Space Opera Tech on My Wish List
Ever had that moment when you come up with a wonderful idea for technology, then think, “Wait, why don’t we have this yet?” An interviewer recently asked me which single technology from my futuristic Central Galactic Concordance (CGC) universe I’d want in real life. They made me choose just one, but I have so many! Here are four examples of space opera tech on my wish list that would revolutionize my everyday existence.
Autotailors: Fashion Without the Fuss
Picture this: you walk into a shop, stand in a scanner for thirty seconds, pick your fabrics and designs (extra pockets? Absolutely!), and return in an hour for your perfectly tailored coat. As someone who enjoys sewing but recognizes the massive investment of time and skill required, autotailors are my dream. In the CGC universe, even budget-friendly versions offer decent options with helpful sales clerks, while the high-end shops provide thousands of design options and human stylists to help you choose. And yes, my future still has thrift stores for the budget-conscious—because even in space, vintage hunting never goes out of style.
Flitters: The Flying Cars We Were Promised
The 1950s lied to us about flying cars, so I created flitters to fill the void. These personal flying vehicles range from intimate two-seaters to group-friendly models that carry ten people plus pets. They appear throughout my series, from dying planets in Last Ship Off Polaris-G to the frontier world in Pet Trade. How do they work? Don’t ask me — I don’t know how my car’s gasoline engine works either, but that doesn’t stop me from driving to adventures.
Flying Restaurants: Dining with a View
I adore restaurants atop tall buildings with panoramic city views (like this one in Reykjavík, Iceland). In Pico’s Crush, the main characters dine at Dominar Carlotta’s First Flight, a restaurant cruising a few thousand meters above a coastal megacity. All the ambiance of fine dining with ever-changing spectacular scenery — and no cramped airplane seats or mediocre food. Just imagine savoring your favorite meal while floating above mountain ranges or islands that look like giant stepping stones.
Gravity Plates: Space Living Without the Bone Loss
Zero-gravity wreaks havoc on human bodies (just ask NASA). My solution? Gravity plates—a blend of futuristic metals and power sources that create Earth-normal gravity on space stations. Featured in Overload Flux, Pico’s Crush, and other CGC stories, these plates make long-term space habitation possible without turning astronauts into boneless jellyfish.
One of the joys of writing space opera technology is that I get to make up things that I’d like to have today. Star Trek inspired legions of engineers to come up with real-life tech (cellphones and speedy elevator doors, to name but two). So, I’m doing my part to get clever people to make useful tech for the future.
