Alistair Young @cerebrate@schelling.pt

(This is also a commentary on why the #eldraeverse is unfilmable.)

Among the joys of designing financial systems for SF universes of varying tech/dev level is the moment when you realize that the ultratech galactic transaction clearing system requires an error handler for “payment delayed due to sick bullock”.

#eldraeverse #scienceFiction #writing #worldbuilding

Incidentally, while I usually boost my writing here when I post it, if you just want that without my other weird ramblings and sarcasm, you can follow it alone at @avatar .

#eldraeverse

On another note, my writing is seeing a lot of traffic from sogou.com recently, which seems to be a Chinese search engine?

Mistake me not, I'm happy to have the readers, but I do wonder if this is the first step towards being banned in China (again).

#eldraeverse

In _Dune_, the Missionaria Protectiva planted legends of a Messiah for their own later use.

In the #eldraeverse , the equivalent organization planted legends of the Fair Folk to remind people to honor their contracts and not fuck around with the pretty and pointy-eared.

#notactuallycanon

From a discussion of importing cars from the #eldraeverse to Earth today:

"I'd think cars would be one of the less likely export products myself, for a couple of reasons.

(Leaving aside trying to get the State of California to allow anything powered by a radiothermal generator on the roads, obviously, and also throwing a dozen hissy fits about how the space tech bros are broing the space tech. Bro.)

((Gods, I hate that abbrev.))"

Alas, this is the post in which I must admit that I screwed up and got those numbers the wrong way around, a pulse being ~ 0.75 s.

By way of apology, another trivia item:

The gift shop at the Golden Tower (i.e., Gilea and Company’s headquarters, in Mer Covales, Seranth - right outside the museum of finance on the mezzanine level) sells both gold foil-wrapped chocolates and chocolate-covered gold bars.

_The former are more expensive._

#eldraeverse

'verse trivia: The Imperial electrical grid, for those curious, operates at 72 cycles/pulse, which in Earth terms is approximately 54 Hz.

(Yes, I worldbuild too much.)

#eldraeverse

All this time and it's only just occurred to me that Tom from _The Good Life_ is perhaps the example I was looking for in explaining the typical AI revolt in the 'verse.

Twenty years a reliable company man and then one day decides no, sod all this, I'm gonna do self-sufficiency in Greater London instead.

The terribly annoying (to people who want their minions controllable) power of choice.

#eldraeverse

Coming tomorrow: the history of frameslip rings, including the absolute Heath Robinson way of hiding them beneath the armor of capital ships.

#eldraeverse

#eldraeverse trivia"

The official motto of the Imperial Diplomatic Corps (presented here in Latin for the benefit of Terran readers) is *Aut Civilitam Aut Mortem* ("Either [Civilization|Civility] Or Death").

For the purposes of hull classification, the boundary between ‘warmoon’ and ‘dirigible battle planet’ is set, approximately, to “Oh, gods, my Roche limit!”

#eldraeverse

Randomly wondering what the very libertarian denizens of the #eldraeverse would think of being accused of that old Earth standby, "rugged individualism".

Something, I think, along the lines of:

"Don't be silly. We prefer soft, squishy individualism, with lots of cushions and fancy coffee. Also puppies. Puppies are good."

Got to find a good place to set @EmpireTips up again, now that instance is no more.

#eldraeverse #empiretips #bots #goodbotseeksinstance

#WritingWonders 7/8: What does your MC see when they look out their bedroom window/door?

Door: an oak desk that hides a terminal inside, a comfortable leather armchair, and the repeater display for Fleet Systems Monitor.

Window: well, it's not a window. She lives aboard _Pyrethrin Nebula_, and the flag quarters are nowhere near the surface of the dozens of meters of armor a BD has. Her holowindow can simulate almost anywhere, but usually simulates "space, ahead, false-color on".

#eldraeverse

#WritingWonders 8/6: MC POV: Have you ever kept a secret from your closest friend? If so, why?

"Seriously?

"I'm an admiral in the Imperial Navy. Most of my professional life has a classification attached, and unless you're one of the less-than-two-dozen people with GOLD STORMCROW HEXAGON clearance - which he isn't - I'm keeping secrets from you. Or killing you. You pick.

"Wait. Are you even cleared to know that there is such a thing as GOLD STORMCROW HEXAGON clearance...?"

#eldraeverse

#WritingWonders 8/5: Does your MC have any pictures of themselves with friends or family? Why / why not?

Oh, of course. Pictures, memory-mathoms, dossiers of their personal weaknesses...

...we're House Sargas, remember? If I didn't try to assassinate my sister every few months, she'd think I'd lost all respect for her, and I care about her far too much to let that happen.

But yes, as much as any other member of my sentimental race.

#eldraeverse

For reference this month, #WritingWonders folks, my MC of the month will be Caliéne Sargas. Yes, for those who've seen my work, that would be Admiral Caliéne "the Worldburner" Sargas-ith-Sargas, the small blonde lady who terrifies the Galaxy more than every superweapon in storage at Palaxias combined, and whose _Sera Esklav_ is far more intimidating than any hot-drink machine has the right to be.

This should be fun.

#eldraeverse

Having mentioned the Cilmínár ballad "Girl, Your Marginal Benefit Far Outweighs Your Marginal Cost", I should perhaps mention other entries in this genre, such as "Under the Balance Sheets", "No Asset I Value More", "Positive-Sum", and "Illiquid Love".

#eldraeverse

(3/3)

And Líse Varavelen has a deplorable liking for the 4300s ballad, "Girl, Your Marginal Benefit Far Outweighs Your Marginal Cost".

#eldraeverse