How ‘Hard Science Fiction Novels’ get written | Tim Poston | TEDxNITKSurathkal

[Music]

[Music] I will try to talk in general get

I will try to talk in general get

I will try to talk in general get written but I will illustrate it with

written but I will illustrate it with

written but I will illustrate it with one particular one science fiction a

one particular one science fiction a

one particular one science fiction a novel has everything that the last video

novel has everything that the last video

novel has everything that the last video had changed all that he was talking

had changed all that he was talking

had changed all that he was talking about it story and the rest of it but it

about it story and the rest of it but it

about it story and the rest of it but it had some very special ingredients and

had some very special ingredients and

had some very special ingredients and that is what I want to talk about I will

that is what I want to talk about I will

that is what I want to talk about I will talk about how one particular science

talk about how one particular science

talk about how one particular science fiction novel got written impact in

fiction novel got written impact in

fiction novel got written impact in particular this one this one and more or

particular this one this one and more or

particular this one this one and more or less tell the story of how we wrote it

less tell the story of how we wrote it

less tell the story of how we wrote it moving up the story in the book

wonderful quote from Stephen Baxter

wonderful quote from Stephen Baxter about this book classic science fiction

about this book classic science fiction

about this book classic science fiction a startling in the original premise a

a startling in the original premise a

a startling in the original premise a character-driven Club exploring by

character-driven Club exploring by

character-driven Club exploring by premise with great imagination and

premise with great imagination and

premise with great imagination and ingenuity recalls ribbon at his best

ingenuity recalls ribbon at his best

ingenuity recalls ribbon at his best with better science Stephen Baxter well

with better science Stephen Baxter well

with better science Stephen Baxter well if you are such fiction fans you know

if you are such fiction fans you know

if you are such fiction fans you know that Stephen Baxter is a very big name

that Stephen Baxter is a very big name

that Stephen Baxter is a very big name and Livan is a bigger one so it’s a bit

and Livan is a bigger one so it’s a bit

and Livan is a bigger one so it’s a bit like Kurama comparing you favorably with

like Kurama comparing you favorably with

like Kurama comparing you favorably with Krishna and I was dazed for a day but

Krishna and I was dazed for a day but

Krishna and I was dazed for a day but the main point

the main point

the main point this illustrates this is plan section so

this illustrates this is plan section so

this illustrates this is plan section so I can use it as an example so let’s see

I can use it as an example so let’s see

I can use it as an example so let’s see how it was written in terms of plot

how it was written in terms of plot

how it was written in terms of plot design and world is a sparkling original

design and world is a sparkling original

design and world is a sparkling original premise I’m not going to tell you the

premise I’m not going to tell you the

premise I’m not going to tell you the sparkling an original premise because

sparkling an original premise because

sparkling an original premise because that’s a spoiler but consider the less

that’s a spoiler but consider the less

that’s a spoiler but consider the less startling the less original one because

startling the less original one because

startling the less original one because people have written books about it

people have written books about it

people have written books about it before and how we might explore it

before and how we might explore it

before and how we might explore it suppose you have matter duplicators you

suppose you have matter duplicators you

suppose you have matter duplicators you can make copies of everything anything

can make copies of everything anything

can make copies of everything anything including people so this will have all

including people so this will have all

including people so this will have all kinds of implications I can quote

kinds of implications I can quote

kinds of implications I can quote several wonderful novels on that but I’m

several wonderful novels on that but I’m

several wonderful novels on that but I’m not going to my time

not going to my time

not going to my time no more mass production where is the

no more mass production where is the

no more mass production where is the iPhone production facility he would make

iPhone production facility he would make

iPhone production facility he would make one i phone and duplicated can you copy

one i phone and duplicated can you copy

one i phone and duplicated can you copy your salary employees and buy the rest

your salary employees and buy the rest

your salary employees and buy the rest [Music]

