Scrapyard Station: Assumptions

Like Isaac Asimov stories where far-future computers use vacuum tubes, every sci-fi (or fake sci-fi) setting makes its own assumptions. Here are a few for Scrapyard Station:

All computer technology has stalled or regressed

There’s no in-universe explanation for this. I just didn’t want to add the consequences of improved computers to the setting. For instance, there are no intelligent AI characters.

A lot of manual labor still isn’t automated

This is partly a subset of the lack of computer advancement, but it’s also to keep the worlds from being too independent. You don’t need immigrant labor if robots do everything for you.

There are no ways to immerse yourself in a simulated life

There is exactly one way to make your fantasies come true in this setting: become a Parasite drone and be remolded to their will. Otherwise, you’re stuck in the “real world” with all the consequences thereof. This setting probably has computer games somewhere, but I don’t think I’ll ever show someone playing one, and VR is right out.

There are resources worth trading between planets

Again, this keeps the worlds from being too independent.

There are large and well-armed pirate groups

If the worlds could send each other resources without also sending armed guards to protect those resources, they’d have reduced interactions.

People are interested in colonizing other planets

Both in the sense that they want to leave their planets, and in the sense that they don’t just build Dyson spheres.

Advanced technology requires packbonding

“Advanced” here is shorthand for things a single person couldn’t invent from scratch within a single lifetime. I believe this information can only be passed down through a species that bonds with others, and I believe this bonding is necessarily loose enough that they could also bond with humans. In other words, I assume the aliens in Blindsight couldn’t exist. (The Winnowers work around this, but they’re explicitly magical.)

Most intelligent species can live together and communicate

This is just for convenience’s sake.

Contemporary religions will fade in relevance

They’re still around, but newer beliefs are more dominant.

Intelligent life exists

And in space as well (old joke.)

FTL is possible

I think this is the least supported assumption of all, but damn it, I want to meet aliens.

(no subject)

“Leftists want to enslave doctors” is such a weird take to keep showing up. I think it’s a libertarian thing?