Some Basic SF Premises

Certain sf premises are fairly basic and obvious, the only question being how well an author develops them.

(i) The generation ship idea. Famously, Robert Heinlein, "Universe," and some imitators, including Poul Anderson.

(ii) Everyone who dies on Earth is resurrected on another planet. Philip Jose Farmer, Riverworld.

(iii) A relativistic spaceship accelerates indefinitely. Anderson, Tau Zero.

(iv) Interstellar explorers return to find that Earth has been sterilized in their absence. Anderson, After Doomsday.

(v) Immortality, instantaneous intergalactic space jumps and a planetary system between galaxies. Anderson, World Without Stars.

(vi) A police force to prevent time travellers from changing history. Anderson, Time Patrol.

(vii) Mutant immortals live through history and into an indefinite future. Anderson, The Boat Of A Million Years.

(viii) No doubt, you out there can think of others.