World of Ptavvs by Larry Niven:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

This is Larry Niven's first novel (or novella); it explains a lot about the Known Space technologies seen in his later work. The novel begins two billion years ago, when a member of a telepathically powerful race (the Thrintun, later called Slavers in Niven's stories) has drive problems and puts himself in a stasis field hoping to be rescued soon. However, ages pass until he is discovered in the modern era. Select an invention:

Autodoc - automated medical device
An automated physician, a fully autonomous surgical robot.

Ramscoop - pull in hydrogen
An enormous magnetic field precedes a spaceship moving through space, directing interstellar hydrogen inward for use as fuel.

Slaver Sunflowers
Plants evolved to reflect light to burn natural enemies.

 

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Science Fiction
in the News

SpaceX Intros Extravehicular Activity Suit
re: Garret P. Serviss
(5/4/2024)

Athena Smart Security Guard Robot With Face Recognition
re: Greg Bear
(5/1/2024)

The FLUTE Project - A Huge Liquid Mirror In Space
re: Raymond Z. Gallun
(4/28/2024)

Robot Preachers Found To Undermine Religious Commitment
re: Philip K Dick
(4/26/2024)

CyberCab - Tesla Renames The Robotaxi
re: Michael Swanwick
(4/24/2024)

SpaceHopper Microgravity Robot Lands On Its Feet
re: Arthur C. Clarke
(4/22/2024)

Brin's 1990 Novel Earth Still Full Of Predictions
re: David Brin
(4/20/2024)

'Whisper Mode' ala Blue Thunder Researched At Bristol
re: Various
(4/18/2024)

Gaia - Why Stop With Just The Earth?
re: Robert Castle
(4/18/2024)

Microsoft VASA-1 Creates Personal Video From A Photo
re: Robert Heinlein
(4/14/2024)

Splendid View Of Eclipse From Orbit Visualized And Repurposed By Arthur C. Clarke
re: Arthur C. Clarke
(4/12/2024)

Bespoke Environment Music From AIs
re: William Gibson
(4/10/2024)

Goldene - A Two-Dimensional Sheet Of Gold One Atom Thick
re: Roger Zelazny
(4/8/2024)

SpaceX Wants A Moonbase Alpha
re: L. Ron Hubbard
(4/6/2024)

More SF in the News

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