In Fiction
In the Star Trek universe, members of the United Federation of Planets often send messages, in a generally instantaneous manner. Whilst this is evidently a fictional scenario, it depicts in theory what an interplanetary Internet could look like, or at the least how communication between networks and hosts could occur over vast distances. In this particular instance, the system relies on the theory of "subspace", a realm of the universe through which data can pass instantly from any point.
In the Star Wars expanded universe, the Holonet functions much like an interplanetary version of the Internet, with near-instantaneous networking between computing devices over long distances. It is a major source of news and information, and is central to much of galactic culture and history.
In Firefly/Serenity, the Anglo-Sino Alliance use an internet-like system across their extrasolar system called the cortex, and any transmissions across this net are called waves.
The extranet of the Mass Effect universe is also an example of a fictional interplanetary Internet.
The ansible is an interstellar faster than light (FTL) communications device, coined by Ursula K. Le Guin and used by a number of other writers.
Read more about this topic: Interplanetary Internet
Famous quotes containing the word fiction:
“Coincidence is a pimp and a cardsharper in ordinary fiction but a marvelous artist in the patterns of facts recollected by a non-ordinary memorist.”
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)
“The obvious parallels between Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz have frequently been noted: in both there is the orphan hero who is raised on a farm by an aunt and uncle and yearns to escape to adventure. Obi-wan Kenobi resembles the Wizard; the loyal, plucky little robot R2D2 is Toto; C3PO is the Tin Man; and Chewbacca is the Cowardly Lion. Darth Vader replaces the Wicked Witch: this is a patriarchy rather than a matriarchy.”
—Andrew Gordon, U.S. educator, critic. “The Inescapable Family in American Science Fiction and Fantasy Films,” Journal of Popular Film and Television (Summer 1992)