They Found the Ancient Rogue Star... And Some Dark Secrets With It

[@markfergerson2145]

Whoa. At first I was thinking Dyson sphere but then I recognized the Shkadov thruster. One such was bad enough but a fleet of them… the Puppetteers with their Fleet Of Worlds would feel small in comparison. And then you had to meld in the Skin Of Armus… there might be time for the rest of the galaxy’s civilizations to build their own thrusters and run away, but where to?

[@nikhein]

Wow! Respect for knowing about Shkadov's thruster. I didn't expect anybody to be aware of what it is (thus no direct reference in the story). I guess that makes us even after you being surprised by the reference to Magnus the Robot Fighter in my previous story )

[@markfergerson2145]

@@nikhein Larry Niven wrote an essay titled “Bigger Than Worlds” (published in Analog magazine, I think) in which he talked about ringworlds and Anderson discs among other things. I don’t think he mentioned Shkadov, I ran into that idea later because Niven addicted me to the idea of Really Big Structures. The Shkadov “engine” was a serious theoretical proposal in its day despite sounding like it was thought up by a drunk SF author. I’m still waiting for a SF author to use the Nicoll-Dyson laser. Niven kind of used the idea with giant solar powered launch lasers for interstellar probes being pressed into defensive service against Kzinti invaders but the real thing is… let’s say more flexible asa a weapon system. (Yes, that’s a hint) As for Magnus, all I have to say is *squeee*.

[@nikhein]

@@markfergerson2145 I was born in the USSR and was fifteen (the best age for reading sci-fi and anything scientific!) when Shkadov's concept first arrived, so I know about it from the very beginning. But there's another really interesting story behind the concept. In 1979, eight years before the Shkadov, there was an article in the Soviet popular science magazine for youth depicting the "Headlight Project," developed by the school students in their astronomy club. This project is, basically, Shkadov's Thruster. The teenagers even figured out that it must be paraboloid. How about that?

[@iosiflengyel1835]

To many commercials. I lost intyerest after the double third one. Sorry, dislike and do not recommand this channel.

[@nikhein]

Man, you blaming me for what KZbin does? Really? I didn't place them, it was all KZbin. That's really silly.

[@iosiflengyel1835]

@@nikhein kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipfOlISpZ9SgnKc