I'm giving betting odds on "Project Thor" (popularized by Jerry Pournelle) being one of them.
No conflict of interest in picking one that requires hauling a whole lotta tonnes of inert mass into orbit, hey?
#jerrypournelle — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #jerrypournelle, aggregated by home.social.
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Died this day: 09/08/2017 (b. 08/07/1933) Jerry Eugene Pournelle's hard science fiction writing received multiple awards. "The Mote in God's Eye" was Nominated for the Nebula, Hugo and Locus Awards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Pournelle
#Literature #SciFi #ScienceFiction #books #bookstodon #coverart #bookart #bookcovers
#JerryPournelle @books @scifi @Scifiart @sciencefictionCover artwork by Robert Anthony
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#sciencefiction #JerryPournelle Der Autor Jerry Pournelle wurde am heutigen Tag, dem 7. August, im Jahr 1933 geboren.
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Jerry Pournelle, a polymath, used to say that a dark age was not when people forgot how to do a thing, but when they forgot that anyone was ever able to do it. I don't know where he got it from, if anywhere.
At a previous job just a few years ago, my team were mostly young and junior engineers. I remember showing them some photos of the new electronics workbench I'd built, because I was proud of it. I was having trouble getting this across - it eventually became clear that they all thought what I meant by "I built this" was "I assembled this".
They were flabbergasted when I said that no, I bought wood and sheetgoods and stain and varnish and designed it on a notepad and made it exactly what I wanted it to be. And they didn't ask me "why" - they asked me "how".
I sometimes get the impression that (in the West, at least) we are already living in the dark ages. Many young people are unaware that you can actually create things, and that it used to be common to do so. To them, it seems that civilization is something you pull out of a sea-can from China.
#DarkAge #DarkAges #China #SeaCan #container #cargo #civilization #maker #making #JerryPournelle
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Recenzje fantastyczne:
»[Recenzja] „Pyłek w oku Boga” Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle«„Pyłek w oku Boga” opowiada historię pierwszego kontaktu z Motami w narracji wiktoriańskiej z celebracją pozycji społecznej i posiadanego majątku. II Imperium Człowieka z porządkiem społecznym ustalanym przez cenzus urodzenia poważa naukę tylko o tyle, o ile służy ona politycznym i finansowym interesom oligarchii Imperium. Flota imperialna tego porządku strzeże i go utrwala. To czytelny i niekomplikowany motyw galaktycznej ekspansji...
#Fahrenheit_zin #recenzja #Vesper #LarryNiven #JerryPournelle #TomaszKokowski #PyłekwokuBoga #TomaszChyrzyński #TheMoteinGodsEye #UrszulaHorecka #UrszulaOkrzeja #MichałLoranc #Motowie #Wymiary
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Fantastyka:
»Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle „Pyłek w oku Boga”«Na początku czwartego tysiąclecia odrodzona i zjednoczona po latach wyniszczającej wojny domowej ludzkość skolonizowała setki systemów gwiezdnych. Nowa technologia umożliwia statkom szybkie przemieszczanie się po wszystkich znanych ludziom układach gwiazd... "Pyłek w oku Boga" Larry'ego Nivena i Jerry'ego Pournelle'a ukazał się w Polsce nakładem wydawnictwa Vesper.
#Fahrenheit_zin #sciencefiction #Vesper #książka #LarryNiven #JerryPournelle #PyłekwokuBoga #TomaszChyrzyński #TheMoteinGodsEye #UrszulaHorecka #UrszulaOkrzeja #MichałLoranc #Motowie #Wymiary
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‘Inferno’ Attempts To Rationalise The Irrational
Inferno (1976) by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle is a modern retelling the ‘Inferno’ portion of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy (1320). This version is something of a juxtaposition. There is some charm and wit to the story, however, it is also unsettling. Like the place it describes, Inferno descends into increasingly dark territories.
After accidentally killing himself science fiction author Allen Carpentier is surprised to find himself awake and thinking. He remembers his death clearly but can’t fathom his situation. There is only one explanation.
Hell. Allen is in hell. At least according to his new acquaintence and guide, Benito. Yet Allen wonders. Could this all be a game? A fiction created by some advanced alien race? What other explanation could there be for a hell so like the ancient Dante’s description?
