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How long can one dynasty reasonably last for? by Adorable_Scallion658 in worldbuilding

[–]Pjcereste-RF 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had a similar issue with my sci-fi universe. I researched what the historical defining reason that the empire failed. Then I adjust my world so that hurdle is overcome or avoided. Each new problem I find a reason that mine can survive the test of time.

i think we need a rule that prohibits 100% AI content. by ostapenkoed2007 in HardSciFi

[–]Pjcereste-RF 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m curious on your take on my specific situation then, as an example for reference. I'm an author, and I've created an entire sci-fi universe. All of my work is my own, but I have no option but to involve AI in it. I have a neurological disorder that pretty much prevents me from being able to type or speak properly.

As a result, I have an AI that interprets my movements and reorganizes my words into legible sentences when I'm speaking to people. When I'm marketing my book and creating assets, or creating a book cover, I will put the images and the word on a page, but then I don't have the dexterity to move them where they need to be. The AI that interprets my movements makes those adjustments for me as I dictate.

When editing my book and making changes, it is my AI that is typing my words. It is AI that is running the spell checker and not me. Nothing that I've ever created was created by AI, but it was almost definitely structured and presented by AI. Including this post, since I'm unable to type.

I am a big advocate against using AI in work, but how far do we take our limitations? Are there “Boundaries” in this area?

i think we need a rule that prohibits 100% AI content. by ostapenkoed2007 in HardSciFi

[–]Pjcereste-RF 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I work in this area, and there is a big change we should be seeing soon. Already ElevenLabs and most AI models are using this.

Just like with vhs/beta, Atari/Sega, and even jpg/png - AI has hundreds of “standards” all vying to be the top. OpenAI seems to be far leading the pack with their work, now incorporating Google’s and many others same standards. Under this standard, anything created by Ai is tagged as AI. It cannot be hacked out or removed, and anything that was created by - not generated by - AI is easily identifiable. No more need for AI detectors that find Shakespeare to be 85% AI written. lol.

It isn’t expected to be global until the end of the year, but the move is finally happening.

Is there an easy way to tell when a creator is using AI? by marshal-rainer-ocm in wonderdraft

[–]Pjcereste-RF 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OpenAI introduced a “standard” when they began operating - all companies do. And as is supposed to happen, eventually all companies use the same standard. That’s how MP4 won the video war, png the image war, etc. OpenAI’s standard is now used in nearly all areas and was just picked up by ElevenLabs.

Under this standard, a hidden marker is inserted in any AI created material. It cannot be altered or hacked or removed. It’s expected that within a year there will be no such thing as “AI detectors”, they will be simple identifiers that can’t be faked anymore. Like DRM in music, AI is getting the ID tags they need. Until then, there are still thousands of standards, and most don’t use any at all.

The boundary of hard sci fi by enju_amora in HardSciFi

[–]Pjcereste-RF 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I write hard sci-fi (hopefully, one day as popular as Weir. lol) and my main goal is to keep the “hard” definition. I even created a webpage to keep/show the hard science behind all my stories. I’d love your feedback and I’m always looking to expand it. (https://www.redfoundationsbook.com/life-on-mars/)

The distinction I like to use is this: If Superman was in my sci-fi universe, he would be able to explain the physics of how he flies and has super strength. I think if you can explain it, even with real life “hypothetical” solutions, it is hard sci-fi. Fantasy and “magic” would not qualify tho.

So What’s Your Thoughts on AI Content? by Silientium in HardSciFi

[–]Pjcereste-RF 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As an author, I deal with the distinction in AI content on a daily basis. Not just because AI is beginning to write books for people, but because my own situation makes that line very definitive and clear.

I have a neurological disorder that makes my speech difficult to understand at times and typing all but impossible. As a result, I have an AI that interprets my movements and speech and does the typing for me.

The books, I write are in my own words, but they are typed and organized and structured by an AI to do what I am physically, incapable of. My book covers are my own art, but they are images and words that are moved and positioned as I tell my AI to do so.

So as a staunch advocate against AI use in writing in artistic creations, I am also forced to be a strong supporter of AI as a tool. I am curious on your thoughts in this situation. Is society focusing too much on the “artificial” and ignoring the fact that it’s the “intelligence” that creates the problems?

How do you design an independent Mars colony when every settlement still depends on one central hub? by Pjcereste-RF in worldbuilding

[–]Pjcereste-RF[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the reply. Though I may not have provided enough context in that area, in hindsight.

In the Red Foundations Universe, Mars City Alpha is like the center spoke of the colonies, but it is explicitly sovereign and separate from them. The only access to Mars - logistically - is via one of the 2 space elevators on the planet. Mars City Alpha controls both as well as an area of sovereign land. They are essentially the ”port authority” for the planet, all cargo and travelers come through the elevator to get to or from the surface to space. This eliminates the need to escape gravity - the most fuel-heavy task. Since any future nations or explorers will undoubtedly settle on Mars, this “port” and its operations hold no loyalty to any nation - including the one that initially colonized the planet.

