Welcome to Orion's Arm
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Welcome to Orion's Arm |
Welcome to the Orion's
Arm Universe Project!
What is
the Orion's Arm Universe Project you might ask? That is an excellent
question, and in a nutshell here is your answer:
The Orion's Arm Universe Project (also
known as OAUP, OA and Orion's Arm) is:
Why are we here? The answer to
that question can be found in our Statement of Purpose:
STATEMENT
OF PURPOSE:
Our
purpose is to promote and inspire writers, artists and thinkers. To
create a vision of the future that is plausible at every level,
internally consistent, and abides by the accepted facts and theories in
the physical, biological, and social sciences. We embrace speculative
ideas like Drexlerian assemblers, mind uploading, posthuman
intelligence, magnetic monopoles, wormholes, warp bubbles and the
technologies and developments that will make all this possible.
To quote Arthur C. Clarke's Second Law:
The
only way to explore the limits of the possible is to venture a little
way past them into the impossible.
Our
task is to create an ever evolving universe that is interesting,
inspiring and provocative - to theorize on a future that may, or may
not, come to be.
In
order to meet this goal we have established certain ground rules:
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Matter cannot travel faster than light
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Matter and energy are conserved
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No evolved humanoid aliens have been discovered
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Technology will change the nature of social issues
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A logical explanation for even the most fantastic elements
within the setting must be provided
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Space is vast; expect the same challenges to have many
different solutions. Or, as we say, Diversity! Diversity! Diversity!
Orion's
Arm is a work in progress, a space opera setting like no other.
It spans the next ten thousand years of galactic history, from the near
future of interplanetary colonization to the far future where the
galaxy is ruled by vast ascended intelligences. It incorporates hard
science, and the "soft" or social sciences, as well as mythological and
archetypal themes, as the gods of the collective psyche incarnate in
unforeseen new forms.
The
OAUP is a big place with nearly a decade of history and hundreds of
contributors. Most likely you will encounter new concepts and
terminology throughout the site. We have provided links on this page to
a number of helpful resources to get you acquainted with all of them.
First and foremost we ask that you read the Terms, Copyright, and
Submission Guidelines as these cover the legalities of your stay with
us. Once you are familiar with our terms, please take the time to
review the Illustrated Backstory and Orion's Arm Primer. These tools
were specially designed to aid newcomers in understanding the Orion's
Arm universe and the basics of the concepts within. We also highly
suggest getting familiar with the OA Canon and FAQs (Frequently Asked
Questions) pages. Once you have the basics down there is the
Encyclopaedia Galactica, where you can find any of the worldbuilding
material in the Orion's Arm universe. Enjoy the stories, art and ideas
you find here at Orion's Arm, and should you find in your journey that
something is missing, or you have something to contribute, please join
us at one of our many discussion groups. When that time comes don't
forget to review the How to Contribute and Netiquette pages.
Like
all good art, this project is ever growing, and will therefore never be
complete. We invite you to join us on this journey of imagination;
after all it looks like we've barely gotten started.
Above all else... have fun!
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Illustrated
Backstory: A brief illustrated overview/summary of the setting, from the Information Age to ten thousand years in the future. |
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Orion's Arm Primer
A short but comprehensive introduction to the Orion's Arm universe. |
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FAQs
Questions and criticisms answered. The FAQs page is always being added to, so if you don't see your question or critique answered here here, please be sure to let us know! |
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Terms,
Copyright and Submissions Guide The Orion's Arm Universe Project is a collaborative effort, and the subject of rights and copyrights is an important one. Please read this guide carefully before continuing your visit to, or participation in, The Orion's Arm Universe Project. |
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Glossary:
And of course, to explain all (well, at least some) of the strange and funny terms you encounter in these pages, there is the glossary. |
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| About
Orion's Arm: Illustrated Backstory Orion's Arm Primer Orion's Arm Canon FAQs Netiquette Terms, Copyright, and Submissions Guide How to Contribute Contributor Bios The Early Years OA Geek Code OA Board |
Discussion
Groups & Projects:
Worldbuilding Group Celestia Group Café OA Art & Writing Group Voices/Future Tense Orion's Arm Metaverse |
Miscellaneous: Suggestion Box Merchandise Donations |
