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Merak,

You began this thread with a premise and the the concept of scientific "realism", and now are fortunately softening this stance a bit- "see how unlikely all of that happening actually is".

I appreciate your interest in scientific plausibility, but my point is that in creating science fiction, the reality of the situation is moot without creating interst in the overall situation. The interest in the story is limited without a fundamental integration of the "storyline" with the concept of the aliens, the destroyer craft and the humans that oppose- or don't oppose- the attackers.

As you've seen in this thread, if you maintain a concentration on complete "realism", the result becomes a kind of documentary- similar say to the ones of asteroids hitting the Earth, intriguing, but not exciting as sci fi. Without the story overwhelming the science, the audience- as I, late, and orejones have done- will just sit and poke holes all day long in the premise- which is easier than you admit. That's the penalty of insisting - and becoming so defensive- on a kind of barebones "truth", whereas entertainers with a great story only need go so far in that realm. The suspension of disbelief creates a distraction. That's why I recommended Douglas Adams. "Hitchhiker's Guide" which opens with the Earth to be destroyed in 20 minutes. This is done without much fanfare, and no one reading the book questions the physics of it or the reason (to create a galactic bypass), because we have suspended disbelief in the first paragraph.

There is nothing wrong in clearly identified fantasy and if fact it is the main thing your potential audience is interested in. The thing is, the sci fi audience has just seen it all- we need to know what makes your story idea interesting enough that viewers of "Independence Day" for example, with a similar premise, will want to see your movie too.

Film scripts are extremely difficult to do well enough to stimulate and amintain interest and you might consider Syd Field's or other books on structure, plot, dialogue, and character. It is important to conceive of your audience/market too. Script seminars like Truby's too can help put the task into perspective.

I would be interested in reading your story idea again, but balanced within the total story with all the other components in addition to the basic attack one.

Your comments: "Will a solution be found in time? Perhaps alternate theories of how to solve this situation will play against each other -- and a single choice must be made, for there won't be time for a second chance. Themes of man against machine, man against man, man against the unkown, and even man against the impossible where man loses (yes, we CAN lose) can all be entertained here", all seems to be on a better track and is the most encouraging thing I've seen here. That's the "real" stuff of your movie- not whether the ship can stay in orbit or hide behind the Sun.

Science is not truth and not even fact very often, but only a belief structure that provides temporary, extremely incomplete opinions on the physical Universe.

Cheers,

Bambi B


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