Subspace Ansible: Difference between revisions

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Presumably, an [[FTL Radio]] is also what allows ship sensors to work faster than light, viewing objects that are light-minutes away - or even light-years! - in real-time. However, any attempts to explain it are indistinguishable from a [[Hand Wave]] (unless tachyons are involved; then it gets complicated).

The term "ansible" for this kind of near-instantaneous subspace communication system was coined by [[~~Ursula K Le Guin|~~Ursula K. Le Guin]] in her 1966 novel, ''Rocannon's World''. "Ansible" is a derivation of "answerable", i.e. "messages will be answerable in realtime". Many other science-fiction writers picked up the name after Le Guin.

The term "ansible" for this kind of near-instantaneous subspace communication system was coined by [[Ursula K. Le Guin]] in her 1966 novel, ''Rocannon's World''. "Ansible" is a derivation of "answerable", i.e. "messages will be answerable in realtime". Many other science-fiction writers picked up the name after Le Guin.

If [[Psychic Powers]] exist in a setting, they often work instantaneously at any distance, and function as a [[Subspace Ansible]].

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== [[Literature]] ==

* The ansible appears in most of [[Ursula K Le Guin|Le Guin's]] ''Ekumen'' novels. In ''The Dispossessed'' she tells, among other things, the story of its invention.

* The ansible appears in most of [[Ursula K. Le Guin|Le Guin's]] ''Ekumen'' novels. In ''The Dispossessed'' she tells, among other things, the story of its invention.

** It's interesting to note that, in the world of the Ekumen, there is no faster-than-light space travel, but there are FTL weapons. It's explained by saying that nobody can survive faster than light speed but radio waves and unmanned ships have no problem. In ''Rocannon's World'', there are even FTL weapons that have people inside them, to be launched in event of emergency; they're the equivalent of suicide bombers. There is, however, survivable near light speed travel.

*** Later into the cycle the problem of the [[Faster-Than-Light Travel]] gets solved, but as the means to do so are both [[Telepathic Spacemen|psychic]] and [[Journey to ~~The~~ Center of ~~The~~ Mind|mystical]], the results are... varied.

*** Later into the cycle the problem of the [[Faster-Than-Light Travel]] gets solved, but as the means to do so are both [[Telepathic Spacemen|psychic]] and [[Journey to the Center of the Mind|mystical]], the results are... varied.

* ''[[Ender's Game]]'' is a major example of another writer taking the name from [[Ursula K Le Guin|Le Guin]]. A character mentions that there is a formal name for their [[FTL Radio]], but "somebody dredged the name ''ansible'' [[Shout-Out|out of an old book]]." The working principle of an ansible link is something about "[[Minovsky Physics|subatomic philotic links]]" that form between two subatomic particles, which can be stretched infinitely when properly separated. FTL travel doesn't exist though {{spoiler|for most of the series at least}}, so the ansibles are really the binding force for the entire interstellar civilization (to the point where one colony declares itself to be in rebellion and does the unthinkable by destroying their own ansible, or so it would seem...)

* ''[[Ender's Game]]'' is a major example of another writer taking the name from [[Ursula K. Le Guin|Le Guin]]. A character mentions that there is a formal name for their [[FTL Radio]], but "somebody dredged the name ''ansible'' [[Shout-Out|out of an old book]]." The working principle of an ansible link is something about "[[Minovsky Physics|subatomic philotic links]]" that form between two subatomic particles, which can be stretched infinitely when properly separated. FTL travel doesn't exist though {{spoiler|for most of the series at least}}, so the ansibles are really the binding force for the entire interstellar civilization (to the point where one colony declares itself to be in rebellion and does the unthinkable by destroying their own ansible, or so it would seem...)

** These links are also both [[The Power of Friendship]] and what holds the universe together.

*** AND how the Buggers/Formics communicate with each other and their drones (they EVOLVED to possess FTL communication!) It makes sense if you read the explanation of how these links work and what they really are.

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** The information-only aspect is a power limitation, not an inherent limitation of the functionality. The information is transmitted by energy; the best matter-energy conversion reactors they have can hold open a needlecast portal for at most 15 to 30 seconds, and transmit only blinking light. They find a stable [[Stargate]]-style portal created by the precursors, extrapolate the energy costs, and realize that a hiccup in the portals matrix would crack the planet open like an egg. Hazards of children playing with adult toys.

