Real Space Battles?

This video makes the point that SF authors might as well say that "We don't let science get in the way of a good story." And I wish this were only true of SF. I was doing some beta reading for a preaching magazine and I noted that the exegesis did not support the contention that was being made and I got this sigh worthy quote "You don't let biblical interpretation get in the road of a good sermon. (SIGH!)
 
The good news is that it is not a denominational magazine. And to be completely fair the exegesis might be a little iffy. But the quote made my head spin!
 
First off, I had to look up the meaning of exegesis.

"You don't let biblical interpretation get in the road of a good sermon"

I'm surprised your head was the only thing that spun. Just how good can a sermon be if the biblical interpretation is iffy?
 
WarriorMouse said:
I'm surprised your head was the only thing that spun. Just how good can a sermon be if the biblical interpretation is iffy?
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I suppose that depends on your view of the work of the Holy Spirit. Traditionally Christianity has held that the effectiveness of what was done in the name of Jesus did not depend on the perfection or ability of the priest/pastor but on God's work. --- However to ignore the clear Biblical interpretation is certainly not something which should be encouraged.

--- We are off thread here and probably should continue this as a pm if more conversation is needed.
 
There's an interesting article about "realistic" spaceship combat in Lee Brimmicombe-Wood's Aliens Technical Manual. It's well worth a look.
 
Not very good, is he? Leaves me wanting to go onto his site and correct him.

Not that I'm not in agreement that most cinematographic illustrations of space warfare are - umm - less than convincing, and his comments about the 'cold of space' I have been making for years (and I'm primarily a reader, rather than a film buff or gamer, so more used to technical correctness), if you tipped a naked human out into space (s)he'd freeze pretty rapidly, not due to radiating energy to the cosmic background temperature, but the 540 calories/gram latent heat of vaporisation of the water in him, boiling off and freezing at the same time. And carrying quantities of extremely compressed gasses could cool a warship by adiabatic expansion.

'Course, plenty of things I could say about lasers, or Newton's laws, but I suppose just telling people Hollywood lies, regularly and determinedly, is a worthwhile message to put out.
 
I have never understood how Alastair Reynolds, who is a sort of hard science king right now, has combative chases with his sub-luminal space ships. If the only goal is to destroy or catch the ship in the lead, that's going to happen shortly after it begins the deceleration leg at half way. For such otherwise grounded stories, that always seemed like an odd thing to ignore.
 
Onyx said:
I have never understood how Alastair Reynolds, who is a sort of hard science king right now, has combative chases with his sub-luminal space ships. If the only goal is to destroy or catch the ship in the lead, that's going to happen shortly after it begins the deceleration leg at half way. For such otherwise grounded stories, that always seemed like an odd thing to ignore.
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Are the chases enjoyable? What else mattes?

Either you're reading for entertainment, or you're taking a science course! ;)
 
Cathbad said:
Are the chases enjoyable? What else mattes?

Either you're reading for entertainment, or you're taking a science course! ;)
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If the reason the book entertains is due, in part, to the realistic handling of science - then it matters.

It is really just a question of internal consistency - it is distracting when an author grounds his world in rules that then aren't followed. The chase is enjoyable because of the way the competitors work within the rules to win. Formula 1 wouldn't be as entertaining if one driver gets to take a mid-track shortcut.


This is one of the reasons I found the Brian Herbert Dune books unreadable - he didn't seem to understand the constraints of Frank's universe and how they shaped the story and characters.
 
Cathbad said:
Are the chases enjoyable? What else mattes?

Either you're reading for entertainment, or you're taking a science course! ;)
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Exactly, I really enjoyed the chase in Redemption Ark, and he does explore to a degree how two such ships might interact destructively with each other at said speeds (I do have a few big glaring issues with the novel, plot-wise that irritate me, but it's the 'tightest' and most enjoyable written novel I've read of his.)

But there's plenty of stuff in his work that just isn't hard sci-fi. His sub-liminal space ships in the Revelation Universe for a start are powered by, well, "something" that can provide the power :D. There's lots of other bits and pieces where he clearly goes off-piste on the 'Hard SF' course.
 
Venusian Broon said:
Exactly, I really enjoyed the chase in Redemption Ark, and he does explore to a degree how two such ships might interact destructively with each other at said speeds (I do have a few big glaring issues with the novel, plot-wise that irritate me, but it's the 'tightest' and most enjoyable written novel I've read of his.)

But there's plenty of stuff in his work that just isn't hard sci-fi. His sub-liminal space ships in the Revelation Universe for a start are powered by, well, "something" that can provide the power :D. There's lots of other bits and pieces where he clearly goes off-piste on the 'Hard SF' course.
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"Hard SF" means different things to different people - a book full of completely made up but very internally consistent science counts for many readers.

But I'm just pointing out that the author isn't sticking to his own rules, and that's distracting. It's really just another kind of plot hole. If you have to slow down to get to your destination, then the chase ship has the ability to catch up. There is no explanation in the book why this doesn't happen - it just is ignored.
 
Onyx said:
But I'm just pointing out that the author isn't sticking to his own rules, and that's distracting.
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Okay, yeah. I can agree with this.

I've always said I don't want the author to explain the 'rules' to me, but he/she should have a set of rules, and follow them at all times. When an author doesn't, some readers are going to notice.
 
Onyx said:
There is no explanation in the book why this doesn't happen - it just is ignored.
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Isn't Skade's ship (I assume this is the battle we are talking about) damaged in an attempt to exceed the speed of light? And thus allowing Clavain to get to Resurgum before being overtaken? I don't have my copy of the book at hand. Well I do sort of, but it's in the garage somewhere in a box.
 
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