I like that SciFi concept that manipulating gravity/space/time is actually not that hard, and some civilizations discover that a lot earlier and go down a different technological evolutionary tree
So you have like wooden spaceships operated by aliens wielding swords, and they show up to earth to conquer us assuming they’re way more advanced than us, but realize we have hella advanced weapons, infrastructure, and communications technologies
That’s heavily implied in Defending Elysium. A phone company accidentally develops FTL communication and as a result an ambassador’s ship shows up but is easily shot down by our modern fighter jets when it enters our airspace. The diplomatic fuck up Is fixed by the phone company, which in turn becomes an extra governmental liaison between humanity and the rest of galactic civilization.
The best twist on that, and the best twist as to how FTL-capable aliens don’t smash us flat is Footfall. Also shows the most practical way for aliens to attack a planetary surface. Think I’ll read again it for the fourth time!
SPOILER
They roll up and start throwing rocks from orbit.
The aliens didn’t actually invent their tech and are using a ship, weapons, etc. from a far more advanced, and extinct, species. Also, realizing that they’re herd animals goes a long way towards winning in the end, making the title take on more than one meaning.
Favorite part was where they nuke Kansas and the aliens go into a frenzy. “They nuked their own breadbasket just to get one small base?! Are they fucking nuts?!”
I like that SciFi concept that manipulating gravity/space/time is actually not that hard, and some civilizations discover that a lot earlier and go down a different technological evolutionary tree
So you have like wooden spaceships operated by aliens wielding swords, and they show up to earth to conquer us assuming they’re way more advanced than us, but realize we have hella advanced weapons, infrastructure, and communications technologies
https://eyeofmidas.com/scifi/Turtledove_RoadNotTaken.pdf
The Road Not Taken by Harry Turtledove
Oh shit, that’s it! Thanks lol
That’s heavily implied in Defending Elysium. A phone company accidentally develops FTL communication and as a result an ambassador’s ship shows up but is easily shot down by our modern fighter jets when it enters our airspace. The diplomatic fuck up Is fixed by the phone company, which in turn becomes an extra governmental liaison between humanity and the rest of galactic civilization.
The best twist on that, and the best twist as to how FTL-capable aliens don’t smash us flat is Footfall. Also shows the most practical way for aliens to attack a planetary surface. Think I’ll read again it for the fourth time!
SPOILER
They roll up and start throwing rocks from orbit.
The aliens didn’t actually invent their tech and are using a ship, weapons, etc. from a far more advanced, and extinct, species. Also, realizing that they’re herd animals goes a long way towards winning in the end, making the title take on more than one meaning.
Favorite part was where they nuke Kansas and the aliens go into a frenzy. “They nuked their own breadbasket just to get one small base?! Are they fucking nuts?!”