* In ''[[Time For The Stars]]'' by [[Robert A. Heinlein]], telepathy is used for instantaneous communication. Eventually, scientists studying the process learn how how it works well enough to create [[Faster-Than-Light Travel]] as well.

* Similarly, in [[EE Doc Smith]]'s ''[[Lensman]]'' series, the title Lens enhances the Lensmen's telepathic abilities, thus allowing instantaneous communication between them.

* Similarly, in [[E. E. "Doc" Smith]]'s ''[[Lensman]]'' series, the title Lens enhances the Lensmen's telepathic abilities, thus allowing instantaneous communication between them.

** There are also a variety of "waves" and "rays" that can be used for FTL communication and sensors by people who aren't Lensmen.

* Likewise, in the Talents universe of Anne McCaffrey, [[Psychic Powers]] not only provide interstellar communication, but interstellar ''travel'' by psychokinetic [[Teleporters and Transporters|teleportation]].

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* The first of ''[[The Stainless Steel Rat]]'' novels by [[Harry Harrison]] feature psychics used explicitly as communicators over interstellar distances. Later novels don't seem to rely that much on conversations at distance.

** Some ''[[Death World]]'' novels (which, supposedly, take place in the same universe) feature portable psychic locator beacons. Also, every ship is equipped with a psychic transmitter/receiver, making actual psychics obsolete.

* Heightened stellar activity can interfere with FTL communications in the ''[[Wing Commander (~~Literature~~)|Wing Commander]]'' universe, as shown in the novel ''Action Stations'' (aka "Pearl Harbor [[In Space]]"), but otherwise, the only time there's significant time lag for communicating across interstellar distances is the human steps relaying transmitted messages to/from the comm system and the people ultimately at either end of the line.

* Heightened stellar activity can interfere with FTL communications in the ''[[Wing Commander (novel)|Wing Commander]]'' universe, as shown in the novel ''Action Stations'' (aka "Pearl Harbor [[In Space]]"), but otherwise, the only time there's significant time lag for communicating across interstellar distances is the human steps relaying transmitted messages to/from the comm system and the people ultimately at either end of the line.

* Elizabeth Moon's ''[[~~Vattas War|~~Vatta's War]]'' series featured the operation of these {{spoiler|as well as the sudden non-operation of them}} as a major plot point. Notably, interstellar FTL comm is possible, but not local FTL comm, due to the ansibles being full-scale space stations. {{spoiler|At least at first.}}

* Elizabeth Moon's ''[[Vatta's War]]'' series featured the operation of these {{spoiler|as well as the sudden non-operation of them}} as a major plot point. Notably, interstellar FTL comm is possible, but not local FTL comm, due to the ansibles being full-scale space stations. {{spoiler|At least at first.}}

* FTL communication is possible in ''[[Empire From the Ashes]]'' but very cumbersome, not available in sub-lightspeed craft and requiring exotic synthetic materials that starships aren't equipped to make. The mutineers sabotaged Dahak's and stole the only spares, so Dahak was forced to throw together a mundane lightspeed device instead in his attempts to phone home. {{spoiler|The lack of an ansible is one of the Achuultani's greatest disadvantages, forcing them to slowly advance through a system of preplanned rendezvous points and delaying reports back to their homeworld by centuries.}}

* The popular ''[[Star Trek]]'' [[Expanded Universe]] novel ''Spock's World'' by Diane Duane tells the history of the planet Vulcan, and points out that since Vulcans are [[Psychic Powers|psychic]] to varying extents and telepathy is assumed to be instantaneous, telepathy was their first subspace ansible. The limiting factor is that only a small minority of Vulcans are strong enough telepaths for this to be practical.

** In ''Infinity's Prism'', there's a [[Star Trek Voyager]] story set in an alternate timeline where ''Voyager'' didn't manage to cross Borg space at the end of season 3, and instead ends up building a new Federation analogue in the delta quadrant. The holographic Doctor becomes a distributed AI with one node sent back to the Vidiians to cure the Phage. That node's updates via subspace take a day (each way, I think) to make the trip to the Doctor's central processing core located near Borg space.

