Elite Dangerous 031 - Baturin Sanctuary - Harrison Hub – Reeves Hub – Stasheff Horizons – Butcher Enterprise - and back to Meekers Sanctuary

Elite Dangerous 031 Col 285 Sector WL-L c8-40
Baturin Sanctuary - Harrison Hub - Reeves Hub - Stasheff Horizons - Butcher Enterprise
and Back to Meekers Sanctuary!
The Grand Tour, PAGE 031

NOTE:  All 138 facilities built in this system are listed (and shown) in order of distance from the sun.  At least, according to the in-game architect’s view.  There's a total of slightly over 18 hours of video, so the video, and the descriptions, are broken into smaller portions across multiple posts.

Some descriptions were written by myself, some with the help of AI.  I've personally edited all of them, so if you must blame someone, blame me.  :^)

14 Orbital 00
Baturin Sanctuary (was Deere)
Communication Installation (Soter)
DOCK:  NONE

Yuri Baturin’s life bridges the worlds of geopolitical strategy, physics, and spaceflight. Before he ever flew in space, he was a prominent intellectual in post-Soviet Russia. He graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in 1973 and later earned a doctorate in constitutional law. He eventually moved into high-level government service. During the late 1990s, he served as an Assistant to the President on National Security and as Secretary of the Defense Council.

Despite his political influence, his interest in space led him to change careers, qualifying as a research cosmonaut in 1997.

Baturin offers a unique perspective as both a systems architect and an orbital engineer. He demonstrated his engineering skill during two complex space missions. He launched aboard Soyuz TM-28 to the Mir space station in 1998. He also served as a flight engineer on Soyuz TM-32 to the International Space Station in 2001. Beyond his technical work, Baturin studies speculative culture. He is an accomplished science fiction writer who translates English genre classics. He uses his own stories to explore how human identity changes when separated from Earth.

14 Orbital 01 Harrison Hub 
Communication Installation (Alethia) DOCK:  NONE

Harry Harrison was a monumental force in science fiction, known for his relentless energy, sharp satirical wit, and a passionate commitment to anti-militarism. Before establishing himself as a novelist, Harrison developed a highly disciplined visual background working as a professional comic book illustrator and editor, which gave his writing an exceptionally brisk pace and vivid, cinematic clarity. 

He achieved permanent status in the genre canon by creating the iconic Stainless Steel Rat series, launching the legendary Slippery Jim DiGriz into the cosmic void in 1961. Harrison utilized this brilliant character to inject a sense of roguish fun and individualism into space opera, presenting an elite interstellar con man and thief who operates on a strict moral code, refusing to ever kill while outsmarting massive, stagnant planetary bureaucracies and corporate syndicates.

Harrison's approach to the genre was defined by his ability to hide profound social critiques beneath layers of high-octane pulp adventure. His narratives explored the systemic absurdity of galactic empires, the meat-grinder reality of military expansion as seen in Bill, the Galactic Hero, and the bleak ecological consequences of overpopulation in his masterpiece Make Room! Make Room!

He treated his universes as complex socio-economic machines where ordinary individuals must use sheer intellect and adaptability to maintain their freedom against overregulated structures. While his later Stainless Steel Rat novels drew critique for stripping Jim DiGriz of his signature cocky self-confidence and charisma to show a somber, aging protagonist, Harrison's broader body of work remains an absolute masterclass in fast-paced worldbuilding, sharp satire, and the enduring resilience of the human spirit against corporate or governmental tyranny.

Harry Harrison was a monumental force in science fiction, remembered for his relentless energy. He possessed a sharp satirical wit and a passionate commitment to anti-militarism. Before becoming a novelist, Harrison worked as a professional comic book illustrator and editor. This gave his writing a brisk pace and vivid, cinematic clarity.

Harrison achieved permanent status in the genre by creating the iconic Stainless Steel Rat series.  Launching the legendary Slippery Jim DiGriz into the cosmic void in 1961, Harrison used DiGriz to add roguish fun into space opera. DiGriz is an elite interstellar con man who refuses to kill while outsmarting bureaucracies and corporate syndicates.