if your wine is talking over your

if your wine is talking over your husband which is your wife who owns the

husband which is your wife who owns the

husband which is your wife who owns the house house isn’t one of the few things

house house isn’t one of the few things

house house isn’t one of the few things that can’t be copied because it has

that can’t be copied because it has

that can’t be copied because it has landed then can’t be copied can’t be

landed then can’t be copied can’t be

landed then can’t be copied can’t be increased most property but not all

increased most property but not all

increased most property but not all becomes intellectual property

becomes intellectual property

becomes intellectual property fascinating things to explore hard facts

fascinating things to explore hard facts

fascinating things to explore hard facts diction you’ve got to be consistent in

diction you’ve got to be consistent in

diction you’ve got to be consistent in your search in your world and think

your search in your world and think

your search in your world and think about what matter duplicators would mean

about what matter duplicators would mean

about what matter duplicators would mean they require radically new physics ok

they require radically new physics ok

they require radically new physics ok that’s fine that’s what subsection does

that’s fine that’s what subsection does

that’s fine that’s what subsection does but even new physics can do that it can

but even new physics can do that it can

but even new physics can do that it can completely control energy matter

completely control energy matter

completely control energy matter conversion because it’s much easier to

conversion because it’s much easier to

conversion because it’s much easier to just do raw energy Lisbon to produce

just do raw energy Lisbon to produce

just do raw energy Lisbon to produce action by actin copies of DNA and so on

action by actin copies of DNA and so on

action by actin copies of DNA and so on so clearly you will have almost

so clearly you will have almost

so clearly you will have almost unlimited energy if you have matter

unlimited energy if you have matter

unlimited energy if you have matter duplicators I think place things like

duplicators I think place things like

duplicators I think place things like Planet Buster’s spacecraft close to

Planet Buster’s spacecraft close to

Planet Buster’s spacecraft close to speed of light

speed of light

speed of light synthetic planets and all the non which

synthetic planets and all the non which

synthetic planets and all the non which again it will be a grand book but it

again it will be a grand book but it

again it will be a grand book but it would make exploration of the human

would make exploration of the human

would make exploration of the human aspects can it copy you can’t accompany

aspects can it copy you can’t accompany

aspects can it copy you can’t accompany copy it speller employees who were to

copy it speller employees who were to

copy it speller employees who were to happen it would rather distract from

happen it would rather distract from

happen it would rather distract from benefactors so how do you focus on those

benefactors so how do you focus on those

benefactors so how do you focus on those well plot method humans get a limited

well plot method humans get a limited

well plot method humans get a limited version from outside without being able

version from outside without being able

version from outside without being able to explore the planet

to explore the planet

to explore the planet the implications and that is exactly

the implications and that is exactly

the implications and that is exactly what the levels were didn’t do matter

what the levels were didn’t do matter

what the levels were didn’t do matter duplicators did okay how do you do that

duplicators did okay how do you do that

duplicators did okay how do you do that how to do it in the book how to make a

how to do it in the book how to make a

how to do it in the book how to make a plot out of it

plot out of it

plot out of it commonly vessel crash lands on the

commonly vessel crash lands on the

commonly vessel crash lands on the planet the technology drops because of

planet the technology drops because of

planet the technology drops because of the crash they lost so much no

the crash they lost so much no

the crash they lost so much no electronics they discovered the

electronics they discovered the

electronics they discovered the applicators well they discovered the

applicators well they discovered the

applicators well they discovered the things we call sente and I will tell you

things we call sente and I will tell you

things we call sente and I will tell you what they are because you’ve got to read