** In ''Infinity's Prism'', there's a [[Star Trek: Voyager]] story set in an alternate timeline where ''Voyager'' didn't manage to cross Borg space at the end of season 3, and instead ends up building a new Federation analogue in the delta quadrant. The holographic Doctor becomes a distributed AI with one node sent back to the Vidiians to cure the Phage. That node's updates via subspace take a day (each way, I think) to make the trip to the Doctor's central processing core located near Borg space.

* ''~The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy~ itself has the "Sub-Etha" (occasionally written as "Sub-Ether"). In later books, it's even implied that a sort of Internet has been built upon the technology (it's used to automatically update the Guide to the latest edition).

* FTL communication in ''[[The History of the Galaxy]]'' books is achieved using enormous spherical orbital stations, which use powerful generators and transmitters to punch through [[Subspace or Hyperspace|hypersphere]] to reach other worlds. During the heyday of the [[The Federation|Confederacy of Suns]], these were networked to create the Interstar, the future version of the Internet. As communication is vital between worlds, no one in their right mind would dare destroy an HF (Hyper Frequency) station, so they aren't even armed. A major plot-point of one novel involves a previously-unknown alien race launching a sneak attack on humanity by taking out the Interstar hub, isolating the human colonies. Ships also have their own HF generators, but those are usually not very powerful.

* The [[Star Wars Expanded Universe]] has gone so far as to make its prevalence an [[Invoked Trope]] in ''[[~~The Corellian Trilogy (Literature)|~~The Corellian Trilogy]]''. FTL communications are so commonplace that they're relatively easier to tap into, and so people sometimes use ''lightspeed'' communications over short distances (outer planetary orbits, tops) for security reasons.

* The [[Star Wars Expanded Universe]] has gone so far as to make its prevalence an [[Invoked Trope]] in ''[[The Corellian Trilogy]]''. FTL communications are so commonplace that they're relatively easier to tap into, and so people sometimes use ''lightspeed'' communications over short distances (outer planetary orbits, tops) for security reasons.

== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

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== Film ==

* According to ''[[Avatar (~~Film~~)|Avatar]]'''s [[The Wiki Rule|wiki]], the [http://www.pandorapedia.com/human_operations/vehicles/isv_venture_star Pandorapedia], the ''Venture Star'' has faster-than-light communication technology with a low-bitrate device using quantum-entangling. This is a case of [[All There in the Manual]], as this Ansible was never shown or mentioned in the film itself, though it is probably how Quaritch was able to confirm "corporate approval" for {{spoiler|Jake's legs}}. Actual faster-than-light ''travel'' is notably averted.

* According to ''[[Avatar (film)|Avatar]]'''s [[The Wiki Rule|wiki]], the [http://www.pandorapedia.com/human_operations/vehicles/isv_venture_star Pandorapedia], the ''Venture Star'' has faster-than-light communication technology with a low-bitrate device using quantum-entangling. This is a case of [[All There in the Manual]], as this Ansible was never shown or mentioned in the film itself, though it is probably how Quaritch was able to confirm "corporate approval" for {{spoiler|Jake's legs}}. Actual faster-than-light ''travel'' is notably averted.

* In ''[[The Fifth Element]]'' radio broadcasts and telephone/video conversations are instantaneous.

* ''[[Star Wars]]'', of course. People communicate in real time through holograms, despite being separated by several light years. "Disturbances in the Force" can also be sensed instantaneously.

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== [[Live Action TV]] ==

* ''[[Star Trek]]'', as mentioned.

** However, when the plot required it in [[Star Trek ~~the~~ Original Series|the Original Series]], they'd make mention that their messages would take several days to reach a Star Base.

** However, when the plot required it in [[Star Trek: The Original Series|the Original Series]], they'd make mention that their messages would take several days to reach a Star Base.

** They touched briefly on the logistics of subspace radio in the ''[[Star Trek ~~the~~ Next Generation|TNG]]'' episode "Aquiel," where the plot took place in what amounted to a subspace repeater station, an idea later confirmed in ''Enterprise''.

** They touched briefly on the logistics of subspace radio in the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation|TNG]]'' episode "Aquiel," where the plot took place in what amounted to a subspace repeater station, an idea later confirmed in ''Enterprise''.

