Will Robots Displace Human Labour?
Isaac Asimov: no, because laws will be passed to prevent the use of robots on Earth.
Poul Anderson: not as such because the first non-specialized humanoid robot is unemployed! However, more generally, automation does cause mass unemployment.
What Will Happen If Earth Is Invaded?
HG Wells: Terrestrial microbes kill the Martians.
Anderson: militarily superior humanoid aliens sell their services to the highest bidder among Terrestrial governments, thus conquering Earth economically.
How Can Human Lifespans Be Extended?
Robert Heinlein: first by breeding for longevity, then by exchanging old blood for artificial new blood.
James Blish: by a range of drugs called antiagathics.
Larry Niven: by teleporting the chemicals associated with aging out of the body.
Anderson: by shielding human beings from all radiation which means that they will have to remain deep underground.
Anderson: by a single antithanatic.
Anderson: only by occasional mutation.
Anderson: by periodic rejuvenation.
Will A Generation Ship Crew Mutiny and Lose All Knowledge Of The External Universe?
Heinlein: yes.
Anderson: no, because the laws of psychotechnics will be applied to manage social conflicts within the ship.
Can A Time Traveller Become Her Own Mother?
Anderson: no, because each of the children would have only half of her chromosomes.
Heinlein: yes, if she can have a full sex-change.
These are only examples.
3 comments:
How Can Human Lifespans Be Extended?
Larry Niven: by teleporting the chemicals associated with aging out of the body.
In "A World Out of Time"
Also, by using an antithanatic drug 'Boosterspice'. In the Known Space Series.
Kaor, Paul and Jim!
Paul: I might have said the aliens seen in "Soldier from the Stars" conquered Earth indirectly.
Anderson's THE WAR OF TWO WORLDS has ingenious plot twists: Terrans and Martians were at war with each other, but were both being manipulated by other aliens.
Not at all sure it will be possible to extend human life spans either indefinitely or for more than a fairly modest span of years.
Jim: There's also the life extending "spice" imported from Arrakis in Frank Herbert's DUNE.
Ad astra! Sean
I missed boosterspice and Dune spice.
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