Two interesting things about starships

They don’t exist. And.

Damien Walter
Apr 5, 2024

There are two interesting things about starships

1. they don’t exist

2. they never will exist

Either we’re stuck at around 2% to 5% of lightspeed, or we’re awaiting a major paradigm shift in the sciences that will make travelling to other stars in a metal hulled space boat about as realistic as flying in a chariot of the gods.

But that’s ok, because we don’t love the starship as a realistic depicition of space travel.

In this weekend’s video essay I chart the genealogy of the starship, how the idea was born, how it has changed, and what it means to us today.

WARNING : contains a LOT of warp speed and hyperspace effects

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Damien Walter
Damien Walter

Written by Damien Walter

I tell stories about the future, technology and culture. Published by The Guardian, WIRED, BBC etc.

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