Sounds pretty human-centric. 'Fire is crucial to a species development because it was to ours'. Have they really never picked up a hard scifi novel which explores one of the alternate possible evolutionary and technological paths?
Edit: My fault, got this crossed with another coversation. But elemental oxygen is a marvel that's found across the universe. Here's a sick periodic table which shows what lead to each elements formation:
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Oxygen is an OG when it comes to electronegativity, meaning it loves making bonds but it can also handle being solo too. O2 (elemental oxygen) generates power when forming ions and then can brake future bonds too, which releases the chemical potential energy. Oxygen's phenomenal! It handles business, but unlike sulfur and each element below it, oxygen will never break it's octet. So it's super powerful while also predictable.
Stephen Baxter and Greg Egan come to mind. Got any good hard scifi recommendations by the way?
Adrian Tchaikovsky. Not strictly hard Sci Fi, but very relevant in this context of alternative evolution.
Peter Watts. Not evolution per se, but alternative modes of consciousness.
Yeah, thoroughly love the Children of X series. "We're going on an adventure!"
I will check out Peter Watts, don't think I have read any of those.
edit: Firefall series looks amazing.