** Communicating over long distances is important for the crew of the [[Star Trek Voyager|USS Voyager]], as they're stuck on the other side of the galaxy (and presumed dead), so even subspace communication won't work. After several failed attempts, they eventually succeed via [[Lost Technology]] and [[Applied Phlebotinum]] (as well as physically moving closer in the mean time).

** Communicating over long distances is important for the crew of the [[Star Trek: Voyager|USS Voyager]], as they're stuck on the other side of the galaxy (and presumed dead), so even subspace communication won't work. After several failed attempts, they eventually succeed via [[Lost Technology]] and [[Applied Phlebotinum]] (as well as physically moving closer in the mean time).

* ''[[~~Babylon Five|~~Babylon 5]]'''s tachyon relays are a complicated bit of [[Applied Phlebotinum]] to justify this. It's established in-story that they're expensive and limited in bandwidth, with the result that most civilians have to rely on (hyperspace) snail-mail.

* ''[[Babylon 5]]'''s tachyon relays are a complicated bit of [[Applied Phlebotinum]] to justify this. It's established in-story that they're expensive and limited in bandwidth, with the result that most civilians have to rely on (hyperspace) snail-mail.

* The [[Stargate Verse]] uses stuff like this on occasion, and it is explicitly stated that radio waves can travel both ways through wormholes, which work only one way for matter streams.

** Besides simply sending radio signals through stargates, plain old FTL radio is used, the range of which can be determined by one episode which involves relaying an important message to Atlantis by sending someone with a subspace radio to the outer edge of the Milky Way in order to contact the Daedalus, halfway between galaxies.

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** Since the vast majority of what's left of posthumanity is still in the solar system most people just deal with a few minutes or hours of lag with radio, laser, or (speed-of-light) neutrino communications. Or [[Brain Uploading|farcast]] a fork of their ego if they absolutely have to have a real-time conversation. QE comms are mostly used by spies or to contact the few exosolar colonies that have been established.

* [[GURPS]]: Ultratech has two versions. The first uses quantum entanglement (so it's impossible to intercept) the second is generic [[FTL Radio]].

* The ''[[~~Battle Tech~~]]'' universe has Hyper Pulse Generators, which send messages between star systems instantaneously. It's been stated in canon that sending a message via HPG can often take anywhere from a few days to weeks, but that is mainly because the cost of transmission is so high, the operators will wait for a large number of messages to be sent at once.

* The ''[[BattleTech]]'' universe has Hyper Pulse Generators, which send messages between star systems instantaneously. It's been stated in canon that sending a message via HPG can often take anywhere from a few days to weeks, but that is mainly because the cost of transmission is so high, the operators will wait for a large number of messages to be sent at once.

** Just don't mention the TV series, which had a realtime video conference using said HPGs.

** That would be a HPG relay, set up by using two HPGs at once. It has been used in the novels and is noted to be very expensive.

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== [[Video Games]] ==

* It is never explained how exactly communication works in the ''[[Free Space|Descent: Freespace]]'' games. Seemingly, instant interstellar communications ''do'' occur in that universe, which means FTL communications. Command can also communicate with you as your ship is traveling in ''subspace'', though the messages break up and distort like a bad telephone connection.

* Similarly, the ''[[Wing Commander (~~Video~~ ~~Game~~)|Wing Commander]]'' series explicitly uses FTL radio with no particular explanation given for the differences between how it and jump drives work.

* Similarly, the ''[[Wing Commander (video game)|Wing Commander]]'' series explicitly uses FTL radio with no particular explanation given for the differences between how it and jump drives work.

** The [[Wing Commander (~~Film~~)|film]] shows there are limitations to FTL radio, as Admiral Tolwyn needs to send a message to the ''Tiger's Claw'', but it is too far away to reach, so he instead transmits the data to Paladin's ship to be delivered by hand.

** The [[Wing Commander (film)|film]] shows there are limitations to FTL radio, as Admiral Tolwyn needs to send a message to the ''Tiger's Claw'', but it is too far away to reach, so he instead transmits the data to Paladin's ship to be delivered by hand.

