Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 135 Extrapolating Military Technology, Physical Countermeasures

13 December 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 135 Extrapolating Military Technology, Physical Countermeasures

Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

1. Don't confuse your readers.
2. Entertain your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

I am writing about the extrapolation of science and technology to be able to write science fiction.  I made the point that it is almost meaningless to try to fully extrapolate a universe (world) that is 10,000 years in the future (and maybe 1,000 years in the future) without applying some cultural and technological shaping.

By shaping the cultures of your science fiction universe, you can shape the science and technology that is extrapolated.  Here is how I culturally shaped the universe of The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox to make the 10,000 year extrapolation work.

The major areas in warfare technology are:
1.  Software
2.  Weapons
     Heavy Weapons
3.  Countermeasures
4.  Defense
5.  Communications
6.  Robots
7.  Vehicles
8.  Environments (personal equipment) 

Physical countermeasures, like chaff, were the first countermeasures against electronic warfare (radar).  There are likely other countermeasures you can think of against physical types of warfare--for example, vaccines to counter biological warfare or atropine to counter nerve agents (chemical warfare).  In spite of these examples, when we consider countermeasures, we are usually speaking about electronic countermeasures.  Chaff just happens to be a great anti-radar countermeasure.  Flares are also a countermeasure against IR missiles and IR systems.  Flares are another type of physical countermeasure. 

Undeniably, there must be a countermeasure to every type of weapon system or weapon.  For example, armor is protection against most kinetic (bullet) types of weapons.  We'll discuss this in defense.  It is enough to recognize there must be some type of countermeasure against every electronic system.  Let's continue with physical countermeasures.  So, if in your science fiction, you have extrapolated the use of IR (human heat) seeking bullets, then why not personal flare systems, human heat decoys, and IR projection systems.  Right now, some aircraft use directed laser and IR to counter heat-seeking missiles--why not have these systems on humans?  Or why not blankers to hide a human heat signature?  The combat uniforms US soldiers wear are thermally blanking--betcha didn't know that.  They have been since the 1980s to help hide soldiers from night vision systems and IR cameras.  This is a physical countermeasure.

Everything must have a countermeasure.  Your extrapolated world and weapons must have physical countermeasures.  There are also electronic countermeasures.

More tomorrow.

Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com