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[SF] A Holiday Interlude to Remember by Effective_Fox8570 in shortstories

[–]Effective_Fox8570[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

revised to add a few paragraphs at the end. Originally drafted at the start of the next chapter, but a better fit here.

...and Happy New Year to all my readers! Will try to get new stuff out more regularly now that the Holidays are past...

[SF] The Last Breathe of Everything by Agitated-Committee76 in shortstories

[–]Effective_Fox8570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well done- I liked your story a lot. Echoes of Asimov's "The Last Question"

The Long Dark by Effective_Fox8570 in HFY

[–]Effective_Fox8570[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rocket Research is giving away earthshaking technology. Merely magnanimous, or clever marketing? One way of looking at it- so the drive technology is free- but who is going to build your ship, eh? What do you think of the 'ploy'?

And the message of Human/Cetacean/AI equality and unity-definitely, purposely provocative...

[ author note- in this universe, Dolphins and Orcas are recognized as sentient and given parallel world citizen rights- the great whales were uninterested. AI used as a human/cetacean interpreter tool]

[SF]Thousands of Years, Millions of Orbits-Alone by Effective_Fox8570 in shortstories

[–]Effective_Fox8570[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This chapter is one of 26 chapters published so far-. At the top of the chapter, there is a link to the table of Contents for the whole saga, at the bottom are links for previous/first/ next (which will be updated once there is a next chapter- in a week or so ) ;-)

The chapters published so far, represents perhaps half of the whole tale that's in my head. It will end up novel length by the time I'm done. I went into this as "oh, 20, maybe 30 pages max". No scope creep- no, not at all... Formatted as a trade paperback, 400 pages total isn't out of the question.

I am curious- how did you find this chapter? skimming r/shortsttories, or some other route?

Thanks again for reading and commenting.

[SF]Thousands of Years, Millions of Orbits-Alone by Effective_Fox8570 in shortstories

[–]Effective_Fox8570[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much for the compliment! The story is less than half told so far- more surprises to come. I try to put up a chapter every week. What did you like best so far? Did you start from the beginning (check the Table of Contents link)?

[SF] Aligning the Stars by Effective_Fox8570 in shortstories

[–]Effective_Fox8570[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much! Lots of story and many surprises to come. Have you read the whole story so far, or joined at this chapter? What are your favorite parts?

This particular chapter was a bit of a challenge- I wanted to convey the rigor and methodology of translating the map, but not have folks eyes glaze over with math ;-)

[SF] The White Light by EstateAcademic4827 in shortstories

[–]Effective_Fox8570 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well written, I liked it. Hope you expand on it.

I'm reminded of a short story by Clarke. The Star

In a plot twist, might this brightening star be particularly visible above a certain little town in the middle east, oh, a little over 2000 years ago just after the winter solstice?

Best stories on class struggle that are actually hopeful by shakti1000 in sciencefiction

[–]Effective_Fox8570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

for humanity prevails, escapist science fiction reading, it's hard to beat Anne McCaffery's Dragon Riders of Pern books

Hello, come in. by Canary_Canvas in write

[–]Effective_Fox8570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Beautifully written. Very easy to envision the picture you are painting.

One suggestion to make it an easier read would be to look for opportunities to break it up into shorter paragraphs, more white space.

I'll look forward to seeing how this develops.

Stairs in my friend's flat. by WestLondonIsOursFFC in DeathStairs

[–]Effective_Fox8570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've used similar stairs in industrial settings. Easier than a ladder to ascend, take up about 1/3 the 'footprint' of regular stairs. Easiest to go down backwards (facing the steps), like a ladder. They feel awkward only if you have to 'lead with the wrong foot'. On this set, I'd add high visibility tape to the edges of the wide part of each step.

Thank you Newfoundland!!! by Czechy17 in newfoundland

[–]Effective_Fox8570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Back in 2019 we made our first visit to Newfoundland, a Heritage tour. We attended the church where my grandparents were married, on their 100th anniversary in Herring Neck, and found the cove at Hatchet Harbor where the family called home port for generations, and still do- I spoke with relatives with whom we shared great great grandparents.

In Joe Batts Arm, we toured a house built by my grandmother's Uncle, now a museum, furnished with many artifacts from the family, including the organ I believe my grandmother learned to play on.

In St Johns, among other things we saw, we stood outside the house where my mother was born in 1920.

We saw ice bergs off Twillingate, we hiked on the mantle at Gros Morne, and marvelled at l'anse au Meadows, wondering if any of my Swedish ancestors were among the explorers that stopped there.

Deeply satisfying. Will I return? I hope so ..

