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