Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.PCS 1/10/84; site ahutb.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!drutx!ahuta!ahutb!leeper
From: leeper@ahutb.UUCP (m.r.leeper)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: Silent Running explained
Message-ID: <672@ahutb.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 15-Apr-85 21:38:58 EST
Article-I.D.: ahutb.672
Posted: Mon Apr 15 21:38:58 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 17-Apr-85 01:28:45 EST
References: <1155@topaz.ARPA>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 31


Jonathan D. Trudel has some interesting explanations for SILENT
RUNNING's problems.  I can accept most of his answers.  I think he is
wrong about the following:

>>Also, there wasn't any reason for Earth to order them destroyed.
>>... and the ships could have orbited endlessly at no cost to Earth.
>
>A good answer, but completely wrong.  The ships were cargo
>vessels that were orbitting idly.  The decision to destroy the
>pods was a business move.  It was decided that the ships could be
>better used for what they were designed, and that was to carry
>cargo to Earth colonies, and I remember seeing the logo  of
>American Airlines on the side of the ship (Valley Forge?).  As
>for a reason, do you think that the shrewd businessman of the
>20-whateverth century would tie up several of his most valuable
>transport ships by having them hold a 'useless' cargo that brings
>no monetary gains?  Not bloody likely!
>

He is implying that the domes cannot operate by themselves without the
transport.  That makes the ending really sad.  You see, Freeman Lowell
dies by blowing up the transport that was connected to his dome.  The
final scene shows the apparently doomed dome floating by itself.  If it
has a chance to survive, any of the domes could have without the
valuable transports.  It is just the part that was planned to be blown
up -- the domes -- that Freeman seems to think can run by itself
perserving the forests.

				Mark Leeper
				...ihnp4!ahutb!leeper