Re: [FT] Space Vikings, Independent FT Uuniverses

Remember, H. Beam Piper wrote a (terrific) book called "Space Viking"
that
had lots of action, both ship-to-ship and ground, that would translate
fairly easily into FB/DSII/SGII terms. His ships were quite large,
common
classes being referred to a 1000-foot (length) and 1500-foot. No
fighters
though. I think almost anything that's been published somewhere could be
called "genre", and that's probably almost everything. The difference
what's
widely known and what isn't.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Izenberg, Noam" <Noam.Izenberg@jhuapl.edu>
To: "'FT List'" <GZG-L@csua.berkeley.edu>
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 11:41 AM
Subject: Re: [FT] Space Vikings, Independent FT Uuniverses

> From: devans@uneb.edu:
>
> > The problems with finding independent universes seem pretty much of
two
> > kinds: most folks at least get direction from a particular bit of
genre,
> > and sci-fi's been around long enough that no matter how original
your
> > thinking appears, you'll get 'oh, you mean like...'
>
> I see your point. Trek Purists might even call SFB non-genre. I guess
I
was
> really interested in and asking about universes that were at least
largely
> independent of, shall we say, "mass produced" SF genres. Certainly SW,
Trek,
> B5, and probably SAAB and HH count that way. Also certainly the "Space
> Vikings" and a "Space 1889" universe (one I am thinking about, tho I
don't
> have the original game anymore as source material) would be my
definition
of
> "non-genre"
>
> >My own corporate wars idea
> >seems far beyond what's in Tuffeyverse, and is probably closer to
what
> >you'd expect in the Aliens series, Moon 44, or to some extent,
Outland.
>
> Aliens is arguable Genre for Dirtside, even less for SG, but certainly
not
> for FT - the ships were merely set environments for the action. The
other
> sources you list, I would argue are too "small" and not fleshed out
enough
> to define Genre specifics.
>
> From: Roger Books <books@mail.state.fl.us>
>
> > The wierdest has to be the friend that wanted to run a game based
> > in the "Uplift War" universe which David Brin wrote.  How the heck
> > do you model something that can destroy you by disbelieving but
> > could also destroy the ship it is on by doing the same?
>
> The Uplift universe, and places like Vinge's "Fire upon the Deep"
would be
> Genre (in my definition) if it's "rules" were more defined, but to me
they
> seem open. As it is, hey are examples of primarily plot settings with
wierd
> and wonderful tech effects around the character actions.
>
> Noam