There was a classic science fiction story about the idea that there was certain twist of development that lead to interstellar travel but cut off most other technological development. Earth missed that twist and continued to develop science, but not starships; we are eventually visited by aliens who are outfitted with muskets and pikes like conquistadors.
There’s a rather famous science fiction story which has a premise similar to this, Harry Turtledove’s “The Road Not Taken”.
In the story, it’s revealed that gravity manipulation is far simpler than humanity ever took it to be, such that by the time a species discovers the ability to make flintlock rifles they generally have the ability to manipulate gravity. This leads to those species who discover it prioritizing space travel and interplanetary colonization, and so everything else in their society never progresses past that point.
Thus, when a group of alien invaders comes after us with their flintlock rifles, we introduce them to anti-aircraft missiles, machine guns, and all sorts of other nasty things we humans have spent decades using to kill one another.
The few surviving members of the invasion force are promptly and forcefully interrogated until they reveal the secret of gravity manipulation, at which point the various world governments quickly begin working to develop their own version. This leaves a surviving alien officer to realize that the galaxy is doomed, as humans will soon be conquering anyone and everyone they encounter.
cdward over 4 years ago
Well, we sent a monkey up first, so who says that’s not what the aliens are doing?
davanden over 4 years ago
There was a classic science fiction story about the idea that there was certain twist of development that lead to interstellar travel but cut off most other technological development. Earth missed that twist and continued to develop science, but not starships; we are eventually visited by aliens who are outfitted with muskets and pikes like conquistadors.
The Pro from Dover over 4 years ago
Yaba-daba-do yaba-daba-do
uniquename over 4 years ago
They are.
Gameguy49 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Of course they are, they invented a time machine didn’t they"
Plods with ...™ over 4 years ago
Are those phaser clubs?
comixbomix over 4 years ago
But we’ve got just the leader for you…
P51Strega over 4 years ago
A society where war and killing didn’t drive their technology.
Ironhold over 4 years ago
There’s a rather famous science fiction story which has a premise similar to this, Harry Turtledove’s “The Road Not Taken”.
In the story, it’s revealed that gravity manipulation is far simpler than humanity ever took it to be, such that by the time a species discovers the ability to make flintlock rifles they generally have the ability to manipulate gravity. This leads to those species who discover it prioritizing space travel and interplanetary colonization, and so everything else in their society never progresses past that point.
Thus, when a group of alien invaders comes after us with their flintlock rifles, we introduce them to anti-aircraft missiles, machine guns, and all sorts of other nasty things we humans have spent decades using to kill one another.
The few surviving members of the invasion force are promptly and forcefully interrogated until they reveal the secret of gravity manipulation, at which point the various world governments quickly begin working to develop their own version. This leaves a surviving alien officer to realize that the galaxy is doomed, as humans will soon be conquering anyone and everyone they encounter.
amaneaux over 4 years ago
“Your superior intellects are no match for our primitive weapons!”
anomaly over 4 years ago
They must be superior. They’re carrying baguettes.