* ''[[Mass Effect]]'' allows faster-than-light travel by [[Minovsky Physics|giving physical objects zero or negative mass]] or through the use of large and fairly rare mass relays that create long tunnels of space where everything has zero or negative mass. Communications often take place through large numbers of comm buoys deployed throughout explored space, which transmit messages via photons passed through miniaturized corridors of mass-free space. Time lag in real-time communications occurs if transmitter bandwidth is overloaded, though high-level government operatives and military personnel get access to high-end, high-speed channels that allow near-instantaneous communications. Long-range interstellar calls are implied to be highly expensive, judging by one overheard conversation on Noveria.

** The second game also features a quantum-entanglement transponder which allows the Illusive Man to contact Shepard instantly while conveniently avoiding the relay network. While this is efficient, as it bypasses the limits of bandwidth and time delay, it is highly inefficient for mass production, as it's basically a two way radio with a truly astronomical price tag - according to EDI "each quantum pair costs almost as much as a comm relay." It only communicates between the Normandy and the Illusive Man's hideout. If they wanted to contact somebody else this way, they would need to do more quantum entanglements.

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*** Fridge Brilliance: Done by implanting every Collector with part of an entangled pair which the Reapers can surely manufacture more easily than Cerberus, being [[Eldritch Abominations]] [[Clarke's Third Law|so far above us]] technologically.

** The third game has quantum entanglement communication units practically everywhere, after the Systems Alliance takes apart the ''Normandy SR-2'' and finds out all the enhancements Cerberus made to it. It seems as if they're all connected to each other, which wouldn't make sense given EDI's comment about the device in the second game (i.e. a single communication unit can only connect to its partner).

* The plot of ''[[~~Commander Keen (Video Game)|~~Commander Keen]] 4'' starts with Billy Blaze building a FTL radio and accidentallly picking up a transmission from a group of aliens planning on destroying the galaxy.

* The plot of ''[[Commander Keen]] 4'' starts with Billy Blaze building a FTL radio and accidentallly picking up a transmission from a group of aliens planning on destroying the galaxy.

* ''[[Eve Online]]'' uses [http://www.eveonline.com/background/communication/ pairs of particles which are synchronized with each other]: Manipulating one affects the other as well, no matter the distance between the two particles. This was used to create a galaxy-wide network (not unlike the Internet) where latency due to physical distance is not an issue. Carrying one half of a particle pair on a spaceship allows one to "phone home" from any part of the galaxy.

** This is based very loosely on the concept of quantum entanglement. It is possible to create pairs of particles both of which are both in superpositions of quantum states (e.g. spin up and spin down at once) and can be separated by a substantial distance. Observing the spin of one of the particles forces it to collapse into one state (either spin up or spin down, but not both) observations of the other particle are then guaranteed to see it in the other state. The particles seem to have needed to communicate faster than light to make this coordination. Unfortunately, in the real world, this does not help ''us'' communicate faster than light -- when we collapse the state of the first particle we can't force it to enter one state or the other, so it's simply random noise which happens to be correlated with random noise somewhere else in the universe, but not a communication channel.

* The ''[[~~Homeworld (Video Game)|~~Homeworld]]'' verse is implied to have FTL communication (the ''Veer-Rak'' alerting the ''Kuun-Lan'' which is in another system that Hiigara is under attack at the beginning of ''Cataclysm'', for example) but it's never explained. FTL sensors however, are a bit sketchy: the manual of the first game explains that the Mothership has a cobbled-together short-range<ref>"short" in this case means "couple seconds of advance warning"</ref> sensor that can see if the ship is passing near a high-mass object in realspace but they have to drop out of hyperspace to actually see what it is. ''Homeworld 2'' has Advanced Sensor Arrays buildable on Hiigaran super-capital ships that can detect enemy ships in hyperspace.

* The ''[[Homeworld]]'' verse is implied to have FTL communication (the ''Veer-Rak'' alerting the ''Kuun-Lan'' which is in another system that Hiigara is under attack at the beginning of ''Cataclysm'', for example) but it's never explained. FTL sensors however, are a bit sketchy: the manual of the first game explains that the Mothership has a cobbled-together short-range<ref>"short" in this case means "couple seconds of advance warning"</ref> sensor that can see if the ship is passing near a high-mass object in realspace but they have to drop out of hyperspace to actually see what it is. ''Homeworld 2'' has Advanced Sensor Arrays buildable on Hiigaran super-capital ships that can detect enemy ships in hyperspace.

