Talk:Reason (weapon system)

Necessity
Do we actually need an article on Reason? I love Snow Crash, but I'm not sure this article would survive the Articles for Deletion process! --Coolcaesar 01:56, 19 February 2006 (UTC)


 * I'd support merging it with Snow Crash. – Mipadi 20:26, 19 February 2006 (UTC)


 * Ditto. I'm not sure the information is really that important, but if it belongs anywhere it's probably in the Snow Crash article. Mark Grant 12:22, 25 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Merged. Delete this one now. eigenlambda 03:45, 1 March 2007 (UTC)

Plausibility
Does the book actually suggest that the projectiles are fired at near-lightspeed? A few rough calculations suggest that a single 3mm round fired at half of lightspeed would send a 100kg firer moving backwards at more than mach 1 - or, more likely, rip their arms off.

If the book contains such a statement, it needs a comment on its implausibility. If it doesn't, it needs to be removed from the article. --Khajja 10:03, 7 March 2006 (UTC)


 * I haven't read the book in about two years. I think Stephenson describes the projectiles as moving at "hypersonic" speeds, which clearly is not the same as "near lightspeed". I have a copy handy, so I will take a look as soon as I get a chance, and find the exact quote. – Mipadi 14:46, 7 March 2006 (UTC)


 * As noted in the article, the gun is described as "hypervelocity". On page 338, one character describes it by saying "See, it fires these teeny little metal splinters. They go real fast—more energy than a rifle bullet. Depleted uranium." That's the best description I could find. Stephenson does note that the gun has a lot of recoil and pushed the firers back a good distance, but I still doubt he intended for the gun to be perceived as firing at "near-light speed" velocities. – Mipadi 16:53, 7 March 2006 (UTC)


 * It is most likely my error in the original page creation. There is no basis in fact, and would not be 'lightspeed', but maybe could be measured as a fractional part of lightspeed.  Because they are in a boat, it's hard to measure their actual speed.  Feel free to modify it.  --GoNINzo 22:20, 8 March 2006 (UTC)