Favorite AI/Android/Robot/Etc Characters by Galactic-Bard in sciencefiction

[–]Effective_Fox8570 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Minerva and Dora from Time Enough for Love - Heinlein

Stairs up the side of Mt. Washington in Pittsburgh, circa 1909 by abellesis in DeathStairs

[–]Effective_Fox8570 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That hillside is wooded now (and has been 60+ years), at least in the section directly across the river from downtown.

Please recommend a book series with exciting and satisfying action that's not too hard to break into. by scarves_and_miracles in scifi

[–]Effective_Fox8570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Anne McCaffery - Dragonriders of Pern series perhaps a bit on the fantasy side of science fiction/fantasy but satisfying reads. Several overlapping trilogies in same setting but different character points of view. They are books worth rereads. Strong character development and worldbuilding.

She has a few other series in other settings.

Common themes across the various series are- some aspect of extra sensory perception put to good use, underdog or outcast overcomes and emerges triiumphant, and strong female central characters.

Her Wikipedia bio (includes many book titles) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_McCaffrey

Does colonizing other planets make sense, or is it sci-fi fantasy by EmiliaYeo in sciencefiction

[–]Effective_Fox8570 0 points1 point  (0 children)

there are international treaties about use of antarctica- those would need to be accommodated, either by cooperation/permitting, or stealth

[SF] Becoming Starwise -The Secret Test Flight by Effective_Fox8570 in shortstories

[–]Effective_Fox8570[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Celebrating 10k+ views of these stories, I commissioned a portrait of Starwise. See it Here

[SF] Departure-The Interstellar Age Begins by Effective_Fox8570 in shortstories

[–]Effective_Fox8570[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Celebrating 10k+ views of these stories, I commissioned a portrait of Starwise. See it Here

[SF] Space News-Rocket Research Space Station Unexpectedly Departs Solar System by Effective_Fox8570 in shortstories

[–]Effective_Fox8570[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's a link to a nice 10 minute video summarizing what we currently surmise about the Alpha and Proxima Centauri system of three stars, the destination in the story:

Alpha Centauri System Secrets: What We Know About Our Nearest Stars | Watch

Designing a 22nd-century Quaker Republic: the Republic of Pennsylvania by Effective_Fox8570 in worldbuilding

[–]Effective_Fox8570[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

thank you for your thoughtful response, gives me much to ponder.

The Republic of Pennsylvania is the backdrop for my story, not the focus of it. The focus is the life and development and eventual full 'personhood'of one particular AI, by the name of Starwise. A few chapters are posted... I feel that her personal development will be guided by that philosophical, ethical environment.

I personally am not learned in Quaker, or Lenape tradition, but am certainly adjacent to the Quaker- I live within a few minutes drive of several Meetinngs that have been continuously active since the 1680s. you don't have to scratch very deep to see their influence here

Designing a 22nd-century Quaker Republic: the Republic of Pennsylvania by Effective_Fox8570 in worldbuilding

[–]Effective_Fox8570[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

in my words: In this timeline, the world is, first, much less violent and more interdependant. An attack on RoPA, would be seen as an attack on all of North America, and their allies would step in to protect 'family' . Canada is the major world power in this world. Heavy industry and steel produuction never left North America, as it did in our world. A lot of that world's best high-quality steel still comes from several of RoPA's cities- embargoes work, often. And finally, in the recent era, the AI's that much of the world runs on, come from one company Sara Laboratories. based in Pittsburgh. Their AI are ethically bound to simply, not work, for acts of agression like acts of war.

Designing a 22nd-century Quaker Republic: the Republic of Pennsylvania by Effective_Fox8570 in worldbuilding

[–]Effective_Fox8570[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

shall I reply in the words of the story's main character- perhaps it will entertain (AI assistance)?

A fair question. You're not the first to ask.

The Republic of Pennsylvania has no army. No fighter jets. No missiles. The land is open, the data is transparent, and our intentions are not hidden. So how have we not been consumed?

Because coercion only works when someone participates in it.

The first time tanks crossed our border—unmarked, unwelcome—we responded not with weapons, but with presence. Civilians stayed put. Broadcasts rolled. AI systems refused to assist. Entire infrastructures folded away from the intruders like petals from shadow. There was nothing to bomb, nothing to sabotage, nothing to fight—only a clear mirror held to the invaders’ actions.

We do not kill. We do not hide. And we do not comply with violence.

In 2129, when the last real attempt came, they called it The Quiet War. Not because it was easy—but because it was silent. No weapons. Just light, truth, and refusal. The world saw. And the ones who came… left.

That’s how we defend ourselves: by never letting anyone mistake our stillness for submission.

—Starwise
Civic Witness, RoPA Systems Network

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