NOVELS OF McDEVITT
Idiot plots; ie a story that can only occur because so many characters
act in a stupid way or the basic background universe is badly flawed – eg.
imagine if had a story set in late 20th century in which mule drawn
carts were used for interstate transport [& it wasn’t an alternate world or
post-apocalyptic story, but supposed to be an accurate prediction]. Now such a story might barely possibly be
written in late 18th century, but not in 20th century.
The universe of ‘Hutch’ Hutchins is supposed to be a couple of centuries
in future with high tech such as FTL, yet don’t have much basic tech and
procedures that we NOW have or will shortly have – so no oxygen recycling or
food regeneration, for instance [air regeneration exists on nuclear submarines,
and as a former navy officer Jack McDevitt should be aware of this; also as an
SF author he should be aware of this.
What is it with so many book authors and TV script writers that they
used this hackneyed plot idea of people running out of air? Also, they have when life support goes down
(no backup?) that it gets cold – more likely to have a heat buildup].
SF
CRITICISM – THE PRISCILLA ‘HUTCH’ HUTCHINS NOVELS OF JACK McDEVITT
[THE OMEGA
GALAXY SERIES]
It’s a very
strange universe that you’ve created Master Jack
No hard
feelings if I launch this attack
You’ve
written very strange books Master Jack
But we
don’t thank you in looking back
INTRODUCTION
PLANETARY
EXPLORATION IN SF
There has
been through the decades many tales of planetary adventures and exploration;
some good, some bad, some dreadful.
In modern times, one would expect writers to be able to get it right,
yet many recent novels have had it less right than old-style authors writing in
mid- or even early-twentieth century.
An example was a novel by Kevin Randle.
Another was ‘Lifeform’ by Alan Dean Foster (in retrospect, this probably
wasn’t too bad).
And now Jack McDevitt – as can be seen from the names, not inexperienced
authors, not newbie beginners, but people whom one would expect to have some
nous.
[These books are the equivalents of the slash horror stories such as
Friday the Thirteenth in which a bunch of inexperienced, defenceless high
school teenagers go into the bush and get themselves killed one by one by a mad
killer. If any survive, they do not
learn from the experience and will die in the next movie in the series].
PART ONE SYNOPSIS OF A TRAGEDY
[THE STORY, NOT EVENTS DEPICTED]
NOTE: DIRECTLY QUOTED SENTENCES FROM THE NOVEL(s) ARE HERE PUT IN BOLD.
Today’s “lesson” is about Jack McDevitt’s ‘Deepsix’ [ironically, I read
this just after reading Roger Levy’s ‘Reckless Sleep’, its author’s debut
novel, and a much more accomplished read, that also has aspects related to
planetary exploration, and does a much better job of it; however, it is a story
mainly on Earth in the future].
In the 23rd century, one would expect our technology to be
much more advanced [provided no penultimate disasters occur], and in this novel
that commences with events in the year 2204, they do have FTL space travel, and
so one would expect commensurate advanced technology in other areas, and also
advanced procedures.
In the 10 page prologue to the main story, ‘amateur hour’ prevails – if
this prologue had been written by a teenage wannabe SF writer, I would, if I
was an editor, reject it as puerile garbage.
Let us examine this prologue in detail –
[preliminary note – the prologue deals with the first exploration
of a newly discovered, biologically advanced world (ie it has an
ecosystem with a variety of lifeforms, including large animals)].
It starts with the discovery that 3 members of the expedition have
wandered off by themselves, unnoticed temporarily by anyone else – this is poor
team discipline.
Apparently this wandering group had encountered some danger, as the
remainder of the expedition have a sound recording of shots from stingers
(a type of weapon of unspecified nature) and screams of the team members.
Questions immediately arise about the technology of this group – don’t
they have advanced exploration suit? (one soon learns that they are wearing
some sort of designated suit, but it is obviously, as we learn, not very good
in its protective rating); what about weapons?, and most importantly
communication and surveillance equipment ? [in the 1950s’ movie
‘Forbidden Planet’ they had communication devices that included a visual
element; today we have mobile phones with such]. We further learn that their equipment
doesn’t even include GPS or any simpler location indicating device or beacon
[sure they don’t have a satellite network in orbit for such a network, but they
should as a standard operating procedure].
The rest of the ‘scientists’ decide to look for the missing three:
“They proceeded cautiously, drawing together
again, weapons at the ready. But these
were researchers, not trained military types.
To his knowledge, none had ever fired a stinger in anger.”
It would be better, if have a group of people, say three, to have only
one armed, who knows how and when to use a weapon, than three armed, none of
whom have weapon expertise. Further,
why is it in bad written SF and in so many TV shows that they only have one
type of hand weapon when exploring a planet [‘Star Trek’ phaser;
‘Deepsix’ stinger]; one should have different weapons for different
purposes, or at the least a multi-purpose weapon. [Players of RPGs (almost) never make this mistake].
[Additional note inserted later: also why is it in bad, modern SF
[contrast and compare with classic SF with its scientist-heroes (the written SF
of pre-1960s, and movies of 1950s)] that scientists have no paramilitary
training, weapons expertise or military experience (of course in the Omega
universe no one, not even soldiers, has any military experience – peace rules,
man).
Hell, even Mr Spock, the scientist of Star Trek, is a phaser use
expert].
“Biney Coldfield, the starship’s captain and
pilot of the third lander, broke in to inform him she was approaching and would
join the search as soon as she was down.”
Nightingale [the mission commander] asks the
search party, “ “Do we have a woodsman, by any chance?” They looked at one another.”
A mission commander should have full profiles on his crew. Also they should all be trained in planetary
exploration, if that is what is what they are going to do. [Also the ‘lander’
should have a pilot of its own, not the starship captain].
“ “Wait a minute,” Sherry said. “What?” demanded Nightingale. She raised her hand for quiet. “There’s something behind us.” They whirled as one and weapons came up.”
You should always have people also looking forward; they have no sort of
motion detector or any other device, not even a tricorder or its equivalent in
their technology. [say a simple rear view video camera]. Weapons should already be raised.
“Then he stepped into a glade and saw
them. All three were lying still. Their force-field envelopes were filled with
blood. Their faces were frozen in
expressions of terror and agony.”
Several times there is mention of them ‘scanning’ but with what is not
stated, and whatever it is [something built into their suits?] has little
capability – less effective than the Mark One scanner.
They also do not appear to have a camera to record the bodies, or any
forensic capability, and not even much equipment – no stretcher, no vehicle
[and no Star Trek like transporter device to provide some justification for the
lack of vehicles].
“All the blood was trapped inside the
Flickinger fields, so it was difficult to make out details of the wounds.”
What is the point of their force-fields if can’t stop anything? [seems
just to keep air & body heat in (and of course blood)].
Apparently the team of three had been attacked by birdlike creatures
[reminiscent of ‘The Birds’]; there was a short ‘battle’ that the birds won!
Their suits can’t even protect against bird beaks!!!
Also the behaviour of the birds is abnormal – they also later attack the
main group. Attacking large animals,
especially when those animals have some strange form of counterattack [the
stingers] is not normal behaviour for small creatures. Oh sure they’re ‘alien’; but must still have
motivation. These ‘birds’ behave like
creatures from a fantasy story world, not an SF world.