Allen and Bentio begin a journey deep into the layers of the inferno. A journey that has one goal. To reach the centre and the mythical way into heaven. Even if Allen doesn’t believe in heaven… or hell.
I started reading Inferno hoping for something that would be weird and chilling. I got what I wanted but not in the way I was expecting. Instead of supernatural bleakness I got an all too human bleakness.
Inferno begins spryly enough. Following the structure of Dante’s story, Niven and Pournelle keep the initial portions of the story fairly light and witty. Allen Carpentier himself is something of a buffoon.
In the beginning Allen is so self-centred he can’t accept that his death is his own fault. The events leading to his demise are all of his own making. However, Allen chooses to use Isaac Asimov – yes, that Isaac Asimov – as his scapegoat.
As the story progresses Allen tries to rationalise his experiences the only way he knows how. He tells himself, and others, stories. Stories that are either improbable or plainly impossible. Unlike Dante, Allen isn’t a man of faith.
This version of Inferno isn’t about sin or recognising it ourselves. Instead, Niven and Pournelle focus on change. As Allen and Bentio proceed through the levels in Hell, Allen changes by degree. Like Dante’s “Inferno” each level is worse than the last and the sinners who inhabit them suffer accordingly.
If the story had focused completely on Allen and his growth then Inferno would be something to easily recommend. However, this isn’t the case. Allen’s guide, Benito, spoils the ending. And that ending is remarkably unpalatable.
Larry Niven (left) and Jerry Pournelle (right) (1933-2017).Benito’s identity is initially hidden. This works for a short time but anyone who knows even a little bit of history will soon realise who he is. His inclusion makes sense on a certain level but, unfortunately, Niven and Pournelle take it too far.
What begins as a somewhat tongue-in-cheek exploration of Christian belief devolves into apologisism of fascism. Niven and Pournelle allow, either by design or accident, Inferno to make extremism ultimately acceptable. For this reason Inferno must be read with the full knowledge that these views are unacceptable. Especially given the rise of extremism once again.
Niven and Pournelle, having already proved themselves with The Mote In God’s Eye (1974) have attempted to write a lighter story. It is only marginally successful despite its Hugo and Nebula nominations. Niven and Pournelle may be trying to say something profound about suffering and forgiveness. However, it is up to the reader to decide that for themselves.
#BookReview #Inferno #JerryPournelle #LarryNiven #scienceFiction
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BEOWULF'S CHILDREN (1995)
Watercolor and Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 27" x 36"This sequel to THE LEGACY OF HEOROT provided a fascinating opportunity to explore the alien ecology of Tau Ceti.
Cover illustration for the book by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, and Steven Barnes (TOR)
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/beowulfs-children/
#sciencefiction #sff #scifi #scifiart #illustration #larryniven #jerrypournelle #stevenbarnes #torbooks
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‘Fallen Angels’ Opens Its Heart To The Fen
Fallen Angels (1991) by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, and Michael Flynn combines action and with in a story that will charm SF readers. Combining interesting characters, solid worldbuilding, and an enthralling plot, Fallen Angels does what SF does best. Grand ideas and ideals that elevate not only the story but the reader.
For the past century the glaciers of ice have been rolling south as a new Ice Age dawns. As the world struggles to survive in the bitter cold, the two remaining space habitats struggle to stay alive. When a scoopflight designed to bring much needed air to the habitats crashes onto the American glacier the two pilots are stranded.
Fortunately for them there is some hope. Most of the world has turned its back on science and technology there is one group that hasn’t. Science fiction fans. A small group of fen spring into action to rescue the ‘Angels’ and keep them out of the hands of the brutal authorities.
The fans soon realise that rescuing the Angels and hiding them is not enough. As long as they are at the bottom of the gravity well the Angels will never be safe. There is only one option. The Angels must return to space at a time when space travel is impossible.
Almost from the outset Fallen Angels surprised me. I was expecting an interesting and exciting adventure. What I wasn’t expecting was the high level of wit and charm the story offers. From very early on the authors make it plain that Fallen Angels is a story about and for SF fans.
The plot of Fallen Angels is the perfect SF fan fantasy. In a world where science and technology are not merely frowned upon, but actively repressed, SF fandom is driven underground. While not actually illegal, anyone involved with SF are seen as crazies at best and enemies at worst. So the chance for these underground fans to participate in the rescue of stranded astronauts is a dream come true.
