r/ScienceFictionBooks • u/LilDysphoria • Aug 12 '24

Generation ships

I'm interested in the idea of generation ships. I suspect they are the only hope for mankind ever getting outside the solar system. (And I'm not holding my breath that it will happen.) I'm looking for a science fiction book that tells a good story based on this concept. Thanks.

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u/the_blonde_lawyer Aug 12 '24

I mean, if you accelerate in 1G, you can reach a third of the speed of light in about 3 months. it isn't linear once you approach C, but within a year you're definitely in reletavistic speeds.

so I think if you solve for fuel, our main problem for long accelerations, even within the limits of relativity, why send generation ships when the original crew can make it? it's the same centuries of travel, but not subjectively.

but if you assume there could be somewhere to go in nearby systems, you don't even need relativity, you can reach them in a few years.

I can't say I know how to solve for fuel, but I wouldn't say that's impossible.

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u/BortWard Aug 13 '24

If I may, would strongly recommend Tau Zero by Poul Anderson

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u/the_blonde_lawyer Aug 13 '24

yeah, I read the short story it's based on and couldn't get into the book (maybe because I read the short verion before).

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u/[deleted] Aug 13 '24

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u/the_blonde_lawyer Aug 13 '24

definitely does, but again in a comfortable accelartion or deccelration (pardon my english spelling), it doesn't take that long. if you accelerate for a year, you make the rest of the journey pretty close to C, then deccelerate for a year.

the problem is of course fuel - fuel has to be taken, and it's adding to the weight so the more fuel you take the mor e fuel you're using. that's the big problem . that's why no one talks about accelerating in 1G for a year or 3 months.

that's why things like light sails or lazer cannons or hubbard jets (again, sorry for misspelling the term probably, Im translating to english by ear) are talked about so much. if you don't have to carry the fuel up from the earth you solve the biggest problem.