You guys seem like a smart lot and have likely dug through more than your fair share of science fiction, so I thought I'd query you. I'm having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around Relativity and light speed travel. I've done a bit of research online and I've found that those sites which strip the complexity down to a level that it's openly accessible don't give enough information and those that don't shy away from the mathematics of it are far too confusing. There are all sorts of relativity calculators but without a basic theoretical understanding I'm really just punching numbers. One fact I did find interesting, mainly because it had never really occurred to me, is that the effects of relativity don't really begin to become significant until you are closely approaching the speed of light (ie. >0.8c).

The reason I bring it up is that I'm having an issue with a short story I'm considering in which the transfer of information over vast distances is a significant element. I'd like to avoid the "ansible" route if possible because the instantaneousness would undermine other elements of the story.

Any of you guys have a working understanding of complex physics that might be willing to break this down to something more manageable? Or, how about any examples in books you've ready that you feel handle this issue well?

I was looking at some of the other series related to the Ender set and it looks as if much of them are parallel or prequel to Ender's Game. Is there any part of the expanded series that follows up on those elements left open at the end of Children of the Mind?
I want more of Jane too

EDIT: I had in quotes what should have been in spoiler

I just finished up Children of the Mind, after a long hiatus from the series following what I found to be a less than enjoyable read of Xenocide, and I'm left disappointed. Neither the third or the fourth installments managed to deliver on that which made the first two so captivating. Am I the only one who feels this way? Am I missing something about the last two that might redeem them in my eyes if I were enlightened?

I'm not selective as I think that anyone who enjoys fantasy, generally something like Malazan/GoT or other large fantasy works, has a fair shot at liking Bakker. Feels too much like elitism to suggest otherwise

Perhaps selective wasn't the most accurate term. If I'm ever asked, I'm quick to mention TSA and keen to discuss it, but I'm a little more careful to whom I suggest it. I try to gear my recommendations to the person and that which I know they've read.

As an example, my younger brother reads a fair amount of fantasy himself, but it is predominately in the YA category. While I would love for him to pick up TSA, and everyone for that matter, I had my suspicion that it likely wasn't his "taste" confirmed when he picked TDTCB off my shelf to give it a go and couldn't overcome the density of the narrative.

Besides, if you take out the prof and placating girlfriend, my successful recs is halved lol

prince of thorns is good!

I've heard Lawrence was on point, and he must have been to have two more following PoT

i really wish i could dissuade you from reading A Dance With Dragons

I started reading ASOIAF many years ago, long before the HBO series came out, at this point it's kind of about not wasting the time that has already been invested in it. I do want to know what happens with Tyrion, Jon Snow, and Arya's storylines though

I would definitely recommend Dune - it is one of my favourite sci fi novels and am making good work through the series - thanks Madness for that rec

Lol, Madness recommended it to me a few years ago and I purchased a few with every intent to read them, they just never made it to the top of the list.

Looks like I fell prey to the oldest rule of forum posting: no reposts.

I'll throw my list in among the others and hope for the best

Ugh, just noticed how many times I used at least..