Stories about not so soft space fighters

[GTOM]

I wonder how much stories were written, that involve space fighters, and arent so soft as Star wars.
I dont think missiles totally make fighter craft obsolate, for example the former cant escort shuttles if one wants to capture a celestial body. I dont insist fighters have to be manned (i enjoyed Enders game about someone control the events for afar) but i also think it isnt totally unjustifiable.

 

[DaveC426913]

I am having trouble parsing your post. It seems disjointed.

What do you mean by "soft"?
Then you mention missiles.
Then escorting shuttles and capturing celestial bodies?

OK, reading through for the sixth time, you're saying missiles could make fighters obsolete - except that missiles can't perform escort duties like fighters can, and missiles can only destroy; they can't capture. I'm starting to follow your line of thought now.

So, what is your question? Are you looking for reading material?

 

[GTOM]

I am having trouble parsing your post. It seems disjointed.

What do you mean by "soft"?
Then you mention missiles.
Then escorting shuttles and capturing celestial bodies?

OK, reading through for the sixth time, you're saying missiles could make fighters obsolete - except that missiles can't perform escort duties like fighters can, and missiles can only destroy; they can't capture. I'm starting to follow your line of thought now.

So, what is your question? Are you looking for reading material?

Sorry if my english writing isnt the best, i think about how to rephrase. And yes, i asked about books, and short stories, films tend to be pretty soft.

 

[DaveC426913]

Sorry if my english writing isnt the best, i think about how to rephrase.

Less about English, just share more details of your thoughts. Details give context which facilitates meaning. There was a bit of a jump there to missiles.

And yes, i asked about books, and short stories, films tend to be pretty soft.

OK, I assume you mean soft science-fiction as opposed to hard science-fiction.

I'm not sure of Star wars counts as soft. It's so exotic (being in another galaxy and all) that who are we to say how their spacecraft work?

But closer to home, I suppose Babylon 5 has gone to great lengths to follow known physics (in our galaxy at least).

Still, most books tend to try to be pretty accurate with their physics. I've only encountered one book that made zero attempt to care about its physics. (It was a colony-ship story, but the author clearly knew nothing about how spaceships or space travel works - they cared more about the shipboard soap opera).

Share more. You want "hard" sci-fi books about fighter battles?

 

[GTOM]

Less about English, just share more details of your thoughts. Details give context which facilitates meaning. There was a bit of a jump there to missiles.


OK, I assume you mean soft science-fiction as opposed to hard science-fiction.

I'm not sure of Star wars counts as soft. It's so exotic (being in another galaxy and all) that who are we to say how their spacecraft work?

But closer to home, I suppose Babylon 5 has gone to great lengths to follow known physics (in our galaxy at least).

Still, most books tend to try to be pretty accurate with their physics. I've only encountered one book that made zero attempt to care about its physics. (It was a colony-ship story, but the author clearly knew nothing about how spaceships or space travel works - they cared more about the shipboard soap opera).

Share more. You want "hard" sci-fi books about fighter battles?

Yes i would like to reád more hard sf, that involve that element too.

 

[DaveC426913]

Yes i would like to reád more hard sf, that involve that element too.

That's still petty broad, but it does sound like you're looking for Military Sci-fi.

Best I can recommend is you start with the quintessential military sci-fi classic: Joe Haldeman's The Forever War.

 

[sbrothy]

Atomic Rockets on Space Fighters in SciFi

(They're basically slaughtered as making no sense economically and militarily. Then again: create the right setting and you can make anything make sense.)

Aw fer cryin' out loud! When he was making his first "Star Wars" movie George Lucas thought it would be cute to add scenes inspired by old World War 2 dogfighting movies. And ever since then sci-fi fans have lost their freaking minds.

I've got new for you: in the real world combat spacecraft based on one-man fighter planes is just about the greatest military invention since the rubber spear. The concept stinks on ice scientifically, militarily, and economically.

While you are at it you might as well have your starship troopers wear bright red coats with no armor, firmly resisting the urge to take cover, and fighting out in the open in broad ranks like rows of targets in a carnaval shooting gallery.

