This is the dawning of the age, of the coilgun, age of the coilgun

Coilguns, guns that fire projectiles via magnetic coils have always seemed like a fanciful science fiction dream.  Well, until now.

The MV Coilmaster Mark-1 Coil Gun!

I mean, this is a SERIOUSLY funky looking device.  Like something a a mad scientist would whip up on the spur of the moment.





And it turns out this isn't the only, or even first coilgun out there.  Barry's Coilgun Designs is a site that gives information on the therory behind coilguns, and pretty much all the info you need to build one of the things in your own home.    Then there's World's Coilgun Arsenal, which has a listing of dozens of different coilguns, ranging from one made out of a camera, to a replica M-16.  However, most of the guns look like the designers were inspired by either Aliens or Star Trek.

So are we entering a brave new world of advanced military technology?  Well, in a a word, no.  These coilguns are neither powerful nor efficient- in fact thery're more toys than weapons.  If one looks at the specs, the actual energy delivered by coilguns is very low, the range is short, and worst of all, the recharge time is worse than black powder weapons.  The Coilmaster up above for instance, has a recharge time for the capacitators of 90 seconds, or 8 seconds if one plugs it into a wall outlet.  But somehow, I don't see Arnie the Terminator pausing in chasing Sarah O'Conner to search out a wall outlet to plug his gun into.

So once again, the future is here...it's just not very practical.

Authoritarian Arcologies?

Arcologies are constantly popping up in the literature of Science Fiction, and there's something about huge, "cities in a building that just seems to appeal to the fannish sensibility.  I've always wondered why.  Well, apart form they're being spectacular, if impractical applications of extreme architecture.




But there's always been something monolithic and extravagant about arcologies that seems to hint at a sort of utopian monomania. In fact, the notion of an entire city in a single, pre-planned building implies a sort of top-down authoritarianism, as opposed to the organic growth that a normal city has.

So oddly enough, it was no surprise to find out that Soleri grew up in fascist Italy.  And multiple critiques  of Arcosanti, Soleri's perpetually-in-construction seed arcology by a former resident, has detailed a structure that denies dissent and critical discussion.  Aside from Dr. Neutopia, sociologist Paul Ray has reported on the lack of workers rights and freedom in Arcosanti.  The needs of the individuals in the community are subjugated to the vision of Soleri, which is odd, considering that Arcologies are supposed to be a better way to live. 

Certainly there seems no element of human scale in Soleri's designs, no scope for individual contributions.  It is also too easy to imagine a place like Hexahedron (above), being divided into the elite in the top half, and the workers in the lower section; the design seems all to  useful for restricting flow of people and items.  Critics like Neutopia have compared the management structure at Arcosanti, to that of China: "based on the age old authoritarian, patriarchal model of command and control of the masses."  Perhaps that's a reason why China seems to be leading the race to build a functioning arcology, and not just their need for low-ecological impact housing.

The larger question here, is whether this is merely a problem with Soleri's particular vision, or whether authoritarian governmental structures go hand-in hand with the idea of arcologies.  And if so, what does it say about the science fiction culture's fascination with the idea?