This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
The Russians Were Working On A Beard launched as LensmanArmsRaceDiscussion: From YKTTW
Working Title: Lensman Arms Race: From YKTTW
Ununnilium: Yoinking the Honor Harrington debate:
The problem is that virtually none of the tech is actually new, just existing tech used in new ways. Despite much of the tech having existed for some cases centuries before the series opens, and with space warfare being a fairly common, it seems like only the Manticorans bother trying new things, and even them starting just prior to the first novel.
- Its worth pointing out that while most of the new technology is essentially using existing technology in new ways (generally explained as being possible by advances in miniaturization) the same is true in real life, there are very few huge advances with most new technologies being smaller, faster and better versions of existing ones.
- Slightly more off-putting is that the books started out as a Recycled In Space retelling of English and French naval battles. The technology advances mirror actual advances in naval warfare, from cannons (missles) to aircraft (LACs) to cruise missles; all while "England" is still fighting "France". One wonders how the books will proceed now that Weber has run out of real technology to copy.
- Weber is generally at least a little bit creative with his design concepts. Much of the tactics of the most recent books revolves around the fact that the long range "cruise missiles" mentioned above can be dumped out of the back of a ship in 'missile pods'. This allows you to predeploy a large number of missiles and fire them all at once. Several major battles are decided by this tactic... which, to the best of this troper's knowledge, has no parallel in real life. He copies from real life, certainly, but he is quite capable of putting his own twist on it.
Nosferatu5:
Seriously, a link to the Oedipus Complex for 'Because We Love Peace and Motherhood'?
C Trombley: Quick! Tell us what you think of a rename! This Crowner is the list of names we're looking at. Make objections here or in the Fora.
Kizor: Only one feedback post showed up, and that was on the discussion page for the new name as well as being obscene. I agree with the points it made: Renaming this to Exponentially Escalating Arms Race lost being easy to type, lost being easy to remember, lost pithiness, and lost memorability, while more than doubling its length. (I wrote that as Exponentially Increasing three minutes after looking it up, how's that for memorability?) I took it upon myself to change it to what won the vote in that crowner: the original. Sorry to let ya down, had to be done.
Evil Midnight Lurker: Hooray!
Vultur: Also hooray! I like this title way better than the long one.