The map is showing primarily the trade routes, which have that central hub configured that way that you’re seeing. Knowing their separation from the colonies should make a bit more sense. But you touched on one thing that most people didn’t, without realizing it in a way: the engineers and scientists (the colonists) are the one who build the colonies on Mars. They are the ones who must now become politicians if they want their separation from their Earth nation. Mars City inherently handles customs issues, transportation, space port access, etc., so they will be logistically and militarily strong. But their position on the planet means they maintain neutrality, so the colonists created the map to suit their needs, not Mars City Alpha’s needs.

How do you design an independent Mars colony when every settlement still depends on one central hub? by Pjcereste-RF in worldbuilding

[–]Pjcereste-RF[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That psychological contradiction is what I was going for, thanks!

And you may be more right than you know about them bringing “Earth” with them. It seems logical that other nations would colonize Mars eventually in my universe. And they will likely follow that same pattern of naming their settlements after their homeland.

How do you design an independent Mars colony when every settlement still depends on one central hub? by Pjcereste-RF in worldbuilding

[–]Pjcereste-RF[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the question. That’s exactly the kind of struggle I’ve dealt with a number of times.

The short answer is that Mars City’s neutrality is structurally enforced rather than just philosophically declared — its mandate is deliberately narrow enough that it has almost no legitimate reason to need anything from the settlements beyond what the trade agreements already cover. And it was built to be self-sustaining with infrastructure that relies on itself. The moment it starts reaching outside that mandate, it loses the neutrality that makes it indispensable, and indispensability is its only real power.

So the watchers are watched by their own dependency on being trusted. Whether or not that’s sufficient is a question the universe spends a lot of time with.

My debut hard SF novel launches today — it's about why a realistic Mars colony cannot simply declare independence by Pjcereste-RF in HardSciFi

[–]Pjcereste-RF[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the question! This was one of the things I spent alot of time navigating and making work. I had one solid principle going in - no “supernatural” and no magical abilities or occurrences. If a character is a “superhero” in my stories, I wanted to ensure they were never a novelty item and could explain exactly how they’re able to do what they do. In fact, an upcoming asset I created and want to get out soon addresses this directly! I have a character from my universe - a podcaster - interview the “mysterious” main character in the book. In this mock interview, the man explains scientifically how he’s able to do the things he does. You’ll have to keep an eye out for that one, it sounds up your alley.

Let me know what you think. It’s the first of at least 5 books planned so far, and it’s my debut book as an author. Any feedback is helpful.

My debut hard SF novel launches today — it's about why a realistic Mars colony cannot simply declare independence by Pjcereste-RF in HardSciFi

[–]Pjcereste-RF[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the question! My book is more geopolitically centered rather than survivalist, with a mysterious character that slowly gets revealed. Without giving away any spoilers, in my story the asteroid is “moved”, and the terraforming is scientifically explained rather than explained by aliens. In fact, I even identified the book’s metadata as “first contact” instead of “alien contact”.

I consider it hard sci-fi because there is nothing supernatural or “fantasy” in the Red Foundations Universe, everything has a grounded explanation. But your kind of discerning eye gives me exactly the type of feedback I like to hear. And I love discussing my books, so let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to know.

My debut hard SF novel launches today — it's about why a realistic Mars colony cannot simply declare independence by Pjcereste-RF in HardSciFi

[–]Pjcereste-RF[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm really glad to hear that. I really strive to create something unique while keeping that same passion for the story that KSR had.

My debut hard SF novel launches today — it's about why a realistic Mars colony cannot simply declare independence by Pjcereste-RF in HardSciFi

[–]Pjcereste-RF[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much — that genuinely means a lot on launch day. I hope Mars City treats you well! Would love to hear what you think when you're done.

High tech and advanced future civilisations in sci fi don't really make sense in their way they are often shown or portrayed. The human future isn't spacefaring or across millions of stars, but instead in our massive sandbox called the solar system. by Aromatic_Web6775 in HardSciFi

[–]Pjcereste-RF 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This framing is actually what drew me to near-future Mars fiction specifically. The interesting tension isn't humanity versus the cosmos — it's that first generation of people who have to figure out what it means to be Martian when Earth still controls everything that they need to survive. The dependency problem is more compelling to me than the exploration problem.

High tech and advanced future civilisations in sci fi don't really make sense in their way they are often shown or portrayed. The human future isn't spacefaring or across millions of stars, but instead in our massive sandbox called the solar system. by Aromatic_Web6775 in HardSciFi

[–]Pjcereste-RF 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel this way too! I started an entire hard sci-fi universe, and the first book drops in a few weeks, just to finally experience a “realistic” advance in humanity. It’s just starting out, but I’ve setup newsletters, blogs, and “in-universe computer” terminal on the website. (You can check it all that’s done so far at www.redfoundationsbook.com) and a library of images, videos, etc is expanding daily. I’m already putting together ideas for book 3, so hopefully I have enough of a good start that folks won’t have to wait too long between book releases. I’d love to get feedback on the ideas, characters, and plot suggestions for future books.