@RUTGERS.ARPA:pduff%ti-eg.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa (02/13/85)
From: Patrick_Duff <pduff%ti-eg.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa> This message discusses pseudo-science (what would "pseudo-science fiction" be like? Or could Fantasy be considered "pseudo-SF"?) related to various topics commonly found in science fiction and the bonus questions at the end of college physics exams. Consider yourself warned. Suppose an average science fiction reader or an average physics student were to find himself back in, say, the time of the Renaissance (14th to 16th century). He might try to communicate his knowledge of relativity, jet planes, radio & television, the structure of the universe, and other ideas from modern science & technology to the scientists and engineers of that day. Unfortunately, while many people have some knowledge of relativitity's ramifications, they probably could not provide a rigorous argument supporting them. While they might know something about how radio or a jet works, they probably could not construct a working model or adequately explain the theory behind them. In other words, they would have something interesting to write about, but would not be able to convince anyone that it was correct. (Could you, to that audience?) On the other hand, suppose someone from a thousand years in our future were to find himself in our time. He might try to communicate his knowledge of hyper-quantum translation (or whatever), faster than light star drives, interstellar communication techniques, the underlying nature of reality, and other ideas from his time. If he were just an average non-scientist, his limited familiarity with these things might give him something interesting to write about, but leave him unable to prove or demonstrate any of it in a convincing way. When reading two recent books I had that kind of impression, i.e., that there might be something to the author's ideas, but while he came tantalizingly close to making sense at times, his supporting arguments fell short of convincing me they were valid. Let's just say that they are the most *entertaining* pseudo-science I've come across in the last few years. Science fiction readers and writers will enjoy them for the "plausible" discussions of flying saucer drives, faster than light travel, time travel, hyperspace, higher dimensions, etc.. At the very least, there are some good pseudo-explanations to provide excuses for all those things that one wants to have in SF stories. Those interested in physics should enjoy trying to figure out exactly where the problems lie in the author's arguments, or trying to reconcile some of what he says with the rest of physics. Of course, those of you who are actually from the future may not get much out of these books; perhaps you can come up with some comments to clear up some of the more obscure points for the rest of us. The first book described below mainly covers various applications; the second one gets more into the underlying "theories": \How to Build a Flying Saucer: And Other Proposals in Speculative Engineering/ by T. B. Pawlicki (ISBN 0-13-402461-3, Prentice-Hall, Inc., copyright 1981, $5.95 in softcover). Table of Contents: (1) Megalithic Engineering: How to Build Stonehenge and the Pyramids with Bronze Age Technology; (2) This Crystal Planet: How to Create a Worldwide Communications Network--Still Using Bronze Age Technology; (3) Beyond Velikovsky: Einstein's Relativity Demonstrated, Mining Energy from Empty Space, and the Green Hills of Mars; (4) How to Build a Flying Saucer: After So Many Amateurs Have Failed; (5) The Philosophers' Stone: How to Transmute the Elements by Engineering the Geometry of Standing Waves; (6) Time Travel: How to Navigate the Streams of Time Through Hyperspace; Index. \How you can Explore Higher Dimensions of Space and Time: An Introduction to the New Science of Hyperspace for Trekkies of all Ages/ by T. B. Pawlicki (ISBN 0-13-444043-9, Prentice-Hall, Inc., copyright 1984, $6.95 in softcover). Table of Contents: Introduction; (1) The Dance of Life; (2) The Scientific Koan; (3) What is Dimension?; (4) The Six Dimensions of the Universal Hologram; (5) A Scale Model of the Universe; (6) The Fine Art of Science; (7) Beyond Infinity: Where did Einstein go Wrong?; (8) The Sonic Field: How to Generate Gravity with Sound; (9) Exploring the Velocity Gradient; (10) Trinity; Epilogue: Journey to the End of the Universe; Index. Bookstores don't seem to know how to catagorize these books; I found the first one in the SF section and the other one with the Religion books! regards, Patrick Patrick S. Duff, ***CR 5621*** pduff.ti-eg@csnet-relay 5049 Walker Dr. #91103 214/480-1905 (work) The Colony, TX 75056-1120 214/370-5363 (home) (a suburb of Dallas, TX) WARNING: Rebooting Universe will erase karma records. Abort? (Yes/No): no Creating universe number H2947-8F46M-5GB75-01R03 in fractal series .003952 Do you want to modify any constants? (Yes/No): yes Enter constant to modify or press RETURN to create a new constant: