5

Can someone remember the title of this story by Stephen Baxter? It probably appears in the collection "Vacuum Diagrams".

A female space explorer finds a planet with some kind of valuable ancient technology on it. (I think it was faster-than-light communication). Another explorer, of an alien race, has discovered it too, and IIRC is trying to kill our heroine to possess it. At the end, she manages to defeat the alien; and before it dies, it does something noble in defeat (like helping her get home).

1 Answer 1

6

Looks like this could be "More Than Time Or Distance", indeed included in Vacuum Diagrams.

Some of the key points:

Female Pilot:

My one-woman flitter dropped into the luminous wreckage of an old supernova. I peered into the folded-out depths of the dead star, hoarding details like coins for Timothy.

Discovers Faster-Than-Light communication:

I worked out the implications of that, and then I leaned carefully against a low pillar and breathed deep enough to mist up my face plate.

Think about it. Ring A was talking to ring B, which got the message delayed by a nanosecond. Each ring was a light nanosecond across. And the rings were placed a hundred light nanoseconds apart.

So all the delay was in the structure of the rings — and the communication between them was instantaneous.

My face plate fogged a bit more. Instantaneous communication: it was a technological prize second only in value to the hyperdrive itself…

The secret had to be quantum inseparability. When a single object is split up, its components can still communicate instantaneously. That’s high school stuff, Bell’s theorem from the twentieth century. But, everyone had thought, you couldn’t use the effect to send meaningful messages.

Competing with another alien:

And at just that moment, in walked a giant alien monster with a zap gun. Wouldn’t you know it?

Ends with an act of nobility by the losing alien:

Even the Statue was company. “You have been a worthy… opponent.”

“You’re repeating yourself,” I said rudely.

“My ship is at… the planet’s nearer pole, one day’s journey from here. You may be able to adapt its life system to your purposes.”

“Ah… thank you. Why?”

“Because you would probably find it anyway. And I hope your species will… be tolerant of mine in the future.”

1
  • 2
    Thanks! PS: Am I the only one who noticed the similarity to the Larry Niven short story "A Relic of Empire"? Hero exploring a planet, discovers the relic, kills the villain in self defense; and the villain, with his dying breath, tells the villain a secret of galactic importance. Nov 29, 2016 at 4:48

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.