Not like that's gonna to stop you. There are idiotic space fighter planes in both Battlestar Galacticas, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Babylon 5, Space Above And Beyond, and many many others. Not to mention the fact that it is forty freaking years after the first Star Wars movie came out and they are still making new ones jam packed with space fighters.

 

[GTOM]

Atomic Rockets on Space Fighters in SciFi

(They're basically slaughtered as making no sense economically and militarily. Then again: create the right setting and you can make anything make sense.)

Exactly why i started with a note, that missiles cant do everything, like escort shuttle craft.
Otherwise economically and militarily it doesnt make sense to send infantry and planes, why not just nuke a third world country... He should be less biased. (if no men on small ships, then eventually no men on big ones neither. Then nukes stop being a taboo, why not if no one die? Then maybe time to return to manned spacecraft.)

 

[sbrothy]

Less about English, just share more details of your thoughts. Details give context which facilitates meaning. There was a bit of a jump there to missiles.


OK, I assume you mean soft science-fiction as opposed to hard science-fiction.

I'm not sure of Star wars counts as soft. It's so exotic (being in another galaxy and all) that who are we to say how their spacecraft work?

But closer to home, I suppose Babylon 5 has gone to great lengths to follow known physics (in our galaxy at least).

Still, most books tend to try to be pretty accurate with their physics. I've only encountered one book that made zero attempt to care about its physics. (It was a colony-ship story, but the author clearly knew nothing about how spaceships or space travel works - they cared more about the shipboard soap opera).

Share more. You want "hard" sci-fi books about fighter battles?

Oh I’d classify Star Wars as soft. Spongy really. (I couldn’t find a word for extra-soft.) Also, as per the Copernican principle, “just” being in another Galaxy doesn’t really qualify as that exotic in my book.

EDIT: Annoyingly, it is also filled with banking space fighters.

 

[sbrothy]

But @DaveC426913 is right. On the face of it it sounds like you’re after military scifi. I’d recommend Ian M. Bank’s The Algebraist. Not for it’s hardness, but there are some nice detailed descriptions from the POV of a battleship pilot completely biologically embedded/wired into her vehicle and the way her commanding officer has access to her vital stats.

EDIT: military scifi it is not. Good story though.

 

[sbrothy]

If you want truly hard scifi I'd recommend Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy.

 

[sbrothy]

Apropos a pilot being physically part of the vehicle there's this one: Light. It's a little messy though, but a good read nonetheless.

Seria Mau Genlicher: Seria Mau signed up to Earth Military Contracts at the age of 13, whereupon she was cybernetically fused to her K-ship, the White Cat. She subsequently went rogue and became a freelance assassin. Though she is in control of a ship of devastating capabilities, Seria Mau has not matured emotionally, and is prone to fits of murderous rage, lust and caprice.

 

[sbrothy]

Sorry for all this not having much to do with space fighters.

 

[GTOM]

Sorry for all this not having much to do with space fighters.

cyborg pilots for fighters arent outside my interest. of course it can be an interesting question, what can be classified as a fighter?
if battleships are km big fusion powered things, then a magnitudes smaller ship with crew of two and a small nuclear reactor, that can travel to millions of kms (with people on board) but need a mothership if it want to reach the Saturnus to end a fight between its moons, might be a fighter.

 

[sbrothy]

Indeed. I just can't escape this mental image from Star Wars of a one person vehicle (well, with a beep-de-boop "AI" as passenger), with limited range and, as you say, launched from a mothership.

 

[BWV]

But @DaveC426913 is right. On the face of it it sounds like you’re after military scifi. I’d recommend Ian M. Bank’s The Algebraist. Not for it’s hardness, but there are some nice detailed descriptions from the POV of a battleship pilot completely biologically embedded/wired into her vehicle and the way her commanding officer has access to her vital stats.

EDIT: military scifi it is not. Good story though.

And Ian Bank’s Excession is also one of the most massive, over-the-top space battle stories

 

[sbrothy]

And Ian Bank’s Excession is also one of the most massive, over-the-top space battle stories

Once again an example of one of the good ones being prematurely ripped away by illness. Cancer if I'm not mistaken.

 

[sbrothy]

I’m sure this is a common error. I just made it myself. For the record though his name was Iain Banks.