Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 alpha 4/3/85; site ukma.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ukma!sean
From: sean@ukma.UUCP (Sean Casey)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: James P. Hogan  (Genesis Machine *SPOILER*)
Message-ID: <1720@ukma.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Apr-85 14:03:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: ukma.1720
Posted: Tue Apr 30 14:03:22 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 3-May-85 23:32:30 EDT
References: <1793@topaz.ARPA>
Organization: The White Tower @ The Univ. of KY
Lines: 27
Summary: J-machine could have it's own power supply

In article <1793@topaz.ARPA>, @RUTGERS.ARPA,@SRI-CSL:eyal%wisdom.bitnet@WISCVM.ARPA writes:

(concerning the J-machine)
> ... Second, the epilogue is totally
> unconvincing; the only two possible endings I can see are: 1. The USSR
> manages to send an agent to cut off the J-Bomb's power supply; this has
> the result of destroying the USA army, and USSR now easily takes over
> the world (and then, perhaps, proceeds to make Clifford into a national
> hero). 2. The USA moves all its military instalations to new locations,
> and then cuts off the J-Bomb's power supply and builds another one;
> however, this gave the USSR time to build a J-Bomb of its own, so the
> "Balance of Power" is not solved, but just continues forever.
> 

With the ability to create and destroy matter at will, it is doubtful
that the J-machine is relying on an external power supply. More likely
there would be equipment breakdown resulting in a shutdown of the
machine. Maintaining an tiny Artificial Black Hole would have it's toll
on any equipment, and I saw no mention of robots capable of performing
maintenance.
-- 
-- Sean Casey
--
-- UUCP:	{hasmed,cbosgd}!ukma!sean  or  ucbvax!anlams!ukma!sean
-- ARPA:	ukma!sean<@ANL-MCS>  or  sean%ukma.uucp@anl-mcs.arpa

		"We're all bozos on this bus."