Alanhk answers “How do distant clones solve the...”

Eric asked this question about Diaspora:

How do distant clones solve the simultaneity problem of SR? For example, in Chapter 11, "Elena had chose not to wake if any other versions of her had already encountered life". But the clones are light years away from each other! By the time messages arrive from another clone it could be too late. I find this part really unsatisfatory given the overall rigorous and technically detailed style of the book :-(

Alanhk The different ships will arrive at their destinations usually many years apart. So if one does find life, the rest will hear about it in a few years, …moreThe different ships will arrive at their destinations usually many years apart. So if one does find life, the rest will hear about it in a few years, while they are still en route, or long after they have arrived. Very unlikely two would make discoveries close enough to make this a problem. (This isn't a SR problem though. Just a "messages take years" problem.)

I thought that the citizens finding the prediction of the galactic gamma burst just 1000 years in the future, from a message left a billion years earlier, was a hugely unlikely coincidence. Just near enough to create tension, far enough that they have time to do something. (less)

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