In Science Fiction
Faster-than-light travel is often used in science fiction to denote a wide variety of imaginary propulsion methods, though not necessarily based on the Alcubierre drive or any other physical theory.
The Star Trek television series used the term "warp drive" to describe their method of faster than light travel. The Alcubierre theory, or anything similar, did not exist when the series was conceived, but Alcubierre stated in an email to William Shatner that his theory was directly inspired by the term used in the show, and references it in his 1994 paper.
Some science-fiction works, particularly of the "hard" genre, have explicitly made use of the Alcubierre theory, such as Stephen Baxter's novel Ark.
The Alcubierre drive theory is proposed as a possible reason for events occurring in the graphic novel "Orbiter" by Warren Ellis and Colleen Doran.
The Ian Douglas "Star Carrier" series exclusively uses the Alcubierre drive as the main mode of interstellar travel.
In M. John Harrison's novel Light, the character Ed Chianese, while trying to get a job with the Circus of Pathet Lao, claims that he "rode navigator on Alcubierre ships."
Read more about this topic: Alcubierre Drive
Famous quotes containing the words science and/or fiction:
“Hard times accounted in large part for the fact that the exposition was a financial disappointment in its first year, but Sally Rand and her fan dancers accomplished what applied science had failed to do, and the exposition closed in 1934 with a net profit, which was donated to participating cultural institutions, excluding Sally Rand.”
—For the State of Illinois, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“Although the primitive in art may be both interesting and impressive, as portrayed in American fiction it is conspicuous for dullness alone. Drab persons living drab lives, observed by drab minds and reported in drab writing ...”
—Ellen Glasgow (18731945)