* Every (playable) race except the Liir (see aversions with FTL travel below) in ''[[Sword of the Stars]]''.

** Humans the the [[Planet Looters|Zuul]] actually use regular radios to send and receive messages. They just leave relay buoys near [[Subspace or Hyperspace|node space]] points that re-transmit the messages through to the other side. Given this [[All in The Manual]] description, this method is far from instantaneous.

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** The [[Bee People|Hivers]] use tiny gates hooked up to their [[Portal Network]] used to send and receive messages. While ship-sized gates require being in the gravity well of a planet-sized object, the mass of the ship is enough for a communication gate.

** All races seem to have FTL sensors, though, which the manual doesn't even attempt to explain. Also, one of the prerequisites for interstellar trade is FTL "Broadband", which carries the side effect of letting you observe allies' combat.

* In ''[[~~Dead Space 2 (Video Game)|~~Dead Space 2]]'' the player sees a recorded conversation between Isaac and Nicole, which happens in real time between earth and The Ishimura.

* In ''[[Dead Space 2]]'' the player sees a recorded conversation between Isaac and Nicole, which happens in real time between earth and The Ishimura.

* In [[Descent]] 2 has a real time FTL communication connection that somehow [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTZuxGAUbro keeps working] even when the ships warp drive malfunctions and deposits the character in the middle of nowhere with the ship broken.

* In the ''Alien Crossfire'' expansion to ''[[Sid ~~Meiers~~ Alpha Centauri]]'', the Progenitors have FTL travel and communication technology. However, since their ships were destroyed, the survivors have to re-discover the latter and use it to build powerful FTL transmitters to alert their fraction's fleet. Doing so results in automatic victory for the builder, as the massive fleet that arrives shortly after the message is sent is assumed to crush every other side. It can also be assumed that, after everyone on Chiron undergoes [[Ascend to A Higher Plane of Existence|Transcendence]], the various parts of Planet (including humans) become parts of its [[Hive Mind]]. The final interlude mentions a ship sent by Planet to rebuild the devastated Earth. This would imply Planet can instantly communicate with its parts across light years.

* In the ''Alien Crossfire'' expansion to ''[[Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri]]'', the Progenitors have FTL travel and communication technology. However, since their ships were destroyed, the survivors have to re-discover the latter and use it to build powerful FTL transmitters to alert their fraction's fleet. Doing so results in automatic victory for the builder, as the massive fleet that arrives shortly after the message is sent is assumed to crush every other side. It can also be assumed that, after everyone on Chiron undergoes [[Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence|Transcendence]], the various parts of Planet (including humans) become parts of its [[Hive Mind]]. The final interlude mentions a ship sent by Planet to rebuild the devastated Earth. This would imply Planet can instantly communicate with its parts across light years.

== [[Web Comics]] ==

* In ''[[~~Schlock Mercenary (Webcomic)|~~Schlock Mercenary]]'', the main means of communication is the Hypernet, a refinement of the ansible idea as a packet-switched system that relies on tiny wormholes. It carries all communications in digital form, from real-time video to text mail, and it's [http://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20050313.html explicitly said] that the lag time in the sender's electronics is more significant than the infinitesimal transit time. The cartoonist knows a thing or two about packet switching; his former day job was for Cisco Systems.

* In ''[[Schlock Mercenary]]'', the main means of communication is the Hypernet, a refinement of the ansible idea as a packet-switched system that relies on tiny wormholes. It carries all communications in digital form, from real-time video to text mail, and it's [http://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20050313.html explicitly said] that the lag time in the sender's electronics is more significant than the infinitesimal transit time. The cartoonist knows a thing or two about packet switching; his former day job was for Cisco Systems.

* The ''[[Starslip]]'' technical manual asserts that FTL communication is actually an incredibly sophisticated computer that anticipates what the other party will say. "Modern" systems are so good, it can predict and initiate a call at the same time it is placed, light-years away. [[FTL Travel]] is almost as preposterously handwaved.

** Only at first though (and hell, the strip is NAMED AFTER their FTL system), the detailed explanation becomes a major plot point and the titular Starslip Crisis when the future declares war on the past to make them stop using it.

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* Stephen Harper's Silent Empire Quadrilogy exists in a universe with FTL flight, but no FTL communication. This necessitates the use of psychics for communication. This universe has a thriving slave trade for the same reason.

