Looking for "tech reboot" books

Joat42 wrote:

Howard T. Map-addict wrote:You do know that it is the "drama" that makes the "story" don't you? Otherwise it is a mere technology manual.

HTM

Yes and no, most books gloss over the tech and just describes it in very general terms - ie. handwavium.

Good premise for interesting stories, although I wonder if the invention of the printing press hasn't made it unlikely.

Considering manuals, paper is perishable, and digital requires an existing technology. Useful materials can be laminated and stored in loose leaf binders for a longer life.

Something like this, although fiction, would be useful as an "instruction manual" if we get another Carrington event before the big shots get around to protecting the electrical grid. "Solar Flare" by Larry Burkett covers this, but I didn't read the whole book, so it might not be what you want.

Dean Ing had a nuclear war story ("Pulling Through", I think) that focused on how some survivors made and used very simple radiation detectors, filters, etc. and appendixed information from the actual manuals. Did you know you can make a pump and filter to stop radioactive dust using cardboard, toilet paper, and duct tape? Just make sure the filter is on the other side of a heavy wall A root cellar, properly designed, makes a good fallout shelter. A very good radiation detector can be made from wallboard, tinfoil, a bottle, some means of making static electricity, and a simple timer (counting seconds? pulses?) The story line was good also. "The Rackham Files" looks like a continuation? although I've not read it.

Although on a restricted subject, these stories likely illustrate the kind of thing you would want.


I'm afraid most people just prefer handwavium over HOW THINGS WORK, especially the nuts and bolts. The first priority would be survival, then improved tools, eventually leading through powered tools to mass production again. The lathe is critical at the machine tool stage.

On the survival level, a good set of hand tools, especially gardening tools and knowledge, would be critical. And if you have a back yard, they (and a root cellar) can pay off right now if you will do the work. We are growing a major portion of our own vegetables, using intensive methods, which started as a hobby until we noticed the effect on our wallets and taste buds.

In non fiction, the "Mother Earth News" magazine has many applicable articles, and is worth reading.

Andre Norton's "Star Man's Son", Poul Anderson's "Vault of the Ages", Sterling Lanier's Hiero books and Paul Williams' Pelbar Cycle all have elements of this, but they are also all 'how it got started' stories, not 'how it was done'. I'd be rather surprised if anyone has ever written one of the latter, so Joat is going to have to do it himself. Who knows? If he does a good job, people may even want to read them

DDHvi wrote:

Joat42 wrote:Yes and no, most books gloss over the tech and just describes it in very general terms - ie. handwavium.

Good premise for interesting stories, although I wonder if the invention of the printing press hasn't made it unlikely.

Considering manuals, paper is perishable, and digital requires an existing technology. Useful materials can be laminated and stored in loose leaf binders for a longer life.

Something like this, although fiction, would be useful as an "instruction manual" if we get another Carrington event before the big shots get around to protecting the electrical grid. "Solar Flare" by Larry Burkett covers this, but I didn't read the whole book, so it might not be what you want.

Dean Ing had a nuclear war story ("Pulling Through", I think) that focused on how some survivors made and used very simple radiation detectors, filters, etc. and appendixed information from the actual manuals. Did you know you can make a pump and filter to stop radioactive dust using cardboard, toilet paper, and duct tape? Just make sure the filter is on the other side of a heavy wall A root cellar, properly designed, makes a good fallout shelter. A very good radiation detector can be made from wallboard, tinfoil, a bottle, some means of making static electricity, and a simple timer (counting seconds? pulses?) The story line was good also. "The Rackham Files" looks like a continuation? although I've not read it.

Although on a restricted subject, these stories likely illustrate the kind of thing you would want.


I'm afraid most people just prefer handwavium over HOW THINGS WORK, especially the nuts and bolts. The first priority would be survival, then improved tools, eventually leading through powered tools to mass production again. The lathe is critical at the machine tool stage.

On the survival level, a good set of hand tools, especially gardening tools and knowledge, would be critical. And if you have a back yard, they (and a root cellar) can pay off right now if you will do the work. We are growing a major portion of our own vegetables, using intensive methods, which started as a hobby until we noticed the effect on our wallets and taste buds.

In non fiction, the "Mother Earth News" magazine has many applicable articles, and is worth reading.

