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"We are all repositories for genetically-encoded information that we're all spreading back and forth amongst each other, all the time. We're just lousy with information."
- Neal Stephenson
 |
| Build A Planet With Asteroids | ||
| The idea that it is possible to gather up enough of the asteroids in the solar system to "build" a planet out of the scraps. |
One of the many theories about the formation of the asteroid belt in our solar system is that it is the remnants of a planet that either broke up or failed to form completely.
| "We will try to manage in our own way," the Master said. He asked Garet, "Wouldn't you say that magnology was sufficient for our purposes, Professor?"
Alis' father beamed at being consulted and hearing his own term applied to the Gorel-zed propulsion system. "More than sufficient," he said enthusiastically. "Preferable, in fact. Magnology is safe, stressless, and permanently powerful in stasis. It is the ultimate in gravity-beam nullification. If anything can glue the asteroids back into the planet they once were, magnology will do it. You can understand how I was misled. Your system so fitted my theory that I imagined it was I who had caused Superior to rise from Earth." "I understand perfectly," the Master replied graciously. "And I cannot say how glad I am that you and Mrs. Garet have chosen to stay with Cavalier and Superior and become citizens of our new world." "What will you call your new planet?" the AP man asked. "Asteroida? Something like that?" "We haven't decided. I welcome suggestions." The UPI man was inspired. "How about Neworld?" he asked. "That describes it perfectly, doesn't it? New world—Neworld?" He wrote it on a piece of paper and admired it. "Thank you," the Master said. "Well certainly consider it." The UPI man was satisfied. He had a lead for his story. |
| From And Then the Town Took Off,
by Richard Wilson. Published by Infinity Science Fiction in 1958 Additional resources -
|
In the story, aliens looking for a new home decide to take the entire town of Superior, Ohio, levitating it along with a nice chunk of the Earth underneath it.
Compare to the spindizzy from the (not tongue-in-cheek) Cities in Flight by James Blish.
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Build A Planet With Asteroids-related
news articles:
- Tether Asteroids To Save Us All
| Comercial Airlock 'Bishop' Now On ISS |
| Space Station Could Use Some Martian Sawgrass |
| Arches Of Chaos: Jovian Space Manifolds Create A Celestial Autobahn |
| ESA Space Claw To Grab Space Junk |
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Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
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Okay, sf fans. If you could have some art created from a science fiction sentence, what sentence would you pick?
'There were the cleaners, with large padded feet, who were apparently polishing their way the whole length...'
It's fascinating to me how the Apollo program forced people to think outside their usual boxes.
'Some will combine in place to form more complicated structures, like excavators or centipedes.'
'the hair-fine wire going deep into Owen's brain, down into the pleasure center.'
'There was a dim whirring, and the spheres tipped and began to rotate...'
'The houses are prefabricated units... and they sell at the flat rate of five hundred dollars a room — set up.'
