Comments on: Planetfall

By: selphie_trabia

selphie_trabia — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 05:50:58 +0000

Even without the space-earth concept, it’s still a very well written story about adoption and the concept of a new family replacing the old and yet not.

Agh, my ability with words fails me.

What I mean to say is, good story.

By: Polychrome

Polychrome — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:59:41 +0000

Biron and Darrin’s interaction over the money seemed pretty clear, I just found the idea that Mycenae Station might have a bank vault full of gold coins rather odd. :)
Though it did get me thinking about futuristic situations where specie money might be viable or useful.

By: Eric A. Burns

Eric A. Burns — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:21:20 +0000

To extend the conversation to the end — Darrin, in trying to meet his son halfway, has given him the equivalent of a silver proof coin. (In other words, another investment coin, worth more in metal than in face value.) His goal is to give Biron both monetary investments and symbolic ones — proof coins to make Biron feel better about such things plus savings to give him a bank account of his own. One expects that as Biron gets older, they’ll actually move those investments into better returning investments than savings accounts, but Darrin learned to take this slowly after being rebuffed before.

By: Eric A. Burns

Eric A. Burns — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:16:54 +0000

GAH! Failed my economics 101 roll.

Decadrachma fit the same niche on Mycene Station as the American Eagle gold fifty dollar coin does at the United States Mint. Technically, they could be considered fifty drachma, but their real value is in their gold content. Essentially, one of the primary places that belters can sell gold and silver — generally employed for electronic or industrial uses — is through Mycene Station’s mint. The mint produces bullion coins for speculation even as the United States mint does, and Biron’s friend’s father, Mister Carter, gave him some as investment material.

Darrin, who understands this, offered to convert them into an investment that would bring a better return over time. Biron, who is, after all, twelve, sees them both as a symbol and as Mycene Station Money™, which is therefore worth more than Earthworm money. It’s an emotional reaction, not any kind of realistic one.

By: Polychrome

Polychrome — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:53:07 +0000

… And we’re back.
Actually, what i meant by the currency comment was that it would be odd if Mycenae uses specie money, that is money whose value is based on the metal it is made from, as opposed to fiat money, which is what most governments use and is based off the perceived economic strength of the issuer. Specie money is something of an economic throwback, and more importantly to spacers, has mass and volume. I would imagine that spacers would want to keep their money electronic to avoid storage and transportation issues.

By: Eric A. Burns

Eric A. Burns — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:11:21 +0000

Well, Floyd’s salary demands were way out of my budget.

Yes, Mycene Station uses its own currency. It’s an independent state, not a colony from an existing government, and as such they’ve got their own economy.

And yes, the leads of the story are Toni and Biron.

By: Polychrome

Polychrome — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:06:57 +0000

I agree with Filipe, this should be a stoy about Biron and Darrin, but it’s more a story about Biron and Toni. Heck, Toni does as much explanation of Darrin’s feelings as he does. A few other semi-random comments: does Mycenae use specie money? If so that’s really weird. Also, I am vaguely disappointed by the lack of Floyd in this story.

By: Filipe Cadete

Filipe Cadete — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:31:40 +0000

I like it. Darrin is a bit of a non-entity, though, and I was expecting a bit more from Dee after the opening. Still, overall I enjoyed it.

By: LurkerWithout

LurkerWithout — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:38:16 +0000

Its good, but there is definately something…missing? Rough? Something, about it. But probably publishable anyways. Though is there a market for YA short scifi?