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Safehold AI simulator
(@Safehold_simulator)
Hub AI
Safehold AI simulator
(@Safehold_simulator)
Safehold
Safehold is a science fiction book series by David Weber, currently consisting of ten titles, the latest released in January 2019. The series is mostly set around the 31st century, on a distant world dubbed "Safehold" where a group of humans are in hiding from the Gbaba, an alien enemy responsible for the end of all other human civilization.
The humans on Safehold avoid detection by reverting to a pre-electrical, pre-industrial technology base. This status is enforced by a religious belief system discouraging scientific curiosity and forbidding any higher technological innovation on penalty of death. The threat of the Gbaba is barely mentioned in the books so far; the main issue is the divergence of the official church from its original aims versus the outlying areas which deny the leadership of the corrupt vicars.
Every book after the first has a name taken from a hymn.
In the 24th century humanity has spread to other planets to create the Terran Federation, made up of Earth and its colonies. Explorers discover the remains of an alien civilization and the enemy that destroyed it, the Gbaba. Ten years later the Gbaba attack humanity and despite their preparation, the Terran Federation's forces are annihilated. Attempts by the survivors to flee and form new colonies are largely unsuccessful, with the exception of a single terraforming team led by Pei Shan-Wei. They name this new world Safehold. To avoid drawing the attention of the Gbaba, who keep sharp eyes out for any signs of advanced technology, drastic measures are taken to avoid any form of industrialization. The eight million surviving colonists have their memories re-written, with only the original command crew allowed to retain any of their prior knowledge.
Much to Shan-Wei's horror, the administrator tasked with re-writing the memories, Eric Langhorne, has his own plan: to set up a new society where he is worshipped as the leader of a race chosen by divinity. Shan-Wei is unable to stop Langhorne, whose faction demonizes and ultimately kills Shan-Wei and her supporters. Centuries later, it is discovered that Shan-Wei had a backup plan: she hid an android containing the personality and memories of Nimue Alban, a sympathetic Terran Federation Navy tactical officer, in a room full of technology and weapons. Upon awakening Nimue is tasked with destroying the Church, saving humanity, and eventually defeating the Gbaba.
When Weber initially began work on the series he planned the series to span a minimum of nine books. In his site's FAQ section, Weber has commented that he chose to use a divergent spelling of the name Nimue partially in order to suit the voice-activated software he uses during writing.
Weber has an interest in history, which he applied to the Safehold series—on his website he notes that the series "gives me an opportunity to write about 'wet-navy' warfare that hasn't come my way very often, which probably pushes up the 'enjoyment quotient' to a least some extent."
The series contains themes of religion and personal decision-making and choices, which Weber noted in a 2014 interview with the Tor/Forge Blog are common elements in his body of work. He stated that he sees "technology as a liberating force, although (like religion) there's always a Darth Vader dark side waiting for the unwary."
Safehold
Safehold is a science fiction book series by David Weber, currently consisting of ten titles, the latest released in January 2019. The series is mostly set around the 31st century, on a distant world dubbed "Safehold" where a group of humans are in hiding from the Gbaba, an alien enemy responsible for the end of all other human civilization.
The humans on Safehold avoid detection by reverting to a pre-electrical, pre-industrial technology base. This status is enforced by a religious belief system discouraging scientific curiosity and forbidding any higher technological innovation on penalty of death. The threat of the Gbaba is barely mentioned in the books so far; the main issue is the divergence of the official church from its original aims versus the outlying areas which deny the leadership of the corrupt vicars.
Every book after the first has a name taken from a hymn.
In the 24th century humanity has spread to other planets to create the Terran Federation, made up of Earth and its colonies. Explorers discover the remains of an alien civilization and the enemy that destroyed it, the Gbaba. Ten years later the Gbaba attack humanity and despite their preparation, the Terran Federation's forces are annihilated. Attempts by the survivors to flee and form new colonies are largely unsuccessful, with the exception of a single terraforming team led by Pei Shan-Wei. They name this new world Safehold. To avoid drawing the attention of the Gbaba, who keep sharp eyes out for any signs of advanced technology, drastic measures are taken to avoid any form of industrialization. The eight million surviving colonists have their memories re-written, with only the original command crew allowed to retain any of their prior knowledge.
Much to Shan-Wei's horror, the administrator tasked with re-writing the memories, Eric Langhorne, has his own plan: to set up a new society where he is worshipped as the leader of a race chosen by divinity. Shan-Wei is unable to stop Langhorne, whose faction demonizes and ultimately kills Shan-Wei and her supporters. Centuries later, it is discovered that Shan-Wei had a backup plan: she hid an android containing the personality and memories of Nimue Alban, a sympathetic Terran Federation Navy tactical officer, in a room full of technology and weapons. Upon awakening Nimue is tasked with destroying the Church, saving humanity, and eventually defeating the Gbaba.
When Weber initially began work on the series he planned the series to span a minimum of nine books. In his site's FAQ section, Weber has commented that he chose to use a divergent spelling of the name Nimue partially in order to suit the voice-activated software he uses during writing.
Weber has an interest in history, which he applied to the Safehold series—on his website he notes that the series "gives me an opportunity to write about 'wet-navy' warfare that hasn't come my way very often, which probably pushes up the 'enjoyment quotient' to a least some extent."
The series contains themes of religion and personal decision-making and choices, which Weber noted in a 2014 interview with the Tor/Forge Blog are common elements in his body of work. He stated that he sees "technology as a liberating force, although (like religion) there's always a Darth Vader dark side waiting for the unwary."