what they are because you’ve got to read

what they are because you’ve got to read the book if you want to read the book I

the book if you want to read the book I

the book if you want to read the book I would spoil it for you since they are

would spoil it for you since they are

would spoil it for you since they are different from a communicators but I

different from a communicators but I

different from a communicators but I think they are even more interesting but

think they are even more interesting but

think they are even more interesting but not from local intelligent engines on

not from local intelligent engines on

not from local intelligent engines on that planet because human alien contact

that planet because human alien contact

that planet because human alien contact isn’t where we want to focus that’s

isn’t where we want to focus that’s

isn’t where we want to focus that’s another interesting line story but not

another interesting line story but not

another interesting line story but not our first question and anyway how come

our first question and anyway how come

our first question and anyway how come the aliens have had planning Buster’s

the aliens have had planning Buster’s

the aliens have had planning Buster’s and recipe you can same problem so from

and recipe you can same problem so from

and recipe you can same problem so from local unintelligent babies plus about

local unintelligent babies plus about

local unintelligent babies plus about two billion years ago combination of

two billion years ago combination of

two billion years ago combination of mutation escape routes

mutation escape routes

mutation escape routes cippec evolution led to a huge variety

cippec evolution led to a huge variety

cippec evolution led to a huge variety of ways of using these things and

of ways of using these things and

of ways of using these things and mustache plots because you get symbiotic

mustache plots because you get symbiotic

mustache plots because you get symbiotic animals using the sin tape that are

animals using the sin tape that are

animals using the sin tape that are actually from the plants and the hills

actually from the plants and the hills

actually from the plants and the hills land discoveries and synthetic

land discoveries and synthetic

land discoveries and synthetic technology which they have no way of

technology which they have no way of

technology which they have no way of knowing

knowing

knowing works they can good it it replaces the

works they can good it it replaces the

works they can good it it replaces the earth science and technology they lost

earth science and technology they lost

earth science and technology they lost addiction generations to explore the

addiction generations to explore the

addiction generations to explore the possibilities in one book it’s hard to

possibilities in one book it’s hard to

possibilities in one book it’s hard to make that the pot so what lies 2000

make that the pot so what lies 2000

make that the pot so what lies 2000 years later a group of six young star

years later a group of six young star

years later a group of six young star book also crash and explode the society

book also crash and explode the society

book also crash and explode the society the first units of name so they get the

the first units of name so they get the

the first units of name so they get the first view of the planet it looks like

first view of the planet it looks like

first view of the planet it looks like this they get Hebrew letters to the

this they get Hebrew letters to the

this they get Hebrew letters to the continents that’s all we know and they

continents that’s all we know and they

continents that’s all we know and they detect that one of these science

either here or here as a rescue beating

either here or here as a rescue beating the button that they can press roughly

the button that they can press roughly

the button that they can press roughly but would get them rescued but they

but would get them rescued but they

but would get them rescued but they don’t know anyone now narrative

don’t know anyone now narrative

don’t know anyone now narrative inevitability means that they pick the

inevitability means that they pick the

inevitability means that they pick the wrong one so we get to experience a lot

wrong one so we get to experience a lot

wrong one so we get to experience a lot but the planet has made travel from one

but the planet has made travel from one

but the planet has made travel from one to the other that has been a basic plot

to the other that has been a basic plot

to the other that has been a basic plot element for nearly three thousand years

element for nearly three thousand years

element for nearly three thousand years maybe more and it still works very well

maybe more and it still works very well

maybe more and it still works very well okay but now how did they get there not

okay but now how did they get there not

okay but now how did they get there not at sublight speed because multiple stars

at sublight speed because multiple stars

at sublight speed because multiple stars and planets they take tens of years

and planets they take tens of years

and planets they take tens of years hundreds of years to reach if you travel

hundreds of years to reach if you travel

hundreds of years to reach if you travel even with very close to the speed of

even with very close to the speed of

even with very close to the speed of light so you have to have some kind of

light so you have to have some kind of

light so you have to have some kind of faster than light travel but the usual

faster than light travel but the usual

faster than light travel but the usual methods in science fiction books they

methods in science fiction books they

methods in science fiction books they ignore relativity pretty completely they

ignore relativity pretty completely they

