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Thursday, January 2, 2014

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 155 Extrapolating Military Technology, more Space Laser Communications

2 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 155 Extrapolating Military Technology, more Space Laser Communications

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)
9.  Costs 

Theoretically, you can turn any frequency of light into a laser--some are just harder and less useful than others.  They are less useful now--who knows what capability we will see in lasers in the future.  If you were trying to extrapolate a new laser frequency, you would study the capability of a certain frequency and then extrapolate that capability as a laser.  Some capabilities are not as obvious as others.  For example, a LIDAR (Laser Radar) is able to see and measure molecular and atomic particles.  This means a LIDAR can see contrails, it can measure wind speed and air speed.  It can measure the movement of any atomic or molecular particles (as long as there are enough to see).

The trick with frequencies is their wavelengths need to be proportional to the size of the objects they can measure.  Likewise, countermeasures for such frequencies need to be proportional to the size of the wavelength.  Since the speed of light is a constant, the wavelength is a constant to a frequency.  This is also true of sound. 

Sound waves are an important part of communication, but not in space.  You must have a medium for the transmission of sound--therefore in space, no one can hear you scream.

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

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