Dyson - where does it come from?

[Crazee]

Fantastic game guys - fiendishly cunning and damnably addictive - my hat is off to you.

...... just wondering though - where does the name come from?

I ask because I am (re)reading the Sci-Fi novel Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton and can't help seeing similarities between the universe conquering, self-replicating Alien intelligence that begins in the Dyson pair. As it spreads out, it uses the natural resources of each world to replicate - each time mutating depending on the available resources.

probably just a coincidence. But it's a fantastic book anyway and if haven't read it then you should.

Keep up the good work and thanks again!

 

[Widget]

The name is from Freeman Dyson's theoretical Dyson trees. The article's a little sparse but it does explain a little.
I've never read Pandora's Star (or much Hamilton at all) but I'm certainly intrigued enough to keep an eye out now. I have no idea if the guys had any further influences than the musings of Freeman Dyson, but the coincidence certainly is intriguing

[AriesT]

Of course, Dyson comes from that:

(c) Dyson

What else?

[Crazee]

Many thanks Widget. I'm sure you're right. Wiki says:

Dyson tree
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Dyson tree is a hypothetical genetically-engineered plant, (perhaps resembling a tree) capable of growing in a comet, suggested by the physicist Freeman Dyson. He suggested that such plants could produce a breathable atmosphere within hollow spaces in the comet (or even within the plants themselves) utilising solar energy and cometary materials, thus providing self-sustaining habitats for humanity in the outer solar system.

A Dyson tree might consist of a few main trunk structures growing out from a comet nucleus, flowering into branches and leaves that intertwine, forming a spherical structure possibly dozens of kilometers across.

So the book probably takes the idea from the same source.

[Rudolf]

That is correct, Freeman Dyson's work is a great insiration to us. Another interesting influence, both on us and I suspect on Hamilton, is Phillip K. Dick's story Autofac (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autofac)

[Widget]

That's a very intriguing concept, Rudy. I must admit I would've just ordered it on the basis of your description were it not nearly £20 :< Definitely well up my street

[Bypasser]

I had to register just to say that I've read that novel and even though I've heard of Dyson trees the exact same idea about the Prime aliens occurred to me lol.

Great work on the game.  I just got it and really like it.