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

submitted 7 months ago by sudo42 to c/sciencefiction

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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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[–] [email protected] 21 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (3 children)

The reaction between a shield and laser is completely random

Is this mentioned in the book? I can't recall.

[–] Telodzrum 18 points 7 months ago

It is, in the opening as well as (more briefly) when Duncan leaves his shield in the desert as a booby trap for the Harkonnen search parties.

[–] Aganim 6 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Hmm, I've taken a look and can only find references to the location being random so far. I was quite sure that I've also read that the magnitude could vary, but maybe I misremembered. I'll dig a little further and see if I can find a reference.

[–] ricdeh 5 points 7 months ago

As far as I know it is random in the sense that the shield-lasgun interaction can either annihilate the target, the laser operator or just culminate in a giant nuclear-like explosion. Therefore you don't know whether your move will have the intended effect or whether it obliterates only yourself while the enemy is fine. I think this is mentioned early on in the first book.