As I made my way to my humble little lab, the sun beamed through a blue cloudless sky. At the Sun's heart was Nuclear fusion, a source of energy that was clean, self-sufficient and seemingly infinite. What would we give to control this reaction.
For at least forty years I've been experimenting with Nuclear Fusion. In the early days I published my findings and was met by a torrent of abuse. So for the last ten or so years I've kept myself to myself
Today is the big one and I'm sharing it with no one.
Power on.
It's working.
Switch it off.
Fuck.
Short the circuit
oh damn.
silence.
An Observer on a planet in a system a billion light years away noted that something had happened in a remote part of the Galaxy. It appeared that a whole Solar System had turned into a Black Hole.
They casually thought,
"Well this certainly questions many of the a-priori assumptions that we base our Cosmoligical Theories on."
They returned to their work on Nuclear Fusion which would when cracked provide a source of Energy that was clean, self-sufficient and infinite
|
Clever
Written by Asferthecat (789 comments posted) 16th April 2007 |
| Clever but very short. Was there no way of building up character and tension? |
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 16th April 2007 |
Hi AFTC,
I was probably editing the piece as you were reviewing.
There is undoubtedly a far bigger picture to be painted but this is one of my "thumbnail sketches".
Thanks for your time and comments,
Brian.
|
Hello Brian
Written by stevetroster (1398 comments posted) 16th April 2007 |
Personally I don't believe that this needs to be any longer, as it delivers the story well enough in its succinct form.
Although we share the same first name I am no Stephen Hawking, however I do have one issue with this story(and I am happy to stand corrected if you prove me wrong).
"It appeared that a whole Solar System had turned into a Black Hole."
I believe that the current theory is that a black hole is a collapsed star(sun), and that the increased gravity of the star sucks everything towards it. Therefore a whole solar system cannot turn into a black hole, it can only be absorbed by one. "It appeared that a whole Solar System had collapsed into a Black Hole."
And before my Crit' become longer than your work, I will wish you a fond farewell and best wishes.
Steve.
|
Brevity
Written by Diplomat (28 comments posted) 16th April 2007 |
Some time ago when my body was young and my blood hot, whenever I was angered by something in the news I would write to the Daily Mail. Sometimes, they would publish my letter and when they did I was always amazed that it had been edited to less than half the size of the original but still said exactly the same!
I thought the piece complete.
|
Written by Lizzy (781 comments posted) 17th April 2007 |
I also thought the piece succint. Needed no more to give the message.
Lizzy |
Written by Fledermaus (3159 comments posted) 17th April 2007 |
See nuclear fussion isn't the solution to all problems! Yet for creating a black hole he deserves several Nobel-prizes, not only is it the greatest scientific experiment ever, but he also caused world peace 
Personally I'm against nuclear fusion, unless they are going to use another energy source than hydrogen. Helium 3 would be a nice alternative, but then the expectations of large deposits on the moon shouldn't prove science fiction.
People all to often claim nuclear fusion is clean and safe, but it may well prove to be the most destructive way to create energy ever. If we don't turn the solar system into a black hole, then at least we're going to turn earth into a sun... |
Watto ST
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 17th April 2007 |
"They casually thought,
"Well this certainly questions many of the a-priori assumptions that we base our Cosmoligical Theories on."
I wriggle out of a corner, however see Batty's comments.
Thanks for your time and comments,
Brian
|
Watto Diplo.
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 17th April 2007 |
|
Oops-Watto Diplo 2
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 17th April 2007 |
Thanks for your time and comments. I wanted to produce a short sharp shock.
Glad you liked it.
Brian. |
Watto Lizzy
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 17th April 2007 |
Thanks for your time and comments,
Brian |
Watto Batty.
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 17th April 2007 |
Thanks for your comments.
I'm genuinely worried that should the reaction involve dense atoms that it could not be controlled but also that the time scale would be exceptionally short.
Brian |
Written by Snodlander (501 comments posted) 17th April 2007 |
Mad scientist destroys the world. A popular theme, but this one is one of the most succinct I've read. It could even be shorter. The second para lends little to the story, other than ensure there are no checks and balances to his eperiment. But this could equally be the case with a team.
And of course your aliens probably wouldn'f think that for at least a billion years.
Liked this a lot. |
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 17th April 2007 |
Hi Snoddie,
Just imagine that every inteligent life form in the Universe will come up with Nuclear Fusion and turn their Solar System into a black hole and that there is effectively a "glass ceiling" beyond which civilised life will never get.
Thanks for your time and comments.
Brian.
|
Written by anorwegianwood (278 comments posted) 18th April 2007 |
I also liked this for its shortness. Any more and the impact would be lost.
~Claire |
Hi Claire
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 18th April 2007 |
Thanks for your time and comments,
Brian |
Written by Phil (6383 comments posted) 21st April 2007 |
Yep, with the above. Effective for its succinctness (which I'm not sure I can spell.) Interesting piece in its circularity - an idea caught between two mirrors. Enjoyed.
Phil. |
Written by Phil (6383 comments posted) 21st April 2007 |
| Write to the Daily Mail (AKA-The Daily Hate) - Shame on you Diplomat! |
Come on Phil
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 21st April 2007 |
"I thought the piece complete."
There's no shame in that to my eyes.
Brian |
Oh Oops
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 21st April 2007 |
Hi Phil I missed your first comment.
So thanks your thoughts
Brian. |
Written by Phil (6383 comments posted) 21st April 2007 |
| Sorry Brian, not with you. |
Hi Phil
Written by BrianRobertNeal (1195 comments posted) 21st April 2007 |
I missed
"Yep, with the above. Effective for its succinctness (which I'm not sure I can spell.) Interesting piece in its circularity - an idea caught between two mirrors. Enjoyed."
But caught
"Write to the Daily Mail (AKA-The Daily Hate) - Shame on you Diplomat!"
So my first post to you which was impish.
When I got your 1st post I then posted the remedial comments.
Its all to confusing I'm going to lie down in a darkened room,
Brian
|
Only registered users can rate and write comments.
Please login or register.
Previous item
