Skip to main content

Which sci-fi universe has the slowest extensively used interstellar drive (best available)?



This is sort of the opposite of this question: Which SciFi universe has the fastest space ships (hyperspace technology)?



Since the obvious answer is just wherever there is no technology much more advanced than our own, we need to modify the question.


In order to force a unique answer, the metric we will use is: In which universe, despite having slow drive technology, have people traveled the farthest and spread over the most worlds using non-FTL drive ? The non-FTL drive has to be used because it is the fastest drive available, not for some quirky exceptional case. I.e. no one has FTL.


Obviously teleport-type technologies etc. are not allowed. There is no cheating.



Answer



In Larry Niven's Known Space stories, much of early Human Space was colonized with a combination of two different STL technologies. These were:



  • Ramrobots (automated crewless Bussard Ramjets)

  • Slowboats (large slow fusion powered ships that carry the colonists).


The Ramrobots perform the initial scouting of potential colonies, and can be used to refuel the Slowboats. The colonists are usually held in suspended animation (when stasis fields are discovered in 'World of Ptavvs'). Colonization takes decades of effort.



Using this method the following Known Space colonies are founded:



  • Jinx (Sirius A)

  • Wunderland (Alpha Centuri)

  • We Made It (Procyon A)

  • Plateau (Tau Ceti)

  • Home (Epsilon Indi)


Many of Niven's novels and short stories are set in a time before Hyperdrive with primarily fusion powered reaction drive STL ships. Humankind develop some extremely efficient fusion engines and you get everything from 1-crew Singleships to giant interstellar Slowboats.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

futurama - How much time is lost in 'Time Keeps on Slippin''

In time Keeps on Slippin' , Farnsworth creates a basketball team which he matures by abusing Chronitons. This leads to time skipping forward by random, but ever increasing amounts. How much time was skipped in this way? Answer Unfortunately, I don't think a good estimate can be made for this, for two reasons: Many of the time skips move forward by an indeterminate amount of time. At one point, the Professor mentions localized regions of space skipping forward much more than others. We then see two young boys on the street below complaining about having to pay social security, only to suddenly become senior citizens and start complaining about wanting their money. Thus, each individual could have experienced a different amount of time skippage.
Post a Comment
Read more

game of thrones - Is Syrio Forel dead?

In the episode 'The Pointy End' (Season 1 Episode 8) when Arya runs from the Lannister guards you hear the sound of a sword being dropped (around 4:56): [embedded content] After that neither Syrio or Ser Meryn Trant is never mentioned or seen in the show again, except when Arya mentions to the Hound that Ser Meryn Trant killed Syrio. Is there any mention in the books that Syrio actually dies?
Post a Comment
Read more

harry potter - How could Expelliarmus beat Avada Kedavra?

I want to be very careful about how I ask this question – I am not asking How did Voldemort die? [CLOSED] Below the text is the relevant passages from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows if anyone wants to review them (I'm sorry for the amount of text). How did Expelliarmus beat Avada Kedavra and kill Voldemort? I feel the reason Harry's Expelliarmus overpowered Voldemort's Avada Kedavra curse has to do with who was master of the Elder Wand and how the Elder Wand works. I've always had trouble understanding fully how the Elder Wand works, though. How much did the fact that Voldemort never truly won or mastered the Elder Wand factor into how Expelliarmus reacted to Avada Kedavra and caused Avada Kedavra to rebound and kill Voldemort? An answer based in book canon would be especially welcome, but any canon source really is fine. Harry heard the high voice shriek as he, too, yelled his best hope to the heavens, pointing Draco’s wand: ‘ Avada Kedavra !’ ‘ Expelliarmus !...
Post a Comment
Read more

tolkiens legendarium - Difference between elves and dwarves blacksmithing in the Lord of the Rings

Both the elves and the dwarves were famous for their metal work in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but what is the difference between what they made, and which one had the better skill of making amours and swords? Answer James Christopher's answer sums up the second part of your question well, but as to the difference in what they made, a little more detail is needed. Once the Elves learned to forge with steel, the shape of the sword changed, now being able to take on the form of a great broadsword or a light and agile curved sword. Additionally, they took great pride in decorating their swords. As we see in the Lord of the Rings , some swords like Sting had magical properties such as glowing blue when orcs are near. As far as the use of Mithril, lotr.wikia has two contradictory passages: Thus, Elven blades became renowned as great weapons, capable of performing deeds beyond the skill of their handlers and were even more glorious when the use of Mithril was allowed to the Elves. ...
Post a Comment
Read more