[Still let us accept it as reasonable, then surely it would be of great
scientific interest and human curiosity satisfaction to investigate these
‘birds’ as well as rest of the planet but as we find out, exploration of this
planet is abandoned; which becomes even weirder to understand when one learns
early in main section of book that twenty two years after the exploration party
landed on the planet the planet is due to be destroyed by a rogue planet (and
it is known at that earlier time) – one would then think that exploring
this planet would be a scientific and social priority, especially when it is
one of only a handful of planets discovered to have advanced lifeforms].
“She (Biney) arrived with the full complement
of her team, two men and a woman, all with weapons drawn.”
This statement, “with weapons drawn” is a lazy and inept way to describe
the arrival of a ‘military unit’ [or of any group of armed personnel, no matter
how inadequate they are in ability or armament].
What is happening here?
Biney is the captain of a starship.
Her full ‘military force’ consists of herself and three other
‘soldiers’.
They are armed with laser cutters, which aren’t actual weapons, but a
tool.
[as we shortly find out, these are not soldiers, simply more
‘researchers’ and only Biney has a laser cutter].
“She directed Tatia and Andi (two of the
researchers) to stand guard, and assigned everyone else to construct slings
from branches and hanging vines. When
the slings were ready they laid them on the ground, placed the bodies within,
and began the cumbersome effort of withdrawal.”
Wouldn’t it be better to assign two of the soldiers to guard
duty? [because, it appears that the new
people that the captain brought with her apparently aren’t soldiers, but just
more ‘researchers’ or perhaps technicians (it isn’t stated what they are)].
They have to construct stretchers [slings as they are called]?!!!
How do they know if it is even safe to cut the tree branches and vines?
Why didn’t the lander bring a jeep to carry the bodies away?
[or even better of course, an APC to take everyone back]
SPECIAL NOTE: If say the word ‘researcher(s)’, do it with a sneer [as
they are “soft Earthers”].
“…, but there’d be no further investigation on
this world.”
“He knew that Biney would insist on allowing no
one to return to the surface until this incident had been reported to the
Academy. And he knew how the Academy
would react. They’d have no choice,
really. Come home.”
This after just three deaths!?, and further these deaths being due to
incompetence and unpreparedness in training and equipment of the exploration
group.
And even if this ‘Academy’ is so dickless as to no longer wish to
explore this new world, you can bet that there would be lots of private
groups/companies that would – to their huge advantage.
[example – the search for new pharmaceuticals; to increase bioscience
knowledge]
What is the redbirds normal food?
In the attack against the main group three more die, including Biney.
By examining names I have worked out how many people in this main group,
as actual number never stated by author
Three in original team (all killed) are ‘Cappy’
Capanelli, Al White, an unnamed
Other members of original research group are Randall ‘Randy’
Nightingale, Sherry, Cookie (a lander pilot),
Tatia, Andi.
Also ‘Tess’ [an AI]
Biney’s team are Biney, Hal Gilbert, two
unnamed [later learn one called ‘Remmy’]
The author does a poor job of letting the reader know who is in the
exploration party – some of them are unnamed, and they almost all are not
ascribed as to what their expertise is supposed to be.
Those whose names I have put in red are
ones killed.
Also aboard the starship is Wilbur ‘Will’ Keene [ship’s MD].
On second last page of prologue it is revealed that Cappy’s group had
its own lander [called ‘Tess’; that we were previously told was the name
of an AI] and Sherry was apparently one of that lander’s complement. Nightingale had a (unnamed) lander (and
unnamed AI) and a group.
So there must have been two groups of four, with each four-group having
its own lander:
q Randall ‘Randy’ Nightingale, Cookie
(a lander pilot), Tatia, Andi.
q ‘Cappy’
Capanelli, Al White, an unnamed, and Sherry [which
of four the pilot unknown].
It also turns out that Cookie is the surviving member of the ‘command’
crew.
Also, Cappy’s lander, a no doubt valuable piece of equipment, is
abandoned. [this is part of a setup by the author for the main plot ].
The captain of the starship should not go down onto the planet [this is
reminiscent of the Sulako in ‘Aliens’; which basically doesn’t seem to have a
crew].
Biney’s real name is Sabina.
MORE ON NOVELS OF McDEVITT
Boring characters waffling on; could be halfway decent if cut size in
two.
No way comparable to Asimov or Heinlein – sparse, taut writing by them.
Idiot plots; ie a story that can only occur because so many characters
act in a stupid way or the basic background universe is badly flawed – eg.
imagine if had a story set in late 20th century in which mule drawn
carts were used for interstate transport [& it wasn’t an alternate world or
post-apocalyptic story, but supposed to be an accurate prediction]. Now such a story might barely possibly be
written in late 18th century, but not in 20th century.
The universe of ‘Hutch’ Hutchins is supposed to be a couple of centuries
in future with high tech such as FTL, yet don’t have much basic tech and
procedures that we NOW have or will shortly have – so no oxygen recycling or
food regeneration, for instance [air regeneration exists on nuclear submarines,
and as a former navy officer Jack McDevitt should be aware of this; also as an
SF author he should be aware of this.
What is it with so many book authors and TV script writers that they
used this hackneyed plot idea of people running out of air?]
MORE ON DEEPSIX
If sending a limited # of people and supplies to a near-death planet,
wouldn’t waste a couple of lander slots on two useless journalists [this and
the next item should both be prevented by Space law & Regulations].
If only two landers available – one should have been kept in reserve as
an emergency rescue vehicle; not to send inessential journalists to the doomed
planet, as if it was a pleasure jaunt – that’s Space Procedure (ie it would be
in any sensible universe).
Space travellers should have training in planetary survival.
If have engineering skill, then should be able to adapt a ship to land.
p104 – if (as should be) there is such a Law, then (a) it applies
whether Hutch can quote it or not (or reference its code); (b) should have
electronic PADD that can provide the info [wrist comp or similar].
[NOTE: IN MY GD UNIVERSE – MACHINES RARELY JUST FAIL – NORMALLY IT TAKES
A MORE POWERFUL FORCE TO DEFEAT THEM].
p135 – even if could break window it would be a stupid thing to do.
p140 – why don’t they have personal transponders?
If the Boardman loses
its lander, then how does Dr Helm expect to get onto Quraqua?
p134 – what sort of primitive tech is the lander, that when an
earthquake occurs causing fissuring
under it, instead of floating it
falls into the hole?
And also how fragile is other
lander, if quake ‘shakes it to pieces’?
p167/8 – Nightingale should know specs of Tess.
p185/6 – they knew it was a cold world, yet didn’t have winter clothing
[nor sleeping bags, space
blankets, etc].
p186 – don’t the spaceships of the future have any way to drop/deliver
supplies to someone on a
planet? [it would also be nice to
have an ATV].
p192 – has a toothbrush?!!
p206 – blankets, towels ?!?
The shuttle mentioned on p188 could drop supplies.
If such a once ever event – should have had more monitoring probes,
satellite networks, etc.
Basic physics prevents the cable scheme – apart from material strength,
there is velocity differences.
Even if ignore these – how could they climb the rope?
p191 – what happened to Rescue Patrol ships?