* Ditto in ''The Gap'' series by Stephen Donaldson. Courier drones are the order of the day -- although the Amnion do briefly try to use some sort of experimental "symbiotic crystalline resonance device" as an FTL Radio.

* The [[~~Co Dominium~~]] universe and ''The Mote In God's Eye'' by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.

* The [[CoDominium]] universe and ''The Mote In God's Eye'' by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.

* ''[[~~Honor Harrington (Literature)|~~Honor Harrington]]'' has courier ships to carry messages between star systems, but because of the delay, there's no way to control battle groups in multiple systems with military precision. Early in the series, [[The Kingdom]] figures out how to create a comm system using gravity pulses, but this only works within a system, and initially is roughly as fast (in terms of bandwidth) as Morse code. The technology undergoes multiple improvements, and in the later books is capable of carrying video.

* ''[[Honor Harrington]]'' has courier ships to carry messages between star systems, but because of the delay, there's no way to control battle groups in multiple systems with military precision. Early in the series, [[The Kingdom]] figures out how to create a comm system using gravity pulses, but this only works within a system, and initially is roughly as fast (in terms of bandwidth) as Morse code. The technology undergoes multiple improvements, and in the later books is capable of carrying video.

** At one point, a Manticoran diplomat intentionally exploits this trope just to issue a calculated insult to a Solarian Admiral, by [[Leave the Camera Running|keeping his video feed on]] and using the lengthy comm delays to kick his feet up on a nearby piece of furniture and catch up on some casual reading.

* David Feintuch's ''[[Seafort Saga]]'': while FTL travel existed in the form of "N-Waves" propelling a ship, even human-level computer AI couldn't run a ship (robotics not being advanced in Feintuch's 'verse). Physical mail was carried by the ships traveling to extrasolar colonies, while ordinary radio was used in-system.

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** The lack of FTL communication plays as a plot point a few times; in The Vor Game, Miles uses the time lag between communications to [[Mind Screw|play with the head]] of his compulsive plotter opponent, {{spoiler|Cavilo.}}

* In [[Isaac Asimov]]'s ''Nemesis'', the humans left on Earth eventually discover faster-than-light travel, but point out that there is no way to send radio waves through hyperspace. This leads to difficulties communicating with the Nemesis colonists.

* Averted in [[CJ Cherryh]]'s [[~~Alliance Union (Literature)|~~Alliance Union]] and [[Chanur Saga]] series. Communications between star systems can only be done via FTL courier, and FTL travel is only possible between the outside edges of star systems. When a space ship arrives at the edge of a system and travels inwards it takes a long time for light-speed messages to reach the inner system (or visa-versa), with the time shortening as the ship hurtles forward at a considerable fraction of the speed of light.

* Averted in [[C. J. Cherryh]]'s [[Alliance Union]] and [[Chanur Saga]] series. Communications between star systems can only be done via FTL courier, and FTL travel is only possible between the outside edges of star systems. When a space ship arrives at the edge of a system and travels inwards it takes a long time for light-speed messages to reach the inner system (or visa-versa), with the time shortening as the ship hurtles forward at a considerable fraction of the speed of light.

* In ''[[The Lost Fleet]]'' series, the delay in receiving electromagnetic signals plays a large role in the various spaceship battle tactics shown. For example, at the opening of the first book, Geary uses the massive delay in communication with the enemy to buy the time he needs to rearrange the title fleet for a [[Tactical Withdrawal]]. Even then, the fleet barely makes it.

* In ''Hellspark'' by [[Janet Kagan]], there is FTL travel but no FTL communication. Messages have to be physically transported, and there are severe penalties for interfering with a ship carrying mail. Expeditions planning to spend time away from the regularly-travelled routes may take unmanned message drones, but these are expensive and hard to replace, and are kept in reserve for emergencies.

* In [[Timothy Zahn]]'s ''[[The Conquerors Trilogy]]'', there are two possible FTL speeds for ships allowed by physics, but faster-than-light communications are impossible.

