Aphelion

Wouldn't this be a semi-*real-world version of the "Dreaming Fithp" from "Footfall"? (Of course, that book was written by Niven and Pournelle, so it would be appropriate that at they would be participants...)

(* The whole "War on Terror" thing was (a) a bad idea -- like using fuel-air explosives to kill tsetse flies -- you kill some of the flies, and do enormous 'collateral damage', and (b) a really bad idea -- the military campaigns in Afghanistan and in Iraq have served as the greatest Islamist recruiting tool since the 70-virgins campaign, and (c) at least in the case of Iraq, was promoted on fraudulent grounds. Hence anything associated with it must be considered somewhat UNreal.)

Robert M.

Addendum: Dan had an editorial in 2002 (about the post-9/11 world) that sort'a kind'a suggested that sf writers should perform "Dreaming Fithp" functions in real life. It only took 5-plus years for that idea to filter through the ether into the heads of The Powers That Be.

(* The whole "War on Terror" thing was (a) a bad idea -- like using fuel-air explosives to kill tsetse flies -- you kill some of the flies, and do enormous 'collateral damage', and (b) a really bad idea -- the military campaigns in Afghanistan and in Iraq have served as the greatest Islamist recruiting tool since the 70-virgins campaign, and (c) at least in the case of Iraq, was promoted on fraudulent grounds. Hence anything associated with it must be considered somewhat UNreal.)

Oh come now, wars on concepts have historically worked quite well. You'll notice out the Wars on Drugs and Poverty have eliminated illegal drugs and poverty entirely from our modern world.

Addendum: Dan had an editorial in 2002 (about the post-9/11 world) that sort'a kind'a suggested that sf writers should perform "Dreaming Fithp" functions in real life. It only took 5-plus years for that idea to filter through the ether into the heads of The Powers That Be.

Dan has ever been a bit ahead of his time.

... Say, isn't that a solar-powered, loiter-near-target semi-autonomous surveillance drone outside my window? Oh, well -- at least it isn't arme