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"A science fiction story is a story built around human beings, with a human problem and a human solution, which would not have happened at all without its scientific content."
- Theodore Sturgeon
 |
| Tracer-Bird | ||
| A prototype surveillance drone; a mechanical bird. |
In the novel, Mark Marakson (engineering nerd) comes into conflict with Pol Detson (of magical heritage). To spy on Pol, Mark creates and uses technology based on nature's hunting birds.
| The prototype blue-bellied, gray-backed tracer-bird with the wide-angle eye and the parabola ear followed the dragon-riders north. A series of the larger fliers followed it at well-spaced intervals, to serve as relay points for the spy broadcasts...
The dark birdforms dotted the mountaintops like statues of prehistoric beasts, wings outspread. Had there been an eye to observe them, it might not even have noted their minute, tropism-like pursuit of the sun across the sky as they recharged their batteries for the night's flight. The day had beaten its way well on toward evening before they stirred, almost simultaneously, as if shaken by a sudden breeze. They began to flex their wings. Soon, one by one, they dropped from the heights, caught the air, rose, found their way, found their patterns, resumed their journey... |
| From Changeling,
by Roger Zelazny. Published by Ace in 1980 Additional resources -
|
Mark Marakson was able to control their movements using a wrist bracelet control panel, that also showed surveillance footage on a small screen.
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and Technology from Changeling
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| Secret GPS Tracking Devices Legal |
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Gerry was dubious. She had seen abortive attempts at paralysis rays before.
Let your fingers - uh - your robot do the walking. And hopping.
