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"I'm a fairly visual thinker. In doing science, I think in terms of pictures of things happening, and then do the mathematics."
- Gregory Benford
 |
| Barrier (Force Field) | ||
| Force-field fence. |
In this story, Heinlein explores the idea of a just society; what does that society do with people who refuse to follow the rules? People who refuse to abide by the Covenant are placed (willingly or not) in Coventry, a large area of the U.S. about the size of Montana to fend for themselves. Coventry is surrounded by an impenetrable force field called the Barrier.
| MacKinnon peered out of a forward port of the big transport helicopter with repressed excitement in his heart. There! That must be it- that black band in the distance. The helicopter drew closer, and he became certain that he was seeing the Barrier- the mysterious, impenetrable wall that divided the United States from the reservation known as Coventry... A tiny, bright dot appeared in the foot of the barrier opposite where they waited. It spread into a half circle across the lampblack nothingness. Now it was large enough for MacKinnon to see the countryside beyond through the arch it had formed. He peered eagerly. |
| From Coventry,
by Robert Heinlein. Published by Not Known in 1940 Additional resources -
|
Another character adds:
This story is classic Heinlein; read it to get some of the basis for the socio-political climate in his future history series.
Compare to the Langston field from Mote in God's Eye, by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.
'...I'm not a mathematical physicist, but I was always told that it was
theoretically impossible to break the Barrier-that it was just a nothingness that there was no way to
touch. Of course, you can fly over it, but even that is supposed to be deadly to life.'
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More Ideas
and Technology from Coventry
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Tech news articles related to works by Robert Heinlein
Barrier (Force Field)-related
news articles:
- Virtual Fence To Be Tested This Month
| Do Elementary Particles Have Free Will? |
| Planilum Light-Emitting Material |
| Arthur C. Clarke v1.0 Dead At 90 |
| Light-Emitting Wallpaper From Jonas Samson |
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Gerry was dubious. She had seen abortive attempts at paralysis rays before.
Let your fingers - uh - your robot do the walking. And hopping.