ignore relativity pretty completely they say you can jump from here to here at

say you can jump from here to here at

say you can jump from here to here at the same time but time the same time

the same time but time the same time

the same time but time the same time between different places cannot be

between different places cannot be

between different places cannot be defined it doesn’t exist so casual use

defined it doesn’t exist so casual use

defined it doesn’t exist so casual use of wormholes and jump drives it really

of wormholes and jump drives it really

of wormholes and jump drives it really implies time travel what will make

implies time travel what will make

implies time travel what will make another talk

another talk

another talk that’s not what this book was to explore

that’s not what this book was to explore

that’s not what this book was to explore I didn’t want to write a time travel

I didn’t want to write a time travel

I didn’t want to write a time travel book 40 years ago I wrote a book on

book 40 years ago I wrote a book on

book 40 years ago I wrote a book on general relativity and I’ve got too much

general relativity and I’ve got too much

general relativity and I’ve got too much and a scientific conscience to just

and a scientific conscience to just

and a scientific conscience to just assume well most so a common will be

assume well most so a common will be

assume well most so a common will be build increasing everywhere according to

build increasing everywhere according to

build increasing everywhere according to all the service jobs are only possible

all the service jobs are only possible

all the service jobs are only possible between space plans with equal can’t pay

between space plans with equal can’t pay

between space plans with equal can’t pay value but increases faster according to

value but increases faster according to

value but increases faster according to local matter

local matter

local matter observers where local matter is denser

observers where local matter is denser

observers where local matter is denser so here you see we come to us people’s

so here you see we come to us people’s

so here you see we come to us people’s value are closer space

value are closer space

value are closer space well then however if that kept going

you’ll be able to jump from here to

you’ll be able to jump from here to follow enough in your past that it would

follow enough in your past that it would

follow enough in your past that it would actually be able to reach you in a

actually be able to reach you in a

actually be able to reach you in a signal at the speed of light you’d have

signal at the speed of light you’d have

signal at the speed of light you’d have trying travel again I don’t want to

trying travel again I don’t want to

trying travel again I don’t want to write the plane tried the story and

write the plane tried the story and

write the plane tried the story and nature doesn’t want to either so what we

nature doesn’t want to either so what we

nature doesn’t want to either so what we get is a simultaneity quake and this

get is a simultaneity quake and this

get is a simultaneity quake and this point you get at the same moment eight

point you get at the same moment eight

point you get at the same moment eight years seem to go by on that one so we

years seem to go by on that one so we

years seem to go by on that one so we work better and that had interesting

it has interesting possibilities we

it has interesting possibilities we didn’t make a great deal of it in the

didn’t make a great deal of it in the

didn’t make a great deal of it in the book directly but it affects the culture

book directly but it affects the culture

book directly but it affects the culture because you can’t run an empire if you

because you can’t run an empire if you

because you can’t run an empire if you [Music]

[Music]

[Music] find it’s disappeared from view so it

find it’s disappeared from view so it

find it’s disappeared from view so it goes quite quickly so that’s how they

goes quite quickly so that’s how they

goes quite quickly so that’s how they got there but they see mistress planes

we really mattered the difference

we really mattered the difference between shallow places on the

between shallow places on the

between shallow places on the continental shelf and the deep places

the abyss so we had to work out the

the abyss so we had to work out the marine geology so this is a map of the

marine geology so this is a map of the

marine geology so this is a map of the whole planet and follow this history of

whole planet and follow this history of

whole planet and follow this history of this planet

this planet

this planet we needed a deep atmosphere so that

we needed a deep atmosphere so that

we needed a deep atmosphere so that needs a subduction zone had to be here

needs a subduction zone had to be here

needs a subduction zone had to be here but that means a volcanic line a

but that means a volcanic line a

but that means a volcanic line a volcanoes there but just the wind eulogy

volcanoes there but just the wind eulogy

volcanoes there but just the wind eulogy works however first map of this planet

works however first map of this planet

works however first map of this planet has sketches of that continent like this

has sketches of that continent like this

has sketches of that continent like this ok same shape but no volcanoes there so

ok same shape but no volcanoes there so

ok same shape but no volcanoes there so we change to this

volcanoes for this book we move

volcanoes for this book we move mountains so I let you explore this and

mountains so I let you explore this and

mountains so I let you explore this and what’s our total time so I will tell you

what’s our total time so I will tell you

what’s our total time so I will tell you the effects of sin pay on transport very

