Interstellar Colonization Ideas

I’m in self-isolation, so I decided to finish off some draft posts that have neglected. Over the years I have read stories and articles and watched some videos about interstellar travel and colonization. I have some of my own ideas about how this might happen. Maybe I can use it as background for a story.

Most of the stories, articles and videos I've seen that seem realistic imagine a big ship full of colonist, either awake or in suspended animation. I think it would likely happen in a different way.

I believe any real colonization effort would be done in a series of stages.

Path Finder Probes

It seems that obvious to me that before sending a colonization mission you would start with path finder probes. The object of these probes would be to reconnoiter the space between the sun and the destination star. There could be many dangers and opportunities that lie in the space in between.

The nearest star, Proxima Centari, is about 4 light years from Earth. The sun's Oort cloud is estimated to extend for 2 light years. If the same is true of Proxima Centari, then the whole distance between the two stars would be occupied by Oort cloud objects. In addition, there may be rouge planets, brown dwarfs and maybe other exotic objects passing through.

If you want to send a colonization probe to Proxima Centari, you will want to know more the objects along the route. These objects could be dangerous. A probe flying at 20% the speed of light that hit one would be destroyed. On the other hand, larger objects could be used for gravitational adjustments to the speed and direction of the probes on their way to the other star.

Reconnaissance Probes

If the path finder probes survive the trip, they could be used as reconnaissance probes at the other star. Otherwise, specialized probes could be developed and sent after the pathfinder probes.

The goal of these probes would be to investigate the planets around the other star. Could these planets be colonized? What would be needed to make them succeed? What other challenges might they face?

Colonization Probe

I think that a colonization probe is that it would be totally robotic. But, it would be able to use genetic engineering to create new life - plants, animals, humans and whatever else is needed for colonization.

I thought this was an original idea, but as I was preparing this post, I saw a video by John Michael Godier that proposes a very similar idea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_51T8bbT-g

The colonization probe would prepare the planet for the colony. This might include some modification to the planet but may also involve modifying plants animals and humans to survive on the planet. It might also be possible to "e-mail" individual genetic codes, so individuals could be recreated on the colony.

It may be possible to recreate the memories of individuals as well. Otherwise, I imagine the probe could create robotic parents to raise the new colonists. This would provide the new colonists with the emotional environment they will need before they the time comes to take over from the robotic parents.

Story Ideas

So far, I haven’t come up with much in the way of story ideas. I'd like to do a story about the path finder probes, although I think it would be difficult for most readers to identify with a robotic space probe.

One idea I came up with would be about the first generation of colonists being raised by the robotic parents. As they would want to seem to be normal people, the children would not at first realize the reality of the situation. A story could be developed about how they would learn the secret of their existence.

At the moment I haven’t found much inspiration from this idea. Maybe something will pop into my head some day that will get me going. Before I start any story, I feel the backstory of how interstellar colonization would work needs to be developed far beyond what I have so far.

This post is a mirror from my main blog http://www.dynamiclethargyfilms.ca/blog

Setting Priorities for 2020

I have not been very productive with my projects the last year or so. I hope that will change this year. I feel the problem I've had is that I keep jumping between projects and not getting much done on any of them. I've run into this in the past too. I really need to focus on one major project. The issue is, which one?

“The Barrier”

I have a "finished" version of this movie, but I felt I really needed to do more work on it before I tried to promote it. The main problem came from the voices I used. I made the film using Xtranormal and it used robotic voices and animation to create the film. I felt it turned out well, but I got some complaints about the voices. I must admit that the voices can be a drag on some people. They don't carry much inflection or emotion. The program allows you to use prerecorded voices in place of the robotic voices. Actors could bring a higher level of personality of the characters.

Before I could pursue that, Xtranormal shut down. The software has since been released under the name Nawmal, so that is no longer a barrier to making "The Barrier".

The other problem was that my wife got sick and subsequently died. I devoted my energies to supporting her. That was more important to me than any movie project could ever be. Then, I had my heart attack, which also drained my energy.

I have mixed feelings about the project now. It has now been several years since I last worked on it. I sometimes wonder if I should just call it done and move on. Other times I feel enthusiastic.

