SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Shoes as standard on surfaces that people also have to touch with their hands?! My grandma would disown me!

Becky wrote: "What does “F.A.T” stand for?

Regarding long skirts and the return of the rigid structuring - I don’t think that would work. Crinolines/hoops/cages weren’t really rigid in the way you’re describin..."

Perhaps you're right; skirts and dresses would not be practical in zero-g, maybe during special events, balls, clubs, and parties. I could picture flowing apparel, sheer skirts, and the like over something else the characters would wear. When was the last time a wedding dress was practical?
Dresses that mimic mermaid tails, or fake wings, because why not? Fashion does not have to make sense; just look flashy. Glow sticks attached to ribbons that extend from the character's garment like an octopus.
The dance scene from 'ready player one' comes to mind.
Or this real-life fashion tech party.
https://wearit-berlin.com/desperados-...

For day-to-day activities, I agree skirts and dresses would hinder zero-g mobility.

Regarding no shoes, it's funny because most of the astronauts on the ISS do not wear shoes, so it seemed like the logical next step that fashion would follow. The example in opposition was breaking toes from a misjudged wall push, which could happen with fingers, too, as they would be used just as often, if not more.
Not saying everyone would forgo shoes, just that it would be less common to see them in strictly zero-g.

(Although that would make for the start of a humorous scene.)
Slowly rotating in zero-g with his dance partner and listening to the euphoric instrumental music, Zacaria smiles at the woman in his arms before attempting small talk. "So, why do they call you tender toes?"

I think fashion in zero g will be just as (im)practical as it is on Earth. If the oxygenated area is thought of as work space then clothing will be fairly uniform. If its a communal, social, or private space then people may want to wear gowns, robes, or even Watteau trains. They won't be practical but people would likely adapt their behaviour and judge levels of grace by not getting wrapped up in their garments. I can imagine a performative dance developing with such clothing in mind.

Dang it, Michael! You had similar thoughts as I did but managed to post about them before me. XD

Maybe dancing in zero/low gravity will become quite acrobatic. It is easier to do a full backflip in low gravity.

In zero/low gravity I would expect multiple back flips to be fairly common.

Though now I'm wondering what events would make up the first moon based Olympics.

Ryan wrote: "Shoes as standard on surfaces that people also have to touch with their hands?! My grandma would disown me!"

LOL Well, they'd probably be more like more protective house shoes or slippers than "outside" shoes, so surely that would be allowed, right?

As far as the risk to fingers, you may be right, Michael. Goodness knows I jam my fingers on my share of light switches today. Just wrap me in bubble wrap for the zero g adventure. :P

Ryan wrote: "In zero/low gravity I would expect multiple back flips to be fairly common.

Though now I'm wondering what events would make up the first moon based Olympics."

https://youtu.be/16D0hmLt-S0

Looks to be a javelin toss and a failed high jump.

Interesting thread. I've dealt with gravity, FTL and related issues in my new series (first book coming out in July). Inevitably, there's a little hand-wavium but I've invented some technology, philosophy and enough of a pseudo-scientific patina to make it seem plausible - I think.

Quite a lot of the ideas came while walking the beach near my house - a very meditative space and hopefully I've conveyed the ideas in appropriate depth.

The simplest solution yet, one that already exists, is using rotating carrousels on spaceships. When on a moon/planet with low gravity, weighing yourself down with small lead plates well-distributed in outside pockets of your suit or spacesuit could do the trick at low cost.

Adrian wrote: "Inevitably, there's a little hand-wavium."

Very true. I had to do the same regarding FTL and moving between star systems, although I tried to keep the technology behind it plausible. I was using theories and cutting-edge technology currently in use.

Michel wrote: "The simplest solution yet, one that already exists, is using rotating carrousels on spaceships."

I agree, although I didn't use it on the ships in my Novels and opted to use centrifugal forces with large stations instead. Similar to the 2001 space odyssey. I did change the design to combat the effects of torque-induced precession by adding a counter-rotating ring.
The rotating carrousel concept brought on another issue I was not anticipating: the simulated effects of gravity weakened the closer to the center the inhabitants were. It was a mathematical exercise to determine how big the station had to be and how fast it would have to rotate to provide a comfortable 1g. Thankfully the internet has calculators for even the most obscure problems.