Posted on 04/19/2014 1:04:17 PM PDT by chaosagent
Looking for two Science Fiction Books.
Thanks.
The first one was set in the age of the pyramids. The civilization (Atlantis?) got its power by conducting electricity down from skies (controlled lightning) to the apex of the pyramids which was then broadcast around the world.
Although a highly technological civilization, all the buildings were stone for insulation due to the way they handled their power. Then something went wrong and the civilization was destroyed leaving only the stone megaliths we see today.
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The second one was about the present-day US under threat from the Soviet Union. A company based in Washington (Hanford area?) developed three type of autonomous weapons to fight back.
The first one was based on Jerry Pournelle's Rods from God proposals (Project Thor), utilizing solid rods from 6 feet long (used to take out vehicles and tanks) up to telephone pole-sized ones (used to take out battleships). Dropped from orbit, and strictly kinetic, they were guided by cameras in the nose and fins on the tail. The small ones attacking tank formations would talk to each other so only one would hit each tank.
The second one was an autonomous airplane that would loiter over battlefield listening for command and control radio signals and then take out the buildings involved.
The third one I'm a little fuzzy on, but it was some kind of autonomous land vehicle that would also attack the enemy.
This book was originally done in, or had something to do with Apple's HyperCard Stack program.
Both of these books were from the 1980's timeframe.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
As long as we are talking books, if you enjoyed HP Lovecraft, check out Laird Barron.
I remember that Project Thor proposal. Too bad we didn’t do it. Those falling “telephone poles” (made out of depleted uranium) would be excellent against Iran’s nuke program.
...ping....
For your first one try herehttp://www.noreen-doyle.com/EgyptomaniaOrg/aef/EgyptSFF.html. if you don’t find it in the Egypt section there is a link on the page to all science fiction set in generic ancient times.
Thanks.
I went though all these, but didn’t see what I was looking for.
But the list looks interesting anyway, so thanks again.
Thanks, I’ll check it out.
May I piggyback? Am looking to reread a sci-fi book from the seventies. I remember it is about a large tube in space, a ship that was so large that the entire inside of the tube was like a world with its own atmosphere and clouds in the middle . Characters could look up to the sky and see cities and farms on the other side of the tube. There was a special paperback cover with a pull out picture of the ship.
Ringworld by Niven?
“some kind of autonomous land vehicle “
Not what you’re after but...
Laumer’s BOLO series is a classic in that vein.
First one may be “Lords of Atlantis” by Wallace West.
I check out the sample on Amazon and I’m pretty sure that’s not it.
No Martians in the one I’m thinking about.
But thanks, anyway.
Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous With Rama
I read it - for some reason, Phillip Jose Farmer comes to mind.
Sounds like Arthur C. Clarke’s “A Rendezvous with Rama.” Good book!
Cheers,
Jim
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