Deliberate and Accidental Anachronisms in Sci-Fi

[Steve Jordan]

But there is really no reason to assume that designs that work well (ergonomically speaking) now should change that much.

Sometimes you never know what will change, just because a new design becomes popular with the public (sometimes despite being less efficient, as a form of social protest or rebellion, or another aesthetic); if it stays popular long enough, it becomes the norm. Fashion is a particularly good example of this. Another is the auto industry, which loves old tech because of its romantic history.

 

[Jade44]

But there is really no reason to assume that designs that work well (ergonomically speaking) now should change that much. Handheld devices, including weaponry, shouldn't change all that much, even if the details do (a Glock .45 fits the hand well, has a good weight to it, etc., even if the kind of projectile changes). Keyboards along the same angle, even if they evolve into some kind of touchscreen version. When I am typing away, I like the tactile feel of a well-constructed keyboard and the click-click-click.

That is certainly true enough. I always thought that the phasors in the first Star Trek made no sense from the point of view of being easier to use. Later I noticed that the design was changed to the more conventional pistol grip, a design that has withstood the test of centuries.

 

[Connavar]

Weber's HH series is unashamedly mimicking Horatio Hornblower, so too much ease in control systems would not feel right. And I might occasionally argu – ahem – discuss technical details, there is no doubt that he's spent a lot of effort building an internally consistent technical environment. Voice controls would not be practical, and I'm far from convinced that hard wiring to a brain is a reasonable solution in a military situation.

When i read the first HH series i couldnt believe my eyes and i laughed at the fact she was carbon copy of Horatio Hornblower strenght as popular character, the brilliant hero that doubt himself that makes you feel for him. The SF story that read like historical naval novel.

I should try other military SF that doesnt just take historical fiction naval novel into space. I like more science fictional ideas than doesnt just copy techs of our times.

 

[Vertigo]

In fairness Weber is very open and honest about acknowledging Forester in those books.

 

[Jade44]

When i read the first HH series i couldnt believe my eyes and i laughed at the fact she was carbon copy of Horatio Hornblower strenght as popular character, the brilliant hero that doubt himself that makes you feel for him. The SF story that read like historical naval novel.

I should try other military SF that doesnt just take historical fiction naval novel into space. I like more science fictional ideas than doesnt just copy techs of our times.

Actually Harrington is even more closely modeled on Horatio Nelson. Like Nelson she rises from relative obscurity to the highest rank in the navy; and like Nelson she loses both an arm and an eye in the service of her nation. Of course, Hornblower was also modeled on Nelson to a certain extent, although he suffered none of Nelson's injuries.

 

[Vertigo]

Well that is true, Honor Harrington herself is indeed modelled on Nelson (one of my ancestors incidentally!) and Weber is very open about that however the books are definitely modelled on the Hornblower books and indeed in the first book - On Basilisk Station - his dedication reads: "To C. S. Forester, With thanks for hours of enjoyment, years of inspiration, and a lifetime of admiration." Which is I think pretty conclusive!

 

[Alex Mason]

I always think that writers concentrate on evolving one area and don't evolve the rest in the way that you think it would. I do not fault them as others have reasoned how difficult it would be to predict the future, but it is still fun.

You may have a society that can indefinitely keep a person alive and have their brain directly interface and control a space ship, but humans still translate alien languages and go out in space suits. I just can't imagine a society that has advanced medicine and computing so far, but can't write a reliable algorithm that can translate a language or create a safe environment on an alien planet for a dig site.

 

[Glitch]

Cost could play an important factor in a future society. Just look at Concorde