LULZ sci-fi post:

[underlankers]

In my Omniverse Tales I have an homage to Dune in the form of the Architects of Fear, a shadowy organization that seeks to make a figure that short-circuits quite a few traditional problems in a fashion not dissimilar to science fiction......in the Empire. The irony is that the Architects, by promising what sounds like the plot of a science fiction

Comments

[ddstory]

To the hypothesis in your 3rd paragraph. It's pretty simple. You do what you can and what you want, in order to protect your world from the other one. If you're the stronger one, you can do whatever you please, in accordance with your practical purposes and moral principles (or lack thereof). If they're stronger, they do the same. If their purposes and principles require that we're removed from their way, they will do it. And viceversa. There's no dilemma there.

How would we defend against that?We can try kicking and screaming, and probably try some of our weapons against them, then die. Or if they're more primitive, they'll do the same. Or the stronger side may decide that it's in their better interest to leave the other one alive but in submission. Or in cooperation, if our/their principles are like that. But if one side is much more superior than the other, and it decides that the other should die, ultimately there's nothing that could be done

[luvdovz]

[underlankers]

Well, the thing is how do we exactly conduct a *war* through cross-time methods? It'd seem that portals don't carry infinite space within them so conflicts between dimensions would be more on the order of endless bush warfare than full-scale clashes of army groups.

[htpcl]

While we're on the subject, I recommend this series:

Parallel universes being at war, strange events happening, and a special team of FBI agents trying to reach to the bottom of it all, and save the world! OMG!

The coming season 5 will feature an invasion from the future. OH MY!

[root_fu]

[jonathankorman]

I imagine that you must be familiar with Sterling & Shiner's story “Mozart in Mirrorshades”, which offers an unflattering answer to a similar question.

[underlankers]

Actually I'm not. Is it any good?

[jonathankorman]

Yeah, it's a classic early cyberpunk story.

It takes place in an alternate 18th century which is in contact with the late 20th century through a set of time portals opened on the latter end. The encounter splits the timeline; this 18th century will eventually become an entirely different 20th century, leaving the original 20th century timeline unaffected.

There is vigorous trade between the two centuries. In exchange for 20th century trade goods, the 18th century is allowing the exploitation of natural resources ....

[mahnmut]

Can't help but think of this.

[underlankers]

Tongue-in-cheek-answer: In the Jurassic Park universe where this would seem disrespectful to the victims of the Tyrannosaur rampage in San Diego. ;P

[sandwichwarrior]

That's not Max Payne.

That's Harry Dresden.

[underlankers]

There's a reason I have Baron Harkonnen for an icon. He was a magnificent bastard before the Emperor from Star Wars made it cool. ;P