embraced this source of comfort unaware that this new luxury was creating great amounts of heat and sending it into an already fragile atmosphere. After all, other countries enjoyed the comfort of cool air although they experienced only moderate temperatures. Why should countries experiencing life-threatening temperatures be denied a way to a better life? This development of improving their lives also required an increased amount of electricity in India and China, and other countries experiencing new wealth. All these countries rely on coal to produce their electricity. As a result, there was a new cycle of our changing planet was established.

DOOMED BY PROGRESS: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART I

                                             DOOMED BY PROGRESS

Due to technical difficulties, I will need to postpone my posting of The Ultimate Experiment. So for now, I will begin posting my short story, Doomed by progress.

David and Lisa studied the scene around them, a scene they knew they would soon join. A decreasing number of people walked the area. The lack of trees offered an unobstructed view of great distance, a view of horror beyond description, an unbroken tableau of man’s folly.

 In their cozy home in the state of Iowa, David sat reading the evening paper. And shouted to Lisa, “They’re at it again. We’re all doomed because of Global Warming which has morphed into Climate Change. Can’t these ‘experts’ at least settle on a name for something that doesn’t exist?”

Cooking dinner, Lisa listened to Dave’s rant, but did not reply. They were of different minds as to what was happening to our atmosphere, and she knew starting an argument was useless. Dave’s view on Climate Change was based on what he was fed by his favorite news station. Lisa’s was based on the science she read. The signs were there but many paid no attention to the reality of the situation. For those, life was easy and comfortable.

David, 32, a CPA was moderately handsome of average height and weight put little value in scientific investigations. “You’ve got to look at whose paying for the study,” he would say. Let me say one word and tell you me how much we should believe studies. Coffee.”

Lisa, four years younger than David, was a high school science teacher. Petite, with blond hair and stunning blue eyes. She was a knockout. Unlike David she put value in scientific investigation, especially those following Climate Change. But she knew there was no point in arguing this subject with her husband.

WHAT WAS THE MARTIANS’ MISTAKE? THE ANSWER

The mistake the Martians made was that they did not wear spacesuits, and this led to their demise. Of course, if they had worn spacesuits you would not have seen how hideous they were in the movies.

A picture of the Martians was not a concern in Wells’ book. Although he does provide a detailed description of the Martians and, to me, they would have appeared more frightening than they did in the movie.

The reason the Martians did not wear spacesuits was because bacteria did not exist on Mars. They had no concept of disease caused by bacteria.

There you have it. The reason the Martians lost the war.

THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: HARD SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART IV

                                      THEULTIMATE EXPERIMENT

                                        An unpublished short story.

On one of her visits he said, “I’ve worked hard in this life.  I am satisfied with what I have accomplished.  But I am so very tired.  I look forward to the next life and being united with my dear wife.”

Virginia finished with her patient and left instructions with the nurse’s aide as to what needed to be done before her next visit.  With her work done, Virginia packed her bag and prepared for her next visit.  They said their good-byes, and then Stewart mentioned, “I’m expecting a visitor this afternoon, a former student of mine.  His name is Donald Ball, and he has made quite a name for himself in the field of quantum mechanics and string theory.  I have not seen him for thirty years or more.  I can’t imagine what the purpose of his visit might be.”

“Just don’t overdo it, Dr. Stewart.  I’ll see you in two days.”

Whenever Virginia left Stewart, she never knew whether she would see him again.  She knew the end was very close.

THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: A HARD SCIENCE FICTIION STORY, PART III

                                      THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT

                                      An unpublished short story.

He could tell she did not understand his request.  “Wheel me into my study and you shall meet them.” 

She wheeled him up to the sliding double doors of darkly stained wood.  When she opened them her eyes were greeted by floor to ceiling shelves overflowing with books.

“These are my very close friends.  I have spent my life with their thoughts, their ideas, and their dreams.  On these shelves are the works of scientists, philosophers, poets and great novelists.  I can gaze at their spines and recall the cherished words they hold.  This is where I choose to spend my last days.”  Over the days she cared for him she grew to understand how much these friends meant to him.

Now she saw Stewart as her patient and friend. 

THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: A HARD SCIENCE FICTION STORY, PARTII

                                    This is an unpublished short story

                                      THEULTIMATE EXPERIMENT

Stewart lived alone in a grand old house.  His wife died some years ago and he still deeply mourned her.  His only child, a son near 70, lived nearby and would visit when he could.  Stewart would have liked to see his two grandchildren and great grandchildren more, but they had their own lives and families.  He cherished the rare visits they managed.  A nurse’s aide kept watch over him and tended to his daily needs.

When Virginia began managing Stewart’s care one month ago, he was given three months to live.  “I’ll spend my final days at home,” he said to his doctor when told of his prognosis.

Virginia was assigned to Stewart’s case, and, during her first visit, she told him, “I’m having a hospital bed delivered today to make you more comfortable.  What bedroom do you want it set up in?”

“Oh, my dear,” he answered, “I want to spend my last days with my very close friends.  Set it up in my study.”

THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: HARD SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART I

                                       An unpublished short story.

                                      THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT

George Stewart, age 94, with his mane of white hair and flowing beard, looked the part he had chosen in life, that of a distinguished scientist.  His mind wandered as he waited in his study for Virginia to arrive. He always anticipated her visits.  Twice a week she came.  Finally, the door to his study opened and she entered.

“Virginia, how are you doing?” he said.

Virginia was thirty-five of medium build and quite attractive.  But it was the nurturing she gave her patients that revealed her inner beauty.  She put down her nursing bag and replied, “How are you doing, Dr. Stewart?” although she knew the answer.

Virginia had been an oncology and hospice nurse for four years.  The work was demanding and emotionally draining, but she derived comfort in knowing she helped the people she cared for to make their last days as comfortable as possible.

“I’m maintaining, Virginia.  I’m so very glad to see you my dear.”

Virginia smiled as Stewart adjusted his body in his hospital bed.  She enjoyed spending time with Stewart, easily the most famous patient she had ever had.  In 1975, he won the Nobel Prize for Physics.  His breakthrough theories and research led to the proposal of string theory.  At his advanced age, his brain was still nimble.  But his body was riddled with colon cancer and its malignant fingers of death had spread to other organs.

COMING SOON: THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT, A HARD SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY

                       COMING SOON, THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT

I mentioned in a previous post that I would soon offer my unpublished short story The Ultimate Experiment.

It is a hard science fiction story.

To whet your appetite; the story involves string theory and the existence of heaven.

HARD AND SOFT SCIENCE FICTION; WHAT ARE THEY

                 HARD AND SOFT SCIENCE FICTION

I’m sure science fiction addicts are well aware of the difference between hard and soft science fiction. But the occasional science fiction reader may not.

For soft science fiction, think Star Trek. The story line is science fiction but the scientific facts driving the story are not true science facts. The author creates the facts, and once created, must be adhered to them.

Hard science fiction is fiction where the story is created around actual science. The currently popular science fiction novel, The Three Body Problem, is a prime example of a hard science fiction story. Science using scientific facts to tell a story.

Soon I will offer a short story, The Ultimate Experiment, which is a hard science fiction story. As you read the story you will find fiction entwined with science fact.

Another story I wrote, The Universe in Balance, a hard science fiction story which, not long ago, I submitted to a publisher, and it was rejected. I did not mention to the publisher that it was a hard science fiction story. The publisher said that the story contained too much physics.

The story centered arounf the Big Bang which I consider the most mysterious subject in science.

To help explain the Big Bang Peter Higgs predicted the existence of the Higgs boson also known as “the God Particle”. Stephen Hawking proposed that “the God Particle” was the source of all the mass in the universe.

The existence of the Higgs boson was confirmed in 2012. Higgs won the Nobel Prize for his work the following year.  

I submitted The Universe in Balance to another publisher explaining that it was a hard science fiction story, and it was accepted for publication by the Corner Bar Magazine. To find the story go to the Corner Bar Magazine website and to the Home page, then to Ostarablot, March 21, volume 9 issue 4. Hope you enjoy the story.

So, there you have it, the difference between hard and soft science fiction.