Should we Whoosh?

POSTED BY: Zicsoft
UPDATED: Monday, August 5, 2002 00:02
VIEWED: 13995
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ZICSOFT

Tuesday, July 9, 2002 7:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Shuggie:
Well if I have to read a book before I can enjoy Firefly then maybe it's not the show for me. We'll see - maybe it'll inspire me.

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have implied that you were ignorant. But this is really basic stuff. It's not even physics. When I was 6, I had a picture book that described all the planets. If you try to read or watch (or in some nasty cases, write) SF without knowing the appropriate science, you miss 90% of the fun.

Some of the better science writers are as entertaining as any Science Fiction writer. I haven't been into space issues for a long time, so I can't recommend anybody who'd still be in print. Though this book looks promising:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471619124/qid=1026240600/sr=1-
2/ref=sr_1_2/103-5885032-3731810

If you just want to be entertained, there are certain classic "hard" SF writers who'll clue you in: Arthur Clarke, Heinlen (but avoid his later stuff) Azimov, Niven. Some of the science is out of date, especially on the assumption that Mars and Venus are inhabited (too bad about the Venusian Swamp dragons -- such witty fellows), but still a fun read.

HAKEN

Tuesday, July 9, 2002 8:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by InarasNewToy:
Not neccasarily....

Remember your Trektech 101!

Well, this is the part where I say that I really hope Whedon is scientifically consistent within the Firefly universe. Fantasy science is fine as long as it adheres to its own logic.

Now, take a look at this picture and tell me what you see.

Want to speculate as to what is happening as the Serenity is taking off?

INARASNEWTOY

Tuesday, July 9, 2002 8:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Haken:

Want to speculate as to what is happening as the Serenity is taking off?

It looks a LOT like those cool dropships from Space Above and Beyond.

But yeah, it looks like a VTOL engine like we have today. Most likely on purpose.

But does that mean it uses today's technology? Why not give it a sci-fi name like a Farscape "Hetch" drive? Or better yet don't call it anything and accept that it works that way because it does....like SAAB did.

I never questioned what made the dropship able to reach orbit with just those stubby little engines....they just did becuase they had those cool blue whitle flmes shooting out of them!

I'm not gonna sweat it if it's crystalised Spaceslug droppings that make the Serenity travel FTL. If it looks cool enough i'll buy it for the hour and that is all that matters.

INT

One evil at a time, that's the best i can do - Farscape

MOJOECA

Tuesday, July 9, 2002 8:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Haken:

Want to speculate as to what is happening as the Serenity is taking off?

I think I see Yoda hiding back in the bushes, palms raised.

--- Joe

ZICSOFT

Tuesday, July 9, 2002 11:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Haken:

Want to speculate as to what is happening as the Serenity is taking off?

OK, those things on the side are obviously Blivet Reaction Drives, used for athmospheric and interplanetary flight. They work by converting gas (any gas will do) into plasma and expelling the plasma out the rear. In the atmosphere, the gas is provided by those huge turbofans on the font of the pods, which also replenish the onboard high-pressure gas reservoirs. When the ship leaves the atmosphere, the opening in the front of the drives are sealed, and gas from the reservoirs is used. The drives do not have to be extremely powerful (you'll notice that the serenity is not kicking up much dust on takeoff) because most of the ship's inertia is removed by the same device that generates the artificial gravity.

Which is all BS out of my head. Probably Joss takes the "don't worry about it" approach.

SHUGGIE

Wednesday, July 10, 2002 8:37 AM

I feel the need to defend my scientific knowledge. I'm coming across as Cletus the slack-jawed yokel!

I have some knowledge about planets and such like. I know what a light-year is ("same as a regular year but with less calories" - kidding!). And I guess at the back of my mind I knew (from H2G2) that Alpha Centauri, nearest star to Earth (other than Sol), is 4 light-years away.

I suppose I've been a little bit dis-ingenious in letting you think I know less than I do. I was a little hurt by the "this is Junior High stuff" comment and embarrassed because - yes if I'd been able to put together all the bits of info correctly I'd have got to the same conclusion as you.

Have you seen Good WIll Hunting? In terms of this stuff I see Chopsticks if I'm lucky.

btw - I actually used to read a lot of Niven when I was younger. Never really got into Heinlein - although people were always telling me I would enjoy it.

I could follow the science upto a point - because he explained it well - but I wouldn't have been able to spot if there were technical inconsistencies. Like I remember one story about a black hole where he says in a post-script that you couldn't really do what his characters in real life because a black hole has gravity tides - but he cheated for the sake of the story. I would never have known that unless he'd told me.

Or in "Protector" I think - there's a space battle which takes 18months to complete - because that's how long it takes the ships to manoever meaningfully at the speeds they are going - or something like that. Niven goes into the reasons why but I just sort of took his word for it.

The bottom line is that I won't be watching Firefly to learn science but to be entertained. Niven managed to entertain without making me feel stupid about science, and whilst (presumably) keeping faith with scientific plausibility.

Shug

GUANTES

Friday, August 2, 2002 12:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mojoeca:

I think I see Yoda hiding back in the bushes, palms raised.

--- Joe

Not sure about Yoda but Han Solo's definately back there..... Maybe they have to kidnap Chewie?

Phil
"We few, we happy few, we band of buggered" -Spike

TINYTIMM

Sunday, August 4, 2002 7:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zicsoft:
Quote:
Originally posted by Haken:

Want to speculate as to what is happening as the Serenity is taking off?
OK, those things on the side are obviously Blivet Reaction Drives, used for athmospheric and interplanetary flight.

That's what we need around here. Blivet Science.
Pronounced "Blee-vah" of course.

Jeff Timm
Who can engage in Blivet Science with the best.

LIVINGIMPAIRED

Monday, August 5, 2002 12:02 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by CharlieBlue:
It's kind of like how Angel (of Buffy and Angel) insists he doesn't breathe, yet he's panting like a dog in practically every single episode. It's horribly silly when you think about it, but it lets the actor give a more natural performance.

Joss Whedon has repeatedly addressed this question over the years. The Watcher's Guides have addressed it, and so has the Monster Book. When Angel (or any other vampire for that matter) moves air in and out of his lungs, it has no practical purpose. There is no exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide. They just do it... out of habit I guess.

As for the silence in space, I say go for it. Star Trek, B-5, and all the others have already been there. Isn't this show about going to the new places that others have been? Whedon strives for realism in his characters; maybe the rest should follow.

Bored now.

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