Fallen Angels is full of interesting characters. The authors, Niven, Pournell, and Flynn, with all their experience with SF fans are very careful not to make their fans charicatures. It would be very easy for them to exagerrate fannish behaviour but they don’t. The characters are fans but they aren’t slaves to their fandom.
The authors, do indulge in the use of fannish language and lingo. This is a nod and a wink to the reader. For those of you who have ever attended a Worldcon or other SF convention you may already be aware of these terms. For those readers that don’t immediately know the lingo they will have no trouble in discovering the meanings. Regardless of the reader’s experience there are numerous references that most readers will enjoy.
Larry Niven (left) and Jerry Pournelle (1933-2017) (right).The character development is strong. The authors use this development as a world building tool. The harsh realities of an impending Ice Age is chilling enough. However, when they add an American government that is now controlled by religous fundamentalists and scientific luddites, the effect is truly frightening.
Fallen Angels, like most dystopian SF, is not all doom and gloom. The characters actively struggle against all the obsticles against them; the cold, the government, even each other at times. They are almost all remorsely optimistic. So some readers this may seem improbable, however, it only lends to the story’s charm.
Niven, Pournelle, and Flynn have made their careers writing mostly hard SF. Fallen Angels is no different. The science is real and even when an item isn’t real it is entirely possible. In fact, there are scientific points that space agencies today should make part of their policies.
Michael Flynn (1947-2023)As much fun as I had reading Fallen Angels it is, unfortunately, uncomfortably prescient. The environmental concerns aren’t the same but they are very real. And the repressive regimes of many governments are shockingly real. I doubt the authors ever expected their ideas to come remotely as close to reality as they have.
Despite any similarities to real world politics Fallen Angels is about struggle, hope, and eventual improvement. Fans of SF will appreciate the in-jokes, nods, and references but the story holds up on its own. In a world that is increasingly oppresive, Fallen Angels is roadmap of ingenuity and hope. We need as much of this as we can get.
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#BookReview #FallenAngels #JerryPournelle #LarryNiven #MichaelFlynn #SF
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BEOWULF'S CHILDREN (1995)
Watercolor and Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 27" x 36"This sequel to THE LEGACY OF HEOROT provided a fascinating opportunity to explore the alien ecology of Tau Ceti.
Cover illustration for the book by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, and Steven Barnes (TOR)
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/beowulfs-children/
#sciencefiction #sff #scifi #scifiart #illustration #larryniven #jerrypournelle #stevenbarnes
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#FinishedReading one of my absolute favourites as a child when I first got old enough to raid my parents' bookshelves, so a huge nostalgia hit for me in this. This is a classic 70s first contact #SciFi story and fortunately stands up great to re-reading as an adult, apart from the almost total lack of female characters, which I notice these days but I guess didn't concern me as a preteen boy. Still, inventive, surprising, and lots of fun. #Bookstodon @bookstodon #LarryNiven #JerryPournelle
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Aktualności:
»Sześć lat temu zmarł Jerry Pournelle«8 września 2017 roku w wieku 84 lat zmarł Jerry Eugene Pournelle - amerykański naukowiec, dziennikarz, pisarz science fiction i jeden z pierwszych blogerów.
https://www.fahrenheit.net.pl/aktualnosci/szesc-lat-temu-zmarl-jerry-pournelle/#Fahrenheit_zin #LarryNiven #SMStirling #JerryPournelle #StevenBarnes
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https://lateboomersden.blog/2023/03/25/on-being-a-different-kind-of-sci-fi-guy/
Why I'm always out of sync with other sci fi fans: Lots and lots of books.
#ArthurClarke, #EverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce, #HalClement, #IsaacAsimov, #JerryPournelle, #LarryNiven, #RobertHeinlein, #SciFi, #ScienceFiction, #SF, #StarTrek, #TheDaniels, #TheExpanse, #ThePeripheral, #TheodoreSturgeon, #WilliamGibson, #LegendaryPinkDots -
Oh yeah this one too for $2. Probably one of the most fun "aliens invade earth" reads.
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#LarryNiven
#JerryPournelle -
#jrrtolkien
#StephenDonaldson
#BrianAldiss
#FrankHerbert
#LarryNiven & #JerryPournelle
#isaacasimov
#raybradbury
#ErnestClineOk, mostly old and dead, but I like what I like 🤓