An sf reader soon spots the premises and parameters of a new story. Thus, an early reference to Pope Martin Luther in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials Trilogy alerts readers that there was no Protestant Reformation in this alternative history. Similarly, we soon gather that there is no faster than light (FTL) interstellar travel in Poul Anderson's Rustum History:
"'...nine years in deepsleep to the nearest star!'" (p. 9)
Is FTL theoretically impossible or just never discovered? Might it be possible in one universe but not in another? Might the laws of physics differ in alternative universes? Sure they might. Gods exist and magic works in some universes. But might magic have worked in our universe if the history of science had proceeded differently? See Our Alternative History.
We wonder but, meanwhile, the characters in Orbit Unlimited live their linear lives as if none of these issues existed.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Some scientists, like Alcubierre, do think FTL to be at least theoretically possible. And I hope that will not only be shown to be the case but will become an actuality!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I was asking not whether FTL is impossible in our universe but whether we are to understand that it is impossible or just not discovered in the ORBIT UNLIMITED universe.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Oops! I keep missing such subtleties by you. If I had to comment, off the top of my head, I think the characters in the ORBIT timeline did not think FTL even theoretically possible.
Ad astra! Sean
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