* [[L Ron Hubbard]]'s ''[[Battlefield Earth]]'' features the Psychlo Empire, a civilization linked by the miracle of teleportation. Here's the thing, though - the rules of teleportation make opening two "links" to the same planet [[Teleporter Accident|dangerous]], so the Psychlos set up a strict schedule of when their worlds can link up with the capital. This means that the disparate worlds of the empire have to function on their own for a year or more, until they reach the hours-long window to exchange communications and supplies and personnel. Aside from the inherent problems with this scenario, this means that once the protagonist bombs the Psychlo homeworld into a new sun, there's no way for the rest of the empire to know about this until they try to open a teleport link to it and instead get a facefull of atomic fire.

* [[L. Ron Hubbard]]'s ''[[Battlefield Earth]]'' features the Psychlo Empire, a civilization linked by the miracle of teleportation. Here's the thing, though - the rules of teleportation make opening two "links" to the same planet [[Teleporter Accident|dangerous]], so the Psychlos set up a strict schedule of when their worlds can link up with the capital. This means that the disparate worlds of the empire have to function on their own for a year or more, until they reach the hours-long window to exchange communications and supplies and personnel. Aside from the inherent problems with this scenario, this means that once the protagonist bombs the Psychlo homeworld into a new sun, there's no way for the rest of the empire to know about this until they try to open a teleport link to it and instead get a facefull of atomic fire.

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== [[Film]] ==

* ''[[Dune]]''.

* ''[[Alien (~~Film~~)|Alien]]''. The Nostromo and other ships are out of contact while on the frontier, and are thus on the spot, for taking on the terrors that wait on whatever God forsaken planet the crew finds themselves on.

* ''[[Alien (franchise)|Alien]]''. The Nostromo and other ships are out of contact while on the frontier, and are thus on the spot, for taking on the terrors that wait on whatever God forsaken planet the crew finds themselves on.

** However, the sequel, ''Aliens'', explicitly uses FTL communication, as the ''Sulaco'' is expected to report back to Earth on a daily basis, and the lost contact with Acheron is noticed after a matter of days, not decades. Since this communication is not explicitly accomplished by means of FTL drones or somesuch, the presence of an ansible is implied.

*** In the Extended Edition opening, one of the colony higher-ups on LV-426 says that "[i]t takes two weeks to get an answer out here", implying that the speed of messages is no more than one week either way (as the delay may be partially due to [[Executive Meddling]] or other delays on the end of the replier).

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** In one episode, [[The Captain|Hunt]] laments the need to wait for a reply when the ''Andromeda'' is more than a few light-minutes away.

* The 2000s ''[[Battlestar Galactica]]'' apparently relies solely on radio ([[Call a Rabbit A Smeerp|referred to in-story]] simply as "wireless") for ship-to-ship communication, and faster-than-light comm does not exist; ships on recon missions must be provided with rendezvous points before departure lest they never be able to find the fleet again.

* The 2000s ''[[Battlestar Galactica]]'' apparently relies solely on radio ([[Call a Rabbit a Smeerp|referred to in-story]] simply as "wireless") for ship-to-ship communication, and faster-than-light comm does not exist; ships on recon missions must be provided with rendezvous points before departure lest they never be able to find the fleet again.

** However, the presence of some kind of FTL transmissions is implied with the Cylons. They have possess tracking beacons mentioned early on that can be traced after an FTL jump (see the Olympic Carrier in the first regular episode), plus the very nature of Resurrection technology requires FTL transmissions, as the Resurrection ship/hub is often shown as being in different ''star systems'' from the point of the Cylon's death and yet works relatively fast.

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== [[Web Comics]] ==

* In [[~~Freefall (Webcomic)|~~Freefall]], it's specifically said that the only way to communicate between star systems is by sending messages via ship. As most interstellar travel is via sublight vessels ([[FTL Travel]] being quite expensive, and possibly dangerous going by the drive's name: Dangerous And Very Expensive {{[[[Fun ~~With~~ Acronyms]] or DAVE}}] drive), this means that a message and its response could take up to many months, as the ship carrying it travels on its normal route.

* In [[Freefall]], it's specifically said that the only way to communicate between star systems is by sending messages via ship. As most interstellar travel is via sublight vessels ([[FTL Travel]] being quite expensive, and possibly dangerous going by the drive's name: Dangerous And Very Expensive {{[[[Fun with Acronyms]] or DAVE}}] drive), this means that a message and its response could take up to many months, as the ship carrying it travels on its normal route.