Harrison's style was defined by his ability to hide social critiques beneath layers of fast-paced pulp adventure. His narratives explored the absurdity of galactic empires. They examined the meat-grinder reality of military expansion in Bill, the Galactic Hero, and the bleak ecological consequences of overpopulation in his masterpiece, Make Room! Make Room!  
'Make Room' became the movie "Soylent Green."

He treated his universes as complex socio-economic machines. In his stories, ordinary individuals use intellect and adaptability to maintain their freedom against inflexible regimes.
Later Stainless Steel Rat novels drew critique for stripping Jim DiGriz of his signature cocky charisma to show a somber, aging protagonist.  Regardless, Harrison's broader body of work is great fun. It features fast-paced worldbuilding and sharp satire, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit against tyranny.

14 Orbital 02 Reeves Hub                    (Was Dear) 
Communication Installation (Pistis) DOCK:  NONE

For a child sitting in front of a heavy wooden television set in the early 1960s, the world shrank down to a small, glowing vacuum tube. Television was still relatively new.  The line between reality and the screen was thin. When the static cleared to reveal a man leaping over skyscrapers, he wasn't just a character in a comic book. He was real.

George Reeves didn't just play Superman; for an entire generation of children, he was Superman. He brought the first true alien hero into our living rooms, presenting an extraterrestrial visitor who protected humanity instead of conquering us. Long before modern special effects, Reeves used his own physical presence, a gentle smile, and an unwavering moral clarity to make us believe a man could fly.

George approached the role of Clark Kent and Superman with a dignity that anchored the entire production. While the special effects relied on simple wires and clever camera angles, Reeves provided the heavy lifting through his performance. He wore the suit with an athletic grace, moving with the confidence of a classic Hollywood performer.

George struck a balance between power and kindness.  His Superman never gloated or used unnecessary force. He defused crises with a calm, absolute authority that made children feel safe.

As Clark Kent, Reeves gave us a competent, sharp professional who wore his spectacles with dignity.  He took his status as a role model seriously, routinely appearing in character for charity events and refusing to smoke or engage in behavior that might disappoint his young audience.

14 Orbital 03 Stasheff Horizons 
Military Outpost (Nemesis)    
DOCK:  Medium

Christopher Stasheff was a monumental force in speculative fiction, able to seamlessly blend hard science fiction with the rich romantic tropes of classical fantasy. Before establishing himself as a full-time novelist, Stasheff earned a doctorate in speech communication and spent years teaching theater.  This gave his writing an exceptionally sharp ear for dialogue, pacing, and emotional depth. 

He created the celebrated Warlock in Spite of Himself series, launching agent Rod Gallowglass and his faithful epileptic robotic horse Fess into literary history in 1969. Gallowglass was a high tech agent sent by a futuristic democracy, to stabilize a regressed and seemingly magical planet.  All the while, managing complex local politics and time-traveling villains.

Stasheff based his stories on a commitment to the human elements of long-term worldbuilding. His narratives explored how societies adapt to technological acceleration and the ethical boundaries of historical manipulation.  He maintains the deep enduring ties of family, as Rod's wife and children grow to become major protectors of their world. His universes were dynamic, evolving tapestries where progress requires not just mechanical efficiency, but moral clarity and emotional sacrifice. 

Many long-running science fiction sagas struggle to conclude their narratives gracefully. Stasheff was different, earning immense critical and reader praise for his handling of Rod Gallowglass’s final story. He brought his legendary character to a profoundly touching, well-deserved final rest that bypassed cheap tragedy in favor of an emotionally overwhelming conclusion, leaving an indelible mark of warmth and narrative closure on generations of fans.

Stasheff viewed the vastness of the cosmos through a lens of empathy and individual loyalty.  His characters were loved, and  reminded readers that the goal of exploring the stars is, ultimately, finding home.

14 Orbital 04 Butcher Enterprise 
Communication Installation (Soter) DOCK:  NONE

Jim Butcher has been one of my favorite authors for his urban fantasy, The Dresden Files. 

