The Killing Star

UFOs have a separate forum.
Post Reply
User avatar
Pigeon
Posts: 18064
Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 3:00 pm

The Killing Star

Post by Pigeon » Thu Aug 12, 2021 10:12 pm

There's an excellent summary of this theory in the novel The Killing Star by Charles Pellgrino and George Zebrowski, published in 1995. The most pertinent section is:

Imagine yourself taking a stroll through Manhattan, somewhere north of 68th street, deep inside Central Park, late at night. It would be nice to meet someone friendly, but you know that the park is dangerous at night. That's when the monsters come out. There's always a strong undercurrent of drug dealings, muggings, and occasional homicides.

It is not easy to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys. They dress alike, and the weapons are concealed. The only difference is intent, and you can't read minds.

Stay in the dark long enough and you may hear an occasional distance shriek or blunder across a body.

How do you survive the night? The last thing you want to do is shout, "I'm here!" The next to last thing you want to do is reply to someone who shouts, "I'm a friend!"

What you would like to do is find a policeman, or get out of the park. But you don't want to make noise or move towards a light where you might be spotted, and it is difficult to find either a policeman or your way out without making yourself known. Your safest option is to hunker down and wait for daylight, then safely walk out.

There are, of course, a few obvious differences between Central Park and the universe.

There is no policeman.

There is no way out.

And the night never ends.


User avatar
Pigeon
Posts: 18064
Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 3:00 pm

Re: The Killing Star

Post by Pigeon » Thu Aug 12, 2021 10:25 pm

I remember some post about what the scariest first message we could receive from an alien race could be, and the winner was something like:

"Cease all transmissions immediately; they will hear you!"

Post Reply