Collaborative Project

I've been working with another person on a joint project. I don't want to discuss it in any detail on my blog without her agreement. We've gotten an outline and are reviewing it now before diving into the main writing phase. That will go forward when we are ready.

Terrorist Story

I've posted about this recently. (https://dynamiclethargyfilms.ca/thoughts-on-my-terrorism-story/) This is another project that I've picked up and dropped several times. I would like to finish it, but at the same time I think I may not be ready to write it. I need to develop my skills more. I do have a bit of an outline and identified some the main characters.

I think it would be a film that would be less of a technical challenge because most of it could be done on only two sets. There would be some other locations, but those would be short scenes.

“Ode to Billy Joe” Story Idea

I was inspired by Bobby Gentry's song, "Ode to Billy Joe". It is a haunting story that exists mostly between the lines. I made some progress on some characters and a story. I ran into a problem, in that the inspiration is a focus on a subtext to a story. It isn't really a story itself, and I really need to find another story that will fit on top. What I have so far won't work.

I do have a pile of half-baked ideas I've generated over the years. Maybe I should review them and see if any of them will inspire me.

“Bright Freedom”

I've worked on this off and on since 2010! It started as a script, then I rewrote it as a novel. As it stands now, it is too short for a novel though.

The problems I run into with this story are always the same. First, the main character is a woman, who is an immigrant to Canada, and is a lawyer. None of which I have personal experience with. It is easy to fall into writing the character as a stereotype, which can be offensive to some people. I don’t like to offend people. When you offend people, you undercut the point that you want to make with your story.

The other problem is that the underlying issue in the story is very serious, but I only want to do is use that as a backdrop to an adventure story. I don't want to trivialize what is a very serious issue for some people.

My thinking has been that I should develop the story to a point where I can ask people to read it. I feel I really need to find people who may find aspects of the story offensive. That might be a challenge.

Extraterrestrial Robots

This idea came to me while watching one of John Michael Godier’s videos. (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEszlI8-W79IsU8LSAiRbDg) Most science fiction stories about robots and artificial intelligence (AI) focus on the dangers of them going rouge. I thought to turn that around.

My idea is that an AI or robot would not want anything. They would be created to fulfil the wants and needs of the people who created them.

I imagine an ancient civilization could create AI, but over time they would die out, as all life dies in the end. That would leave the AI’s/robots without anyone to tell them what to do. They would then search out new civilizations who will tell them what to do.

I haven't read much SF for a while, so I don't know if this idea has been used.

This isn't a story in and of itself. A whole range of stories could be built on this premise. I've been cogitating on this idea for a while, but I haven't come up with a story yet.

I can see someone using this premise as the basis of a humorous story involving misunderstandings. That isn't what I'd like to do. I want it to be a serious consideration of that kind confrontation.

AI Bankers

I read some news reports about AI and robots being used to replace low level workers. This brought up the thought that it may be possible to replace bankers and billionaires with AI.

Many people distrust bankers and billionaires. The do perform a useful role in society, but could they be replaced? Bankers and billionaires are often motivated solely by greed.

However, AI systems could be set up to have a more altruistic approach to money management and investing. They could be programed to only stay in business and serve society. They would have no profit motive that could corrupt them.

At the moment, I don’t see how I could turn this into a story. In many ways it is more of a background to a story. Still, I would want a story where AI bankers are a significant element in the story.

Other Ideas

Every now and then I come up with new ideas. I sometimes think I should go back through my old ideas and find one that will excite me. I did that before. I was disappointed with the result that time, so maybe I shouldn't try that approach. If I drop an idea, there may well be a very good reason to do so.

Maybe I should try to develop a new story idea. I've thought of coming up with a story I can use to try out working with voice actors in the same way I will need to do to get "The Barrier" finished. I thought about this a few times, but nothing has come to mind yet.

I do find it difficult to decide what to do. I have many ideas that I would like to work on. I need to consider not just how much they excite my interest, but how realistic are those ideas. I hope I can make the right choice.

This post is a mirror from my main blog http://www.dynamiclethargyfilms.ca/blog