The Wait Equation
The book Rome's Revolution is all about people from the past using the best technology they could find to get to the stars. They had no confidence that had they simply waited, eventually mankind would have invented a faster-than-light (FTL) stardrive. Because of the degrading conditions on Earth, they thought that mankind might not survive long enough to see that day.
In July of 2005, Andrew Kennedy wrote a paper entitled "Interstellar Travel: The Wait Calculation and the Incentive Trap of Progress" and published it in the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society (JBIS) 59 (7): 239–246. His conclusion was simple. Don't wait. Go now.
So the principles behind my story are supported by a noted academic. Similar concepts as mine were used in the original Star Trek episode called "Space Seed" and remade in the latest J. J. Abrams Star Trek Into Darkness.
There is one story that is even closer to mine. A. E. van Vogt (one of my favorite authors growing up) wrote a short story entitled Far Centaurus in 1944 which, in simplistic manner, is exactly the same as mine. However, in this story, it took over 500 years to reach Alpha Centauri and they sent four men. No women! What the hell were they thinking? It most certainly was a one-way trip.
Anyway, they get there and there are already people there, people from the future. Sound familiar? There are certainly some striking overlaps with my story. They are a little sick when they first wake up. One of the men died somewhere along the trip. The people at Far Centaurus are repulsed by them (because they smell?).
Then, in a goofy twist, the three surviving men fly back to Earth and break the time barrier and return only a year and a half after they left. And there is a girl waiting for them - not named Sally.
Oh well. I didn't even know about this story nor did the wait equation even exist when I started Rome's Revolution back in 1973. I think my story is way better than A. E. van Vogt's. He died in the 2000 so he can't defend himself. I guess it's up to you to decide.
In July of 2005, Andrew Kennedy wrote a paper entitled "Interstellar Travel: The Wait Calculation and the Incentive Trap of Progress" and published it in the Journal of the British Interplanetary Society (JBIS) 59 (7): 239–246. His conclusion was simple. Don't wait. Go now.
So the principles behind my story are supported by a noted academic. Similar concepts as mine were used in the original Star Trek episode called "Space Seed" and remade in the latest J. J. Abrams Star Trek Into Darkness.
There is one story that is even closer to mine. A. E. van Vogt (one of my favorite authors growing up) wrote a short story entitled Far Centaurus in 1944 which, in simplistic manner, is exactly the same as mine. However, in this story, it took over 500 years to reach Alpha Centauri and they sent four men. No women! What the hell were they thinking? It most certainly was a one-way trip.
Anyway, they get there and there are already people there, people from the future. Sound familiar? There are certainly some striking overlaps with my story. They are a little sick when they first wake up. One of the men died somewhere along the trip. The people at Far Centaurus are repulsed by them (because they smell?).
Then, in a goofy twist, the three surviving men fly back to Earth and break the time barrier and return only a year and a half after they left. And there is a girl waiting for them - not named Sally.
Oh well. I didn't even know about this story nor did the wait equation even exist when I started Rome's Revolution back in 1973. I think my story is way better than A. E. van Vogt's. He died in the 2000 so he can't defend himself. I guess it's up to you to decide.
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Tales of the Vuduri
Tidbits and insights into the 35th century world of the Vuduri.
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