SG1

[den]

Just saw an episode of Stargate where they had to deal with Replicators. The bugs effectively ate a whole planet, and were creating humanoids that were nanites at a cellular level.

dammit. 8(

So much for an original idea.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/crossfire_/]

Well, the humanoid-made-from-nanite bit, sure. But there are two key differences...first, the Replicators aren't themselves nanites (there's an episode earlier in the series where they describe exactly what the Replicators are). Second--and this is most important--they never got the clue about not being voracious. The Replicators are a cross between the Borg and the Berzerkers: they are straightforward Bad Guys. The Pak-Tuy have much more depth to them than that.

When I read your description of the Pak-Tuy, I didn't even think of the Replicators.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

While I was watching the show I was thinking "These guys are apparently intelligent and are working at "improving" their design. Why can't they see that their course of action will consume a finite resource, has only one ending, and will in no way be an evolution?"

Anyway, they make good Bad Guys for Macguyver.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

I'm interested in hearing how the Pak-Tuy went in your Star Frontiers campaign, too.

[http://users.livejournal.com/crossfire_/]

Will do, when we get to them. I'm thinking about working them in as a regular race, and seeing if the troupe figures it out.

[zibblsnrt.livejournal.com]

Did you think of it before or after seeing that episode?

If before, then I'd still consider it an original idea. There are no new ideas anymore, barring things coming up at the hands of brand new technology. It's all in the interpretation and application.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

The show aired hear last night, so I wrote the outline before I saw it.

So the idea might not be original, but it was MY unoriginal idea dammit!

[zibblsnrt.livejournal.com]

Hey, what's with this past tense stuff? It still is your idea, have fun with it and all. ;) See how you can spin it and stuff.

[polyrhythm.livejournal.com]

Didn't Michael Crichton have a book that ran on that idea too?

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

Possibly, but I usually wait for the movies.

[grygon.livejournal.com]

was that the episode where you got to see the original "mother" of the replicators? that is my favorite ep that deals with those nasties.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

No, I missed that one. It was where the Aasgard attract the replicants to their own homeworld and encase it in a time-bubble.

[(Anonymous)]

The novel "Bloom" has something of the same idea. Some people say there are only seven original plots in the world. The trick is putting one's own spin on 'em. Go for it.

--Quill

[(Anonymous)]

I've always thought that's a bit of a bleak approach to writing. Surely there's more stories than that. Perhaps there's only seven -salable- plots in the world. That's just a bleak approach to Humanity. But as for unique spin, I wonder how many authors have considered that in a sense, all multi-cellular creatures are nanite composites?

-Rust