Fountains of Paradise. Robert Forward also wrote a beanstalk story, as did Imbuglia (I think? Wrote for Daw).
Pournelle has written mundane articles about space elevators, too, I think.
Do you think this concept is being placed on an ocean platform because of the limited choice of equatorial land locations? The lease would be cheaper too, I guess.
Oops, Robert Sheffield, not Robert Forward.
"Do you think this concept is being placed on an ocean platform because of the limited choice of equatorial land locations? The lease would be cheaper too, I guess."
Try to think of one equitorial land location where you'd be assured that security could be maintained. I tried and couldn't do it. The equator runs through some of the worst hellholes on earth.Having its achor platform in the Pacific on what would be analagous to a semi-submersible drilling rig would provide for an excellent security perimeter as well as having the ability to move it if you needed to.