Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 162 Extrapolating Military Technology, more Soldier Robots

9 January 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 162 Extrapolating Military Technology, more Soldier Robots

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 

Robots moving towards offensive and defensive vehicles are precisely what is happening in aircraft.  Modern fighter aircraft are being designed with the capability to make them UAVs (Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles) with a few modifications.  The F-22 was supposed to have this capability, but I believe they didn't incorporate it.  The point is to have an offensive and defensive aircraft that a human can fly, but which a pilot can also control as a UAV.  The ultimate goal, as I mentioned is a lead aircraft with a human pilot and one to three other aircraft in the formation to provide support, protection, and attack capability.  It may get to the point where the UAVs carry the ground attack weapons and the lead carries long range sensors and defensive weapons.  The purpose of the UAVs would be to make the high risk attacks while the lead sits back and provides the air to air defense.

A similar concept could be used on the ground.  With robot mech type vehicles, the lead on the ground could control many in formation  and use them as necessary to achieve a military target or goal.  Just like the fighter example, a lead mech could support and manage any number of robot mechs.  The robots could carry additional fuel and weapons as well as provide long range sensors and decoy capability.  The ingenuity of the human could add as a force multiplier to the precision and risk aversion of the robots.  Such integration would provide the perfection of combat balance.  Additionally, the movement of a human-form mech would provide access to almost every battlefield humans can fight on.

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