Louis R wrote:Andre Norton's "Star Man's Son", Poul Anderson's "Vault of the Ages", Sterling Lanier's Hiero books and Paul Williams' Pelbar Cycle all have elements of this, but they are also all 'how it got started' stories, not 'how it was done'. I'd be rather surprised if anyone has ever written one of the latter, so Joat is going to have to do it himself. Who knows? If he does a good job, people may even want to read them

And have people nitpicking my story into tiny bits on some forum, eh?

Dean Ing, Pulling through. Comes to mind.

Joat42 wrote:

Louis R wrote:Andre Norton's "Star Man's Son", Poul Anderson's "Vault of the Ages", Sterling Lanier's Hiero books and Paul Williams' Pelbar Cycle all have elements of this, but they are also all 'how it got started' stories, not 'how it was done'. I'd be rather surprised if anyone has ever written one of the latter, so Joat is going to have to do it himself. Who knows? If he does a good job, people may even want to read them

And have people nitpicking my story into tiny bits on some forum, eh?

Hey, at least you will know people are paying attention

I could help with some technical bits, if anyone wants to try this, but am helpless when it comes to the drama. I enjoy it, but don't seem able to produce it.

BTW, a company called Thermofluidics, is working on the NIFTE pump, a temperature difference operated pump where the only moving parts are the one-way valves. They are doing the field testing for the first time, as of the latest read. If this had been available, the Newcomen and Watts engines might not have been developed as soon.

The drama would come from the individuals trying to adjust to the new circumstances. To mention some possibilities: in a hunt/gather economy, there is no planned replacement for harvested plants, so when many are harvesting they get used up. In an grow/herd economy, replacements require saving out seed and breeding stock. So when there isn't enough surplus, you get a situation like the Pilgrim's first year in America.

They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy

Psalm 126:5 People close to the land are likely to see the need to have seed, even if it means a starvation time in the winter. How will they handle those who have always gone to the nearest grocery? What happens if a bossy type, who doesn't know enough to listen to knowledgeable people, is in charge, with enforcers under his hand?

Note that Zimbabwe, in a short time, went from being the breadbasket of southern Africa to having hard shortages, because the Mugabe group made no requirement in their land redistribution that those getting land have the skills needed to farm it. What would have happened if each piece of land went to the one who won a farming skills contest?

"It can't happen here!" is one of the most foolish thoughts possible.

Like problems would occur in other fields as things are improved.There are plenty of possibilities for drama A series of stories using the various stages could be written.

Joat42 wrote:I'm trying to find stories which focuses on rebooting technology after global disaster/war/the fall etc, preferably focused on the reboot rather than the drama around it.

Anyone have any good suggestions?

Destroyermen is kinda there. Fans of Weber will likely enjoy it. But "I want the nuts and bolts without the story" isn't a big market, sorry.

Sully wrote:

Joat42 wrote:I'm trying to find stories which focuses on rebooting technology after global disaster/war/the fall etc, preferably focused on the reboot rather than the drama around it.

Anyone have any good suggestions?

Destroyermen is kinda there. Fans of Weber will likely enjoy it. But "I want the nuts and bolts without the story" isn't a big market, sorry.

"Pulling through" by Dean Ing is the story with nuts and bolts woven into it. However, what seems to be wanted is for afterward, not during the nuclear war, when the rebuilding is occurring.

There was a series of several stories in the time-travel-produces-changes type about a polish engineer that was thrown back to the late 1200s, but I can't remember either the author nor any titles. This might fit if anyone can find it. I remember the author had a polish last name starting with L, if that helps any.

He had a Polish[ish] last name, but it didn't start with L

Leo Frankowski, the Conrad Stargard stories starting with The Cross-Time Engineer

DDHvi wrote:

Joat42 wrote:I'm trying to find stories which focuses on rebooting technology after global disaster/war/the fall etc, preferably focused on the reboot rather than the drama around it.

Anyone have any good suggestions?

"Pulling through" by Dean Ing is the story with nuts and bolts woven into it. However, what seems to be wanted is for afterward, not during the nuclear war, when the rebuilding is occurring.

There was a series of several stories in the time-travel-produces-changes type about a polish engineer that was thrown back to the late 1200s, but I can't remember either the author nor any titles. This might fit if anyone can find it. I remember the author had a polish last name starting with L, if that helps any.

Louis R wrote:He had a Polish[ish] last name, but it didn't start with L

Leo Frankowski, the Conrad Stargard stories starting with The Cross-Time Engineer

Correct you are.

I'd enjoy a rebuild series with tech in it, if well written.