Science Fiction

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In the Dune universe, why not use laser weapons as bombs? (lemmy.world)

submitted 7 months ago by sudo42@lemmy.world to c/sciencefiction@lemmy.world

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In the Dune universe, when a laser weapons hits a shield, both are destroyed in a nuclear explosion reaction.

So instead of building nuclear weapons, wouldn’t it be easier to tie a timer and a “parachute” to a laser gun and drop it from orbit onto your enemy’s city?

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[–] elDalvini@discuss.tchncs.de 22 points 7 months ago (2 children)

IIRC, this is actually done at some point in the books.

[–] ours@lemmy.world 18 points 7 months ago

Fremen setup some shields in the desert to punish the Harkonen for randomly firing lasers at the sand trying to smoke them out. Or something like that.

[–] Nacktmull@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

spoiler

You do remember correctly. Bashar Miles Teg at one point utilizes a variant of that technique. They mount pairs of shields and lasguns on anti-g platforms and use them as surprise tactical nukes in a battle against the Honored Matres. That is one of the many epic af moments in the Dune saga. I think I will have to read it for the umpteenth time now :)