a_vesper%advax.DEC@decwrl.ARPA (08/09/84)
Will Martin asked about stories that discuss (mechanical) matter
transmitters and how they might change society.
Larry Niven, "Exercise in Speculation: The Theory and Practice of
Teleportation" (C) 69 Galaxy. In @i(All the Myriad Ways),
Ballantine, 71.
An excellent discussion on how society might change given
teleporters with different characteristics. (Cost per pound
moved, maximum range, ...)
Larry Niven, "Flash Crowd" (C) 73, @i(Three Trips in Time and
Space) Dell, 73, Robert Silverberg, Ed. Also in @i(The Flight of
the Horse), Ballantine 73.
What happens when a large number of people can 'port into one
small area quickly?
Larry Niven, "Alibi Machine" and "All the Bridges Rusting" (C) 73
Vertex, "A @i(Kind) of Murder" (C) 74 Analog, "The Last Days of
the Permanent Floating Riot Club", all in @i(A Hole in Space),
Ballantine 74.
Misc. topics.
(I stopped researching at home at this point, the rest is
sketchy because it is from my memory.)
Larry Niven, "A World out of Time".
Although "instant elsewhere" machines form only a small part of
this novel, you may find it interesting.
Alfred Bester, @i(The Stars My Destination).
This is a SF classic dealing with the implications of
non-mechanical teleportation (called "Jaunting").
George O. Smith, @i(The Complete Venus Equilateral) has a couple
of stories dealing with mechanical teleportation.
I can't remember the names but I recommend that you read every
story anyway as they are lots of fun to read ("Dad, you ran
Venus Equilateral on VACUUM TUBES").
Jack Williamson & somebody else, @i(Wall Around a Star) and its
predecessor or successor.
Matter transmitters are indeed duplicators. They are expensive
enough that there is (usually) one person per planet and so
they don't change society. I add these novels for the sake of
completeness and don't particularly recommend them. They do
allow for 'editing' so you might want to give them a try.
There was also a story on this in Analog recently (within a year
or two) -- I will search for it when I get home.
Andy Vesper