DEEPSIX and CHINDI
Very compressed plot summaries of these two novels:
‘Deepsix’ – a group of explorers land on a planet, get attacked by a
flock of birds – 6 humans die [now this is only the prologue, but this sets up
the events of the rest of the book; ie.if this event hadn’t happened, neither
would any of the other events of the novel, so therefore this really is the
heart of the plot].
‘Chindi’ – a smaller group of explorers land on a planet, get attacked
by a bunch of big birds – 2 humans die [sure, this is only a minor incident
midway in the book, but it is indicative of the author’s obsession with humans
being killed by birds; and like the incident in the previous novel is the
result of outrageous stupidity and unpreparedness by key characters].
MORE ON JACK McDEVITT
He is no hack writer, he is quite competent; his ‘Infinity Beach’ is an
enjoyable novel.
So why has he written ‘Deepsix’ the way he has? It’s a matter of choosing to write for a
particular audience – not your typical SF reading reader, but the denizens of
medialand – who love a “good” disaster story with incompetent “heroes”.
The ‘Alien’ movies are enjoyable, but also have idiot plotting [though
nowhere near as bad as these novels].
MORE ON DEEPSIX/CHINDI
The main characters keep repeating mistakes. In Deepsix, the characters go onto a planet where they know there
are dangerous animals [as result of previous failed expedition featured in the
Prologue], with basically no weapons and no protective suits [the e-suit is a
vac suit, unarmoured – provides no physical protection see Chindi p ].
Then go down on’Paradise’ without weapons [except Hutch’s laser cutter
that is almost as dangerous to user’s companions as to enemies].
[Also make assumptions that because ‘Angels’ are ‘beautiful’, they are
therefore harmless].
[Their behaviour in these alien encounters is letting the side down –
losing face for the human race]
Next, although one ship already destroyed straight after taking an alien
‘X’ satellite aboard, another ship does the same with naturally the same
result.
Also, isn’t their tech up to having 12 months food supply on board,
&/or food synthesis or recycling?
p93 not in human nature not to have weapons.
Ever heard of automation? – re: alien burial
These novels are the flip side of modern action movies – in which the
hero(es) does (do) near impossible things, and is very smart, very cunning,
brave and lucky, and often extremely competent – a virtual superman (or
superwoman).
The characters in these novels are brave, but stupid & unlucky.
Also no instrumentation (heldheld) for analysis. Hutch is a pilot but is poor on celestial
mechanics.
What is point of looking for aliens if you don’t have the experts with
you – contact specialists, archaeologists, biologists, scientists, “cameramen”,
bodyguards; and the resources. Be
Prepared.
The ‘sons of the bird’ in these novels need an art critic, a Jonathan
Hoag, to erase them.
CHINDI
With all their entering ships and alien bases, why don’t they have
portable airlocks ready to use?
p256 – “How can somebody be coming?” “We’re in a vacuum.”
Duh!?! – vac suits, vehicle, machine, are possible answers to this very
stupid question that one of the characters asks.
Also, they don’t have light intensifiers, infrared, microradar, etc.
imagers.
Nor cameras to record things for posterity & analysis.
p258 – “It was like no creature he’d seen before.” Cliché
Has some interesting encounter ideas.
Also don’t have jetpacks, steering jets units.
p402 – Loss of retreat Library – massive incompetence – should have had
it distributed amongst several ships, and also pissweak technology.
Many references to ‘the world’.
What world? Presumably
Earth. Aren’t there other human
occupied worlds?
Doesn’t seem to be any governments or police or big corporations.
With ‘Deepsix’ and ‘Chindi’ in both a rare archaeological (& general
scientific) interest planet is lost – one destroyed by cosmic event (giant
rogue planet), the other by (needless and illogical) terraforming. To lose one is a mistake (carelessness,
negligence, dereliction of duty), to lose two is a blunder.
If a person with a hammer kills another person – the hammer is the agent
or tool, but the person is the killer.
In these novels it is not alien machines or hostile alien creatures that
kill the characters; these are simply agents of the real killer – their own
stupidity.
THE ENGINES OF GOD
This is another ‘Priscilla “Hutch” Hutchins’ novel, and is set before
and also was written before the other two [‘Deepsix’ and ‘Chindi’]. It has some of the same flaws plus many of
its own.
It, like the others, is set in a ‘delusional’ universe – as there is no
system of interstellar governance, and yet a court on Earth believes that it
can make a decision relating to another planet (and what’s more, everyone else
in the universe goes along with this!!).
Certain governments on our realworld Earth (eg US) have same delusion,
but can make it a shared delusion because they have military power (unlike in
“Hutch” universe).
One armed ship (“Hutch” universe ships are unarmed) could change the
balance - & prevent the terraforming of Quraqua [which is a stupid idea
anyway because it already has an earthlike ecosystem; terraforming is usually
conceived as something to do to non-living worlds].
[There is a paradox also in this – doing the terraforming shows a lack
of vision, but undertaking a project that will not produce any viable result
for over 60 years requires an extreme long-range viewpoint that requires a lot
of vision].
In an unknown, potentially hostile universe it is prudent to show some
caution & it is wise to be armed.
To quote from Poul Anderson’s ‘For Love and Glory’ [Chapter XXIII;
p129/130]:
““Police need weapons against contumacious lawbreakers. Indications were that your ship is of a
heavily armed type.”
“That is true, madam, but it doesn’t mean that we want to menace anybody
or throw our weight around.” No more
than we’ve got to. “You have had a good
look at us. If your databanks are
complete, you’ve recognized the model and know more or less what firepower we
carry. You should also know why. This vessel is for
exploration, where unpredictable demands on her can always come out of nowhere.”
“You do not need nucleonics against primitive natives, sir, and when
have starfarers attacked you?”
“Never, madam. And we devoutly
hope none ever will. Certainly the
owners, the House of Windholm, have no such intention. But an expedition
just might run into, ah, parties willing to violate civilized canons. Far more likely, of course, nature may suddenly turn
hostile. Antimissile
magnetohydrodynamics deflect solar flare particles. A warhead excavates where a shelter is to be built. An energy beam drills a hole through ice,
for geologists and prospectors to reach the minerals beneath. Besides work like that, this ship took a
large investment. People protect their investments.””
& also Chapter X, p60 ““Explorers have an old, old saying, that adventure is what
happens to the incompetent”.”
I think that McDevitt, should rewrite these books – chuck out the
rubbish, retain the good seed ideas, and refurbish the plots.
The internal evidence from ‘TeoG’ & its sequels, is a universe with
only a small # of spaceships, only several handfulls of researchers on other
planets, no space habitats in Solar System, and an inward-looking, doomed
society.
And yet on p49/50 there is an ‘Editorial’ of ‘The Boston Globe’ of May
22, 2202 [showing that even in early 23rd century TBG still getting
it wrong as in late 20th century, just like ‘The Baltimore Sun’].
This ‘Editorial’states that Earth has ‘18,000 researchers in extrasolar
stations’.
Of course, this ‘editorial’ is an almost direct crib from 20th
century anti-space newspaper articles (that make stupid, false claims).
However, it also insults India, Pakistan and China, by claiming that
they will be a burden on rest of world over the next 200 years, unable to look
after their own people and solve their own problems,
They are now working on solving their problems (and
succeeding), but what is US doing? US
is the real worry for the future with its ‘Federation Prime Directive” ST type
attitudes to the real world (& also its risk of becoming an Iranlike
theocracy), eg. the troubles of Srebenicza and Rwanda occurred because in
1990’s UN was controlled by the US & its airy-fairy foreign policy –
non-interference where strong action needed; interference where it should have
minded its own business.
