Footfall is one that I have to go read again: hard science fiction alien invasion novels are pretty rare, and this is one of the masters of the genre. Also, I can still remember and quote bits from it, and I read it half a lifetime ago. Well worth flipping through again.
And so, adieu to Orphans of the Sky.
Longtime favorite of mine. Stands out for having aliens with an actual REASON to invade Earth (and with a backstory that makes it actually realistic that they could 1)have insterstellar capability and 2) still get their asses beat by us).
This could be a helluva movie, and should be.
Loved the environmentalist who lamented that he should have been championing nuclear power and space programs after the Foot fell and messed up the global environment. And loved Michael too. “Lord, Thou hast made this world below the shadow of a dream,
An’, taught by time, I tak’ it so – exceptin’ always Steam.” – was steampunk even a thing back then? Googling says nyet. Footfall 1985; first use of steampunk term 1987.
John C. Wright has finished his Count to Eschaton series (5th book will come out in a couple of weeks) and that book has an alien invasion that will come in about 8 thousand years. In the first 4 books, the future history spans about 50 thousand years and the last couple of books will have many zeroes on the calendar. Albeit, sometimes during the 4th book, the generally accepted calendar date is changed to a countdown one to the date of Vindication (5th book is Vindication of Man).
It’s one of the best series about Alien invasion (not quite what you think, the Alien basically think we’re about as useful as amoeba, and wants to do something about it).
I’ll keep an eye out for it.
If there was a orion powered ship launched today from several different places, it would not bother me that much.
Might even smile.
Due note the reporter. And the way he ends. And this was decades ago.