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Posted by: xXIHAYD0IXx
I would like to protest your inclusion of an absence of faster-than-light (henceforth "FTL") travel as a prerequisite to hard science fiction. There are a number of theories that could allow for FTL travel while maintaining the framework of General Relativity. Take the Alcubierre Drive, in which spacetime is expanded behind a ship and contracted in front, thus allowing an arbitrarily large speed relative to a static observer. Granted, there are a number of critics of the theory, but few would go so far as to call it unscientific.
OT: I always prefer hard sifi, but if that is impossible, then at least make some gesture at realism.
Wholeheartedly agreed. I use Alcubierre drives for FTL in my writing, as they're at least plausible.
As for Destiny, HARD science fiction for SURE. It's entirely possible to have a relatively hard setting (Read: Babylon 5/Battlestar Galactica) with an excellent story, so that should not be a stumbling block for anyone.
Major prequisites for hard science fiction:
-Realistic movement in space, e.g. orbital transfers, delta-v, and RCS thrusters instead of 'Old-School Dogfighting'
-No fire/explosions in space without an oxidizer
-No sound in space (dulling sound-effects is acceptable to communicate vacuum; total silence would grow boring)
-Weaponized lasers are severely limited, in other words, invisible beam, bulky, works by BURNING the target, not blowing it up. Although explosions are possible from firing a laser at the propellant segment of a missile
-Artificial gravity as normally seen is a no-no. Either use centrifugal grav-drums, mag-boots, or go home. The potential for abuse of gravity-control technology is enormous.
And, finally, take into account the consequences of ALL new technology. If you 'design' an FTL drive for your universe, it should be limited (for example, only Lagrange points or areas outside of gravity wells can be safely used to jump). This way, you avoid unintended consequences. If said FTL drive did not require line-of-sight and could jump anywhere, you have just rendered 95% of transportation obsolete.