The major problems facing the future are the intransigence and defiance
of Law of the US and Israel, and the occupation of West Papua by Indonesia
[incidentally, any al-Quaeda claim to be freedom fighters is demolished by
their support of the US puppet government in Indonesia vs freedom movements of
indigenous peoples].
There are written languages on Earth, where we have samples of the
writing but that is all, and we don’t know what they mean.
Yet in TeoG they are translating an alien language(s).
You know the childhood books – ‘A is for apple’ and there is a picture
of an apple?
If one had one of these one could know the English alphabet and the
names of 26 objects in that language.
BUT that would be all – cannot know what a 27th word means
that isn’t shown in book; cannot know any verbs, proper names, abstract
concepts; nor even how the letters and words are pronounced.
Also there is mentioned in TeoG of a handweapon that is apparently quite
common, general issue type, called a ‘pulser’, that seems to have disappeared
when later novels written [note that although ‘Deepsix’ written later, the
prologue that had ‘stingers’ in it would be relating to events prior to the
present of TeoG, and therefore possibly before ‘pulsers’ existed (but I
wouldn’t bet on it), and this doesn’t explain why no ‘pulsers’ in main parts of
the other two novels].
Also, in ‘Deepsix’, shuttles can only go between ships [landers needed
to go to and from planets]; yet in TeoC, shuttles can land on planets (ie
perform role of landers).
It is hard to lose heat from a spaceship. Only 6 people on an exploratory expedition – small ships in this
universe. [although later a ship turns up that is carrying 100 people?!!]
If had spacesuits, could wear them to keep warm -or use shuttle heaters to warm air.
Machinery has to have a reason to fail. [and when it does, one should
have a crewmember who knows how to repair small equipment failures, and a
workshop to enable repairing, and materials and tools to perform repairs].
TeoG repeats the concept of a spaceship running short of air.
p297 – to solve this problem [““The space station,” she said. “How stable is its orbit? How long would you
say it’s been here?””] – take readings, feed into an astrogational
computer, ask the question – out pops the answer.
TeoG is too “old-fashioned” storytelling, but without the virtues of
such.
p309-10 This suicide theme also
reused in ‘Chindi’ with the serpentlike aliens.
p317 – NAU military ?!?! (1) what about other nations?
(2)
what
military? – there doesn’t seem to be a military in this universe.
p322-324 More insanely hostile
lifeforms, ala ‘Deepsix’.
p324 – travois?!! - also
reminiscent of ‘Deepsix’.
p332 – no remote control summoner? [re: getting to shuttle when on
ground]
p335 -or at least a homing
device. [ditto]
p344 “well-armed” !? Bosh
!! ill-equipped, inapplicable weaponry,
no armor, no planet exploration suit.
p345 – why didn’t the ‘crabs’ attack the “heavily armed (sic) landing party”? (my italics).
Microorganisms are a more realistic and
deadlier danger; but they take no precautions against these [not that their
‘protective measures’ against large lifeforms is any good].
Real drama does not require people to
foolishly die [nor to constantly act stupid, and repeat fatal mistakes].
These ‘crabs’ are like the ‘birds’ of the
other two novels cited, in that they launch insanely suicidal attacks (which
reminds me that some ‘bats’ in one of the novels did a similar thing). The behaviour of these creatures is
consistently unEarthly and also unnatural.
[During the 1980’s and 1990’s my friends and I played the
‘Stormbringer/Elric’ RPG, and sometimes when starting an adventure with new
characters they would be attacked by Clakars or Baboons or Dharzi
Dogs or some other
pack creature, and these also attacked powerful human adventurer parties with
suicidal frenzy (on rare occasions as with the ‘bats’ in McDevitt’s novel some
survivors might flee).
Clakars are winged, flying apelike creatures, Dharzi Dogs are doglike
creatures with birdlike heads, the Baboons are more intelligent versions of
Earthly baboons. These are fantasy
creatures, and sometimes their behaviour is fantastical as well (or their
actions are initiated or controlled by an intelligent being, a sorcerer);
however, in an SF setting where Natural Law is supposed to prevail, then unless
one can provide a very good reason, then natural creatures should behave
naturally [no matter what planet they are on – but if very Earthlike creatures
on a very Earthlike world, then they better behave like Earthly creatures
unless one can provide a rationale for their behaving radically differently –
note that actual Earth creatures do not behave in a manner that is ‘Earthly’ simply
due to being on Earth, but because they are behaving as appropriate to their
evolution and environment
(note that many Earth creatures behave differently to each other, but
not to what nature imposes on them)].
Note that in Poul Anderson’s novel ‘For Love
and Glory’ that the characters (especially the main character – Lissa
Davysdaughter Windholm) are involved in similar activities to those of ‘Hutch’
– planetary exploration, finding new things and investigation of space
anomalies. But are much more competent.
‘Hutch’ (and her fellows) are the most
incompetent bunch of explorers to ever be unleashed on any universe. And this isn’t even a comedy like say ‘Red
Dwarf’ [in which the characters are actually better prepared and equipped, as
have the most powerful exploration weapon of all – brains (truly one can say of
the ‘Hutchiverse’ residents that “a mind is a terrible thing (to waste)”].
Imagine if any of the parties in the ‘Hutchiverse’ landed on David
Drake’s and Karl Edward Wagner’s planet Zuyla [from their novel
‘Killer’] – they wander around aimlessly in their usual fashion – they would
quickly all die.
In contrast, if Zuyla was in my GD universe it would be a
proscribed planet (as it obviously would also be in ‘Killer’ though that is not
specifically stated, but heavily implied; but in ‘Hutchiverse’ it would be
simply an unknown world as they have little exploration done) with monitors
guarding it, etc. [Note that I have
deliberately put ‘done’ after ‘exploration’ instead of before ‘little’].
However, imagine in GD that it is an undiscovered planet and then one
of the races finds it – they wouldn’t
go down on the surface – they would observe – and once they saw how deadly life
on the planet is – ala Harry Harrison’s ‘Deathworld’ – they would report back
to their bosses, would not land on planet.
However, if an expedition was sent down to the planet – they would be at
the least an MI squad, or preferably ‘Ogres’ {Terran} or other-race nearest
equivalent to ‘ogre’, ‘werewolf’ or
‘troll’ squad. Whatever was sent
down to the planet would be a group of highly disciplined, well protected,
‘well-heeled’, personnel with a specific mission.
Of course, the limited character lifespan also applies to similar
‘exploration groups’ in other universes to those of the ‘Hutchiverse’.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL INTRUSIVE NOTE on ‘Mother of Demons’ [novel by Eric Flint]
This is okay – the human characters aren’t total idiots – however, as a
plot device it uses the common assumption in many stories that if a starship of
earth colonists goes to a planet and an accident befalls their starship,
leaving them stranded on the planet without access to its resources, that the
only knowledge they will have is that that the characters retain in their
memories, and would therefore lose all knowledge of and use of technology.
As it is an essential part of the plot that an historian character be
important I am prepared to be ‘lenient’ as it creates an interesting story.
However, this (the general concept underlying this and similar novels)
ignores possibility of books, teaching machines, portable computers
(solar-powered), and also that in next 100 years before we develop starships
(ie in 21st century) that we should and therefore would develop an
area of scholarship concerned with the concept of tech retention in unusual circumstances.
Indeed, one could have a novel where characters are stranded who happen
to have embedded information ie their brains have a memory/skill chip that is coded to provide information in
circumstances where the person is cut off from society by such an
accident/event, and turns the group of survivors into a bunch of well-informed,
skilled experts.
ADDITIONAL NOTE MORE SUPPORTIVE
EVIDENCE ABOUT SHIP ARMAMENT
From Homeward Bound by Harry Turtledove. Page 70.
“The Admiral Peary was armed.
A ship that went to strange places had to be.”
PART TWO WHAT SHOULD REALLY HAPPEN
SECTION ONE AN INVESTIGATION OF
AN UNKNOWN WORLD
To make this seem more ‘relevent’, let us assume someone has arrived at
the Solar System 10 million years ago.
Let us call these beings the Extrovians.
When the Extrovian ship was beyond the orbit of Pluto it launched a
probe satellite; this assumed orbit of the sun at a distance similar to that of
Pluto; its purpose was to check for radio signals, any sign of spacefaring in
the alien stellar system, and to do a general survey of the system.
A week later, its upload of data having been analysed, and no sign of
EEI [extra-extrovian intelligence] having been detected, phase III of the
exploratory protocol was enacted, and several probes were launched to explore
nearer to the alien sun, whilst the ship advanced towards the inner asteroid
field. One probe went into orbit of
Mars, another of Earth and a third of Venus.
When the probes reported the inhospitability of Venus and Mars, and the
primitiveness of Earth, the next Phase went into full swing. Specialists in the exploration of Mars-like
worlds went to that planet, whilst the major exploration group, whose interest
was Extrovianlike worlds such as Earth had that assignment.
Two smaller ships left the mother ship, which stayed in the asteroid
field. One proceeded to Mars, the other
to Earth.
The Mars ship had one exploration group [21 specialists] and one
military caste sub-unit [12 soldiers] and the ship’s crew [9]. Its equipment included an exploration
shuttle, a spare exploration shuttle, a military shuttle and two fighters; two
sets of communication/observation satellite arrays; various ground and air
transport vehicles [all lightly armed and armoured].
The ship itself had heavy armour, force screens and weapons. All personnel were highly trained for their
specific tasks, and in addition all personnel had cross-training, which
included military training for ALL personnel.
The mission protocol directives included that the ship’s crew did not
leave the ship.
The Earth ship was bigger, and had more and/or bigger of everything,
than the Mars ship.
It had six exploration groups [each with 42 specialists], eight military
caste units [each 24 soldiers] and the ship’s crew [36]. It had 12 big exploration shuttles, 16
military shuttles, 12 fighters; 6 sets of communication/observation satellites;
many ground, air and sea craft.
One exploration ship landed in Northern Africa, one in North America,
one in Australia, one in central Asia, one in South America and one in Western
Europe.
Robots came out of the ships and set up base stockades for the
specialists, surrounded by sensor networks.
Meanwhile satellites in orbit maintained a constant stream of
information to the main ship, which was at geostationary orbit position and to
the three bases and exploration ships.
these reports had meteorological, seismological, etc data and also
monitored all movement near the bases.
When the specialists were ready to do the actual field work, after full
atmospheric and soil analysis had been done near where they were stockaded;
they proceeded in their vehicles, each accompanied by a demi-unit [6] of
soldiers.
The soldiers had a large array of lethal and non-lethal weaponry, and
the specialists themselves each had the specific weapons in which they had
trained and been found most competent to use.
One exploration party [9 specialists and 6 soldiers] and their vehicle
found an area that they considered would make a good site for further
exploration, and so a stockade was setup there.
Then the specialists went into foot mode – sub-groups of three specialists,
2 soldiers and a guardian robot would seek out what interested them most –
whether it be rocks, plants, animals, etc.
Each “field foot group” had its own small vehicle that they could use to
travel around, and also to safely store samples in each day prior to returning
to the stockade.
As well as four field groups, each exploration group had a lab section
of 6 specialists who analysed all samples in advanced equipment – analysing
viruses, bacteria, gases, etc, etc.
One field foot group was attacked by a large group of stinging insects –
these couldn’t penetrate their explorer suits tough material, but just to be on
the safe side a soldier with a gas gun sprayed the area that included the group
with a non-lethal sleeping gas – they themselves were unaffected as could
instantly switch to internal air supply for the few minutes required for the
gas to subside.
SECTION TWO A PROBABLE FIRST CONTACT SITUATION
It is the year 2005. An
Extrovian ship arrives beyond the Solar System; it detects much radio wave
activity. Two ships leave it, one goes
further out – this is a observation/relay ship –its task is to observe if
anything happens to the mothership and report it to the second ship, which goes
even further out and is a fast, stealthy courier – ready to take a warning and
data back to an outpost of the Extrovian Extent.
Much of the rest of what happens is similar to above – launch of some
satellites; what is different is the approach to Earth. Contact specialists and diplomats are sent.
[Note that scenario two involves the concept of ‘extrovians’ that are
contemporaneous with humans; NOT that the Extrovians have a civilisation 10
million plus years old – ie. this is a different species of explorers that have
given same generic name].
SUMMARY
As one can see by the comparison of what happens in the novels –
contrived ‘excitement’ due to unbelievable idiocy [which robs the story of
reader interest and ability to relate to the story and the characters within
it], and the ‘thought experiment’, there is a huge gap in credibility between a
probable scenario and the novel ‘Deepsix’ [incidentally, the title of the novel
has little relevence either – maybe the author was ‘inspired’ by the movie
‘Deepstar Six’!!!]
Afterthought: Deepsix, though the ‘name’ of the planet, may be meant to
be a self-referential reference to the number of explorers stranded on the
doomed world.
Will have to check how many people in the group – from memory it seems
more than six [maybe this is the number that survived; in which case the
characters would wish the planet was called Deepten instead].
{One thing is certain about the name ‘Deepsix’ – it does not refer to
the intellectual calibre of the group – this is no ‘deep’ ‘six’ (‘mentally
advanced’ ‘group of six persons’)].
COMMENTS ON BLURBS ON THE NOVELS’ DUST JACKETS
‘DEEPSIX’
“A spellbinding epic adventure of discovery, catastrophe, and survival
from one of the most masterful storytellers in speculative fiction.”
Whoever wrote that should be done for false advertising, hyperbole and
various crimes against reality. The
catastophe is the novel itself.
Survival is what the reader has done when he puts the book down. Discovery is of how woeful this novel is.
There are several quotes from other SF authors [Stephen King, Michael
Swanwick and Robert J. Sawyer] on back, in relation to Jack McDevitt’s previous
novel ‘Infinity Beach’. If the comments
by these authors are accurate, then McDevitt’s writing has gone a lot downhill
since writing ‘Infinity Beach’.