the effects of sin pay on transport very

the effects of sin pay on transport very big ecology very big war we totally sex

big ecology very big war we totally sex

big ecology very big war we totally sex is very strange

is very strange

is very strange cooking religion medicine entertainment

cooking religion medicine entertainment

cooking religion medicine entertainment engineering goodness sake

gorgeously but we argued our way through

gorgeously but we argued our way through all those factors in a lot of detail

all those factors in a lot of detail

all those factors in a lot of detail you’re free to find errors and the point

you’re free to find errors and the point

you’re free to find errors and the point is that this process is typical of

is that this process is typical of

is that this process is typical of science fiction this book is not special

science fiction this book is not special

science fiction this book is not special that way this is what the game is

that way this is what the game is

that way this is what the game is writing and reading hard science fiction

writing and reading hard science fiction

writing and reading hard science fiction reading it means arguing in your mind

reading it means arguing in your mind

reading it means arguing in your mind with it that’s one reason why we’ve got

with it that’s one reason why we’ve got

with it that’s one reason why we’ve got so many co-author books because the

so many co-author books because the

so many co-author books because the authors rather than one in science

authors rather than one in science

authors rather than one in science fiction much more than in other fields

fiction much more than in other fields

fiction much more than in other fields because creating the world is easier the

because creating the world is easier the

because creating the world is easier the two like creating a person in fact

two like creating a person in fact

two like creating a person in fact pre-created

pre-created

pre-created mormon a world we created the whole

mormon a world we created the whole

mormon a world we created the whole galactic society and when heroes get off

galactic society and when heroes get off

galactic society and when heroes get off the planet when they

the planet when they

the planet when they we reach that rescue beacon and get

we reach that rescue beacon and get

we reach that rescue beacon and get rescued

rescued

rescued even that is complicated since I have

even that is complicated since I have

even that is complicated since I have very destructive effects all those

very destructive effects all those

very destructive effects all those possibilities and a technological

possibilities and a technological

possibilities and a technological society managers could see much more of

society managers could see much more of

society managers could see much more of them when the primitive Society of the

them when the primitive Society of the

them when the primitive Society of the colonists so in the sequel which is

colonists so in the sequel which is

colonists so in the sequel which is called rock style and is not yet

called rock style and is not yet

called rock style and is not yet published we do get to Planet Buster’s

published we do get to Planet Buster’s

published we do get to Planet Buster’s so we have a a comedian service team so

so we have a a comedian service team so

so we have a a comedian service team so thank you very much

thank you very much

thank you very much seton.com is full of spoilers maybe you

seton.com is full of spoilers maybe you

seton.com is full of spoilers maybe you like to look at it after reading book or

like to look at it after reading book or

like to look at it after reading book or maybe you have don’t have the attitude I

maybe you have don’t have the attitude I

maybe you have don’t have the attitude I can’t read the Gospel of Matthew because

can’t read the Gospel of Matthew because

can’t read the Gospel of Matthew because not spoiled it by giving away the ending

not spoiled it by giving away the ending

not spoiled it by giving away the ending I don’t think that way about fiction but

I don’t think that way about fiction but

I don’t think that way about fiction but a lot of people do anyway

a lot of people do anyway

a lot of people do anyway a lot of details of the ecology and we

a lot of details of the ecology and we

a lot of details of the ecology and we have fan art space for it anyway fan

have fan art space for it anyway fan

have fan art space for it anyway fan fiction fan science engineering think

fiction fan science engineering think

fiction fan science engineering think about what designs you

about what designs you

about what designs you with these very strange things

with these very strange things

with these very strange things cippec as a form of the discussion and

cippec as a form of the discussion and

cippec as a form of the discussion and so on and with that I thank you

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]