ALBERGA.YKTVMX%ibm-sj.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa (09/25/84)
From: "Cyril N. Alberga" <ALBERGA.YKTVMX%ibm-sj.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa> Not having read the book, this is an informed guess. Remember "Neutron Star"? I believe the answer to the Gravity problem must be tidal forces. The "trees" are in orbit, but they are not point masses, thus only their centers of mass are in true free-fall, any part nearer the primary will experience an inward gravitational pull, while any part further from it will experience "centrifical" force, an apparent negitive pull (relative to the primary). All of which has interesting consequences, I wish the book would appear in paperback soon. Cyril