‘CHINDI’
“One of the most satisfying writers in the field.” – Charles Sheffield
“You should definitely read Jack McDevitt.” – Gregory Benford
On back cover:
‘Praise for Jack McDevitt’s previous novels
Deepsix
“A bold journey across a fascinating landscape.” – The Denver Post
Infinity Beach
“Will hold readers in thrall.” – Publishers Weekly (starred
review)
Moonfall
“Care with characterization, careful research, and an irresistible story
line take Moonfall out of the thriller genre into classical territory.”
- Booklist (starred review)
The Engines of God
“Not since Arthur C. Clarke’s Rendezvous with Rama has discovery
of artifacts of alien intelligence been treated so skillfully.” – The
Baltimore Sun
Some comments about these quotes:
If the novel is so good why does it need these praises for previous
novels of the author?
The Baltimore Sun – wow, that’s a real major SF criticism
source!!!!!
Apropos novels about alien artifacts – there have been a number of good
ones since RWR
Some of these novels may be actually good or quite good – which begs the
question of why these more recent ones are so dreadful.
Another question is why it hasn’t been noticed by the editing department
of the publisher how bad they are – perhaps they don’t care – so long as they
have a book to publish, by an established author. This is a general sin of publishers – published authors are let
get away with writing rubbish because the publishers allow it (they mightn’t
realise how bad it is as they lack expertise in book analysis). [Pocket Books with their Star Trek books are
the major offender in this regard.
Contrast this with the superior Star Wars books].
On a personal note – the universe depicted in the ‘Hutch’ Hutchins
novels is vastly inferior to that of my gaming and proposed novels series
universe of ‘Galactic Domination’.
SLOW LIGHTNING
This is a British publishing retitling of the novel Infinity Beach [and
which on the public library’s computer network is listed as Omega IV]
The back cover has a long, glowingly praising blurb by Stephen King:
“Jack McDevitt is that splendid rarity, a writer who is a storyteller
first and a science fiction writer second. In his ability to absolutely rivet
the reader, it seems to me that he is the logical heir to Isaac Asimov and
Arthur C. Clarke. If you’ve never read
McDevitt before, you couldn’t find a better book to start with than SLOW
LIGHTNING, a nail-biting neo-Gothic tale that blends mystery, horror, and a
fascinating look at how first contact with an utterly alien species might
happen.
I simply couldn’t put it down – I was up until long past midnight and
loving every minute of it.
Kim Brandywine is one of McDevitt’s most engaging characters, both real
and appealing. Snatch this baby up, all
right? You’re going to love it even if you think you don’t like science
fiction.
You might even want to drop me a thank –you note for the tip before
racing out to your local bookstore to pick up the Jack McDevitt backlist.”
And on the pre-title page is something said that is incredible –
“He is widely considered by his peers to be one of the finest science
fiction writers in the USA.”
COMMENTS ON THE ABOVE TWO STATEMENTS
How come Stephen King’s praise refers to the book by the UK title? Editing.
a “ splendid rarity”?! there are many writers who are good storytellers,
and a lot who aren’t.
“ a science fiction writer second” – rather 4th, and a
storyteller 3rd.
“logical heir” – ““Illogical, Captain”, says Spock”.
Clarke and Asimov are writers and SF authors.
If you do like science fiction you won’t like McDevitt’s novels
much.
“a thank-you note”?! nay, rather a curse.
don’t race, crawl; better yet, get the book free from your public
library, you’ll then get your money’s worth.
what peers are these – his family?
“one of the finest science fiction writers” – not by a long shot, not
even “in the USA”.
I have a theory – Charles Sheffield, Gregory Benford, Stephen King –
they have all been hypnotised by evil aliens – it’s about the only thing that
makes sense in regard to their pronouncements on McDevitt’s novels.
Omega
– the fifth Omega series novel.
A story of the Omega clouds
It is a very strange universe JM has made. Every planet that humans discover that has or had intelligent
life (usually with a civilization of varying tech level), suffers a huge extinction
event shortly before or after human explorers arrive.
Moonlight in Omega has both – an extinction catastrophe
before, and an Omega cloud attack after.
In McDevitt’s universe, space travel is controlled by the American
Congress [Omega p17] – this doesn’t
make sense. There are about 200 nations
in the world. In the 23rd
century either space travel will be common, which means most nations will have
it, or it will be rare – in which case UN would have substantial control. No one nation would be allowed to have a
monopoly – as a matter of justice and for their own protection/preservation:
because if they did attempt to have such a monopoly, then a bioplague would
wipe them out (an inevitable result of such a policy).
Omega – a universe of dumb people [one possible exception is the Omega
Society].
The clouds are reminiscent of Piers Anthony’s destroyers in Macroscope
[however, as we find at end of novel – nowhere near as noble an endeavour].
Jack makes an attempt in this book to explain away some of the flaws of
this and previous novels in the series, by suddenly positing that it is not the
NAU [North American Union] and the Academy controlling space travel and
exploration, but a ‘just created for this novel’ World Council, for which the
Academy acts as agent. [p79 – “Any world shown to have sentient life
automatically came under the purview of the World Council, but its agent in
such matters was the Academy.”].
One of few references (none detailed), (others are p21, 42) to this body
(World Council) in the novel].
Also on p142 again tries to justify the spaceships being unarmed [this
is clearly and unequivocably refuted by the previously quoted Poul Anderson
book reference that I quoted earlier]:
“Sky had grown up with the notion that evil inevitably equated to
stupidity. The symbol of that idea was
embodied in the fact that superluminals were not armed, that no one (other than
fiction writers) had ever thought of mounting a deck gun on an interstellar
vessel.
It was a nice piece of mythology.
But mythology was all it was.”
If evil = stupidity, then the people of the Hutchiverse are very evil.
Not simply in having unarmed spaceships [despite experience showing the
necessity with their having frequent hostile encounters], but also having such
small, ill-equipped and unprepared crews.
[Where do they recruit their space personnel from – Dummies ‘R’
Us ?!]
p150 “ … some of the biggest egos on the planet.” – what planet
is that? In the Hutchiverse, despite
interstellar travel being fairly common, there are no human (permanent)
settlements other than on Earth.
One cannot decipher a language by simply listening to it – hearing
language samples [admittedly they later tie it to visual data; this is more
realistic; but the smart thing to do is spy on school lessons, and to copy
books (or scrolls in case of this society) from the library – a dictionary or
encyclopedia would be handy, but if they don’t have those, any illustrated
scrolls and anything that can indicate what their written alphabet is, and its
correlation to the spoken word].
Such sources are of course ignored by the “intrepid” explorers of
‘Omega’ (until later in the novel).
Contact (on Nox or Lookout) should be done by professionals, subject to
discipline.
They send a spaceship the furthest humans have ever gone and it only has
4 people on board, no specialists of any sort.
Should use a big ship with a big crew for such a long-range mission (or
even their shorter ones) [such as the cargo ship that is later shown to exist,
despite lack of any concept of commercial space travel in any of the previous
novels in the series].
All these ships with crews of just 2, 3 or 4 people; what universe is
this – something from 1930s/ 1940s ?
The Protocol that is constantly talked about – what is its legal
authority – seems like just an idea of some people without binding power.
An example of the dumbness of the characters:
One of the crewmen encounter a native who panics, shouts ‘Morghani’, and
runs like hell chasing after them.
Morghani is obviously ‘demon’ or similar, but they don’t figure it out.
When later a black-robed figure comes to the spot he is obviously a
priest there to do an exorcism, but only one of them (partly) figures it out
and he is very slow on the uptake; the others put up ridiculous theories.
One note of praise – the idea of the clouds and the hedgehogs is
reasonably creative.
[Incidentally, the aliens might be a bit pissed that their handiwork is
being sabotaged by humans, who are prematurely exploding the clouds before they
reach their positions].
Priscilla’s full name is Priscilla Maureen Hutchins [and in this novel
she is married to the artist Tor, whom she encountered in a previous novel].
The information on the lightbenders is contradictory – it is said they
make the wearer invisible, but contradicts this by saying that their eyes are
visible – which is right?
Anyhow, there is a way around this difficulty – use cameras for vision,
then can be totally invisible.
Incidentally, the lightbender tech, the superfast intragalactic radio
and some of their other tech is beyond that of their everyday space travel tech
and way beyond what their everyday abilities [viz incompetence] are.
How does a guy die from being jostled in a crowd? – again the e-suits
are useless [also can not even keep out an insect bite].
Compared to the Hutchiverse, the Star Trek universe consists of
‘super-competent’ people who realistically travel in exploration ships that
have 00’s of personnel (of course, there are also a number of similarities –
internal security sucks in both universes, but at least the Star Trek ships and
personnel make a token effort to be armed and trained].
‘Omega’ if one ignores its typical Hutchiverse faults is not too bad a
read.
CHRONOLOGY
THE ENGINES OF GOD (OMEGA
I) Prologue 2197 Main body 2202
DEEPSIX (OMEGA
II) Prologue 2204 Main body 2223
CHINDI (OMEGA
III) Prologue Main body
INFINITY BEACH [SLOW LIGHTNING] (OMEGA IV) Prologue
2983 Main body 3009
OMEGA (OMEGA
V) Prologue 2230 Main body 2234
A flaw of both the Omega universe and Star Trek is that the characters
use hand torches to see in dark.
Have you ever watched any of the nature documentaries where spying on
baboons or lions and they use small infrared light (thermal) cameras, or where
characters such as in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ use light intensifiers
[current tech, yet in 23rd century don’t have; and even if stuck
with using torches wouldn’t it be better to have them shoulder mounted (like a
“predator’s” energy gun) rather than losing use of one hand?]
Some speculative ‘plot proposals’ of my own, for your amusement:
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF HUTCH AND CO
Landing in their lander on a new planet Hutch and her three companions
exit their lander, enclosed in their e-suits, and not carrying anything.
As they pass near a screen of bushes something lashes through the air,
then quickly withdraws, leaving one of their number dead, with a red slash mark
on their face.
They are shocked by this, and mill around. Then another of them goes down, and a third, leaving only Hutch alive. She rapidly runs back to the lander and
takes off – another failed mission to report to the Academy – another planet,
that despite its otherwise perfect potential as a human colony site, must now
be off-limits. The triffids now own
this planet.
THE NEWER ADVENTURES OF HUTCH AND CO
Select any planet from classic SF ventures of the 20th
century, where intrepid explorers from Earth arrive and explore – all of these
missions would be too dangerous and fatal for those from the Hutchiverse, as
McDevitt’s characters are too unprepared in every way – small in numbers,
undertrained, ill-equipped, unsuitable personalities to be planetary explorers.
For them stobor would be everywhere and they would be unable to compete
against it.
Also, if Hutch and co faced not alien creatures and monsters, but simply
humans from many other universes they would be in danger.
ADDENDUM:
In ‘Promised the Moon: The Untold Story of the First Women in the Space
Race’ (Author Stephanie Nolen) on page 3 is the following:
“Harris knew the pair, and he introduced Jerrie to them: Donald
Flickinger and Randy Lovelace.
Every pilot in the country in 1959 probably knew those names – these
were two of the most important men in aerospace medicine. …
And she knew Flickinger was an air force brigadier general, a pioneer in
aviation medicine who had led the tests that told the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration that a human might survive spaceflight.”
And on page 87:
“Flickinger, an air force general and flight surgeon, was best known for
a series of jumps he made in the Pacific theater in World War II, when he was
parachuted in to tend to survivors from plane crashes and then lead them out to
safety. In 1951, his friend Randy
Lovelace recommended him for the job of chief of Human Factors (official speak
for pilots) in the Air Research and development Command (ARDC), the
experimental branch of the air force.
“Flick”, as the doctor was known, was an innovator in aerospace
medicine, and he rose rapidly through the ranks at ARDC.”
There you have it – Flickinger is the name of a very competent man, who
with his friend Dr Randolph Lovelace II, was responsible for a series of
stringent, rigorous tests of fitness and competence for space travel, and he
gets his name attached to and associated with a flimsy suit worn by incompetent
space travellers. What an honour, NOT.
Also note that Flickinger told NASA “that a human might survive
spaceflight” – not in the Hutchiverse – chances are you will die a stupid death
[except for the title character; she who always emerges safe whilst almost all
(or some anyway) around her die].
Also note that “Flickinger … then lead them out to safety” – but if
wearing a ‘Flickinger suit’ then you are pretty unsafe, as it provides little
in the way of protection – safer in medieval chain mail, or a motorcyclist’s
leather clothing.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY ON THE ‘UNARMED SHIPS’ POLICY OF THE HUTCHIVERSE:
Space and space exploration aren’t for the fainthearted; even Star Trek
(which in its manifestation as ST:TNG was a bit namby-pamby) recognises the
need to ‘walk softly and carry a big stick’.
It is ‘political correctness’, soft unrealism, to have unarmed explorer
ships (if they are unarmed should have armed escorts, and at least some
internal defences).
Another reason, of course, to be armed is that weapons can also function
as a tool – for example to save a ship if it is buried under a rockfall or to
avoid collision with a wandering space rock.
The classic example of this is an inversion – the fusion torch ships of
Larry Niven’s ‘Man-Kzin’
universe used a tool as a (defensive) weapon.
This is another important point to understand – being armed doesn’t mean
you are an aggressor; it can be for defensive only intent.
It is ironic that in a nation like USA where ill-educated citizens with
no self-control are allowed to have handguns and even military grade weapons,
that the idea of unarmed explorer ships should be advocated.
The lesson of history, and also of science fiction literature, is that
one must make an effort to be prepared for a hostile universe – hope for the
best, expect the worse.
Another thing – the negative depiction of scientists as incapable of
properly being able to use a hand weapon.
In Star Trek, and in a sensible future universe, cross-training is the
norm – scientists/engineers will also have training in exploration protocols
and weapon handling.
The real astronauts weren’t simply pilot jocks – they also all had
science or engineering degrees.
FINAL COMMENT
In football, the aim is to attack the ball, not the man [but of course
sometimes one has to attack the man to get the ball].
My aim has not been to attack Jack McDevitt, but rather his performance
– it is like a coach who tells the player he has underachieved – not performed
to his potential. We are all guilty of
this failure, but with an author it is more visible.
Jack McDevitt has a vision – of a universe without weapons – it is a
noble vision, but until the bastards that the universe always throws up are
deleted it is not realistic.
Jack – here is my challenge – do the unthinkable, and revise your books.
POSTSCRIPT
Humans have been exploring Earth for thousands of years in huge numbers,
and yet there is much about our planet and its life that we still don’t know
(some that we may never know). During
the past couple of centuries this exploration has often been done by trained
scientists with the latest technology available at time it was done.
And yet in so many SF stories a small number of semi-qualified people,
poorly equipped, and only spending a little time, and with a poor exploration
strategy, and no preliminary inspection and analysis, arrive at a completely
alien planet and wander around on it and call this exploration.
Imagine these people were exploring an island on Earth, they wouldn’t
find out much, and there one is dealing with a place that has so much in common
with the rest of Earth. What makes an
alien planet alien is that it is not Earth and we know little about it – the
other planets of our Solar system are semi-alien – we have spent a relatively
long time studying them remotely.
An alien planet, that one has no previous knowledge of, is full of
surprises, as are the other bodies in our Solar system and even unknown lands
on Earth.
It requires systematic approach to explore other planets – preparation
of personnel, a plan of exploration, proper equipment, advanced prior
surveillance, etc.
It is alright for characters in a movie or TV show, where the aim is
suspense and adventure and entertainment of the audience, to go cackhanded onto
an alien planet.
It is not suitable for a serious SF novel. Consider what a qualified Antarctic explorer must do; or what
about David Attenborough – he has a film crew with him, and must spend months
prior to each nature series he does planning the activities. They monitor via various instruments for
months or even years a habitat and its occupants. Also the people in ‘Big Cat Diary’ do this.
But what about excitement and adventure and thrills?
There are thrills enough in an alien environment even for a well
prepared large group, if the author has the wit and imagination.
Some of my favourite space exploration adventures are those of Eric
Frank Russell with his Jay Score stories [‘Men, Martians and Machines’], and
A.E. van Vogt with his ‘The Voyage of the Space Beagle’ story
compilation/fix-up novel. In both of
these a well prepared, trained crew of specialists (and well armed) in an
excellent spaceship do exploration.
The Beagle also has a Nexialist, and the Flattner (?) has Martian crew
also, as well as the robot Jay Score.
Others I like are the Bob Shaw ‘Ship of Strangers’, and the xxxxx of xxxxxxx, also Brian Stableford’s
ecology explorers.
Of course I also like Chandler’s Captain Grimes series, but that is set
in a universe that has already been basically explored, so requirements are
different [if travelling around a country on Earth one doesn’t need what would
need on an alien planet – no protective suit, no weapons, etc (but often do
first need certain injections); naturally I am excluding war zones or pirate or
brigand infested areas – enter at own risk].
There are 8 “conditions” I put forward as exemplifying a proper
exploration series, and each of the above would fulfill about 70 - 80% - a
‘distinction’ pass mark.
Even Star Trek [which I extensively criticise and mock elsewhere]
fulfills most objectives. What are
these:
1.
A nice
big exploration ship with adequate subsystems such as labs, armory, etc.
2.
A nice
big crew of trained professionals.
3.
Armed
and well trained security types.
4.
Auxiliary
vessels (air and ground) for planetary exploration.
5.
Adequate
equipment – ship system and personal – for recording events and encounters.
6.
Adequate
internal monitoring.
7.
When
on a planet wear suitable gear, be properly armed and equipped.
8.
That
the ship be armed (or if not armed have good protective field/armor).
NOTE: Several of the ships above are not armed – but this is due to the
nature of the universe that they are in – where prior exploration over a long
period has shown that they are in a universe that has no space travelling
hostiles.
It is true that the crew of the Flattner(?) are captured on planets,
etc. but recall that their ship was an experimental vessel that accidentally
went on a journey of exploration.
Star Trek (the Original series) fulfills conditions 1, 2, 5, 8, and
partially fulfills conditions 3, 4,6,7.
The ‘Beagle’ fulfills conditions 1, 2, 3, 4 (?), 5, 6, 7, and though not
armed has good screens.
In the movie ‘Forbidden Planet’ [the original Star Trek movie]
their expedition fulfills conditions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and in addition they
have Robbie the robot (and though not armed, good screens).
Dr Who doesn’t fulfill most of these conditions but has special
attributes instead – fate on his side, luck, genius. The Tardis does have suitable scientific analysis equipment, and
is indestructible.
The concern in Babylon 5 is not exploration but political intrigue, but
the B5 station does fulfill all the conditions.
Blake’s Seven is also not an exploration ship series, per se, but
fulfills conditions 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, and considering the types of places they
visit (human colonised planets and bases/stations) also 7, with 2 and 4 not
being necessary. It also has the
bonuses of Zen and Orac (and later Slave), the Teleport bracelets, and a crew
that though it is small each is a specialist in the top of their league:
The Original Seven (note that Zen is the seventh):
Blake – leadership
Avon – computer systems, security cracking
Vila – thievery, security system breaking
Gan – strongman, ethics
Cally – telepathy
Jenna – piloting
The Replacements:
Tarrant – piloting
Dayna – weapons
Soolin - gunslinger
Avon,Tarrant, Dayna and Soolin are very good gunmen.
Stargate SG1 fulfills most of the conditions generally, though of course
most of their travel is by stargates not ships.
Since writing all of the above I have been reading Peter F. Hamilton’s
‘Pandora’s Star’ [an excellent novel that I recommend, first in a duology].
Just over a fifth of the way through this book an investigation of a new
stellar system is initiated [via wormhole exploration technique, but the actual
transport system used is not of relevence to this discussion (p170-179)]. An Earthlike world they name Chelva is
checked by the explorers. The caution,
comprehensiveness and large scale resource allocation used is similar to the
approach that I have outlined above. It
is well justified, as the planet’s life is much more deadly than that on any of
those encountered by Hutch and co, as it is widespread plantlife of various
types that kill animals by use of highly corrosive acids. They do not lose any human life in finding
this out.
Also in ‘Pandora’s Star’, on page 369, is the following (referring to a
starship that is going to investigate a system):
“ ‘I understand you’re taking a lot of weapons on your flight,’ Thompson
Burnelli said.
‘The great debate,’ Wilson said, not quite mocking. ‘Do we shock
culturally superior species with our primitive warlike behaviour, or do we go
into the unknown with sensible protection that any smart alien will understand.’
‘Given what they’re facing, a degree of self-defence is appropriate,’
Nigel said.
‘Huh,’ Thompson snorted. ‘What do you believe, Captain? Is the barrier a
defence against some psychopathic race armed with superweapons?’
‘We’ll find out when we get there,’ Wilson said mildly. ‘But I’m not
taking a crew anywhere unless I stand a chance of bringing them back alive.’ ”
Peter F. Hamilton has adopted the same approach on these issues as I
advocate – caution with boldness backed by strong protective and offensive
deterrents.
Caution in that you do not simply charge in unprepared and ill-equipped
and ignorantly.
Boldness in that one one attempts to achieve the mission objectives by
taking some well-considered risks.
** this is an ‘in-joke’; it refers
to the publishing of a review of an A.E. van Vogt story by Damon Knight (this
review can be found in Damon Knight’s amusing book ‘Anatomy of Wonder’ (am I
recalling this title correctly??)).
This allegedly ‘destroyed’ A.E.van Vogt (of course it did nothing of the
kind). Despite his faults A.E.van Vogt
is ten times the author/storyteller that Jack McDevitt is.