Before establishing himself as a full-time novelist, Butcher worked a variety of entry-level jobs.  He studied martial arts and literary structure, a background that gave his writing sharp pacing and narrative momentum. 

Launching the series in 2000 with Storm Front, Butcher introduced Harry Dresden, a hard-boiled wizard operating out of contemporary Chicago as a private investigator navigating the complex interactions between human law and ancient supernatural forces. He treated magical lore with the precision of a hard-science system.  Every spell operates under strict rules of thermodynamics, conservation of energy, and environmental consequence.

Butcher's stories detailed the politics and powers that govern hidden factions, demonstrating how shifting alliances and long-term espionage ripple across decades. 

While critics and readers noted that later volumes in the series faced narrative strain—with some plotlines feeling stretched and contrived as the stakes escalated toward an overarching cosmic conflict—the core body of his work remains an engrossing tale of character resilience and depth. 

AND NOW BACK TO MEEKER'S SANCTUARY!!!

00 Star 00 Meekers Sanctuary
Ocellus Starport T3 Dock: Large Ships

The station closest to the sun. 
The final construction built in this system
The place where this Grand Tour began.

It appeals to my sense of balance, to end this tour where it started.  Full circle.
This entire project can be said to have started in October of 2024, when my memory and cognitive weaknesses started improving.  Maybe not to pre-Covid levels, but it was noticeable.

The first thing that hit me, was "Maybe I can play Elite again!"

Priorities, right?

For the next 6 months, it was all about re-learning things that used to be effortless.  Spreadsheets, notes, charts, journaling the progress, and by March of 2025, I was back in the black.

Around this time, Frontier released Colonization.  While still getting to know Elite again, I read everything I could find about the new 'game loop.'  The first thing I wanted to do with it was create a tribute station to Monique's mom, and name it after her, calling it Georgie Girl.
I asked Monique's thoughts, not sure if she would think the idea of a tribute in a game would be frivolous, or disrespectful.  Instead, Monique loved the idea.  She fully supported me, to the point of letting me skip work while learning how to "Colonize."

That was my first system, Col 285 Sector KE-T b19-0.

Just a couple of jumps away from Shinrarta Dezra.  Not a great system, kind of small, which explains why nobody had claimed it yet.

I didn't worry too much about the end result.  First I wanted to finish building Georgie Girl.  While I was still working on this system, my Dad passed away.  As time passed, he also got a station in his memory.  Eventually, I finished building in this system.

Found another one, which is as yet not completed. 
It was large, sprawling.  
COL 285 SECTOR AX-J C9-9

I'll go back to it  eventually, and keep building. 
But in the meantime, I happened on this system, Col 285 Sector WL-L c8-40

It was perfect.  Lots of places to build, lots of potential.  Only one star, with a max distance to build around 5k light seconds.  The  2nd one had a max range to build of  around 50k LS.  So I jumped ship.  Lured away by this beautiful system.

Started building it on December 7th, 2025.

BUILD A TIMELINE HERE.

GO BACK AND EDIT EARLIER BLOG POSTS TITLES FOR CONSISTENCY.

CREATE INDEX

Elite Dangerous 030 Quick Horizons - Baker Fortress - Winstone Defence - Webster Barracks - Luna Command - Stephenson Vision - Cannon Horizons - Kirshner Sanctuary

 Elite Dangerous 030 Col 285 Sector WL-L c8-40
Quick Horizons - Baker Fortress - Winstone Defense Outpost - Webster Barracks
Luna Command Garrison - Stephenson Vision - Cannon Horizons - Kirshner Sanctuary
The Grand Tour, PAGE 29

NOTE:  All 138 facilities built in this system are listed (and shown) in order of distance from the sun.  At least, according to the in-game architect’s view.  There's a total of slightly over 18 hours of video, so the video, and the descriptions, are broken into smaller portions across multiple posts.
Some descriptions were written by myself, some with the help of AI.  I've personally edited all of them, so if you must blame someone, blame me.  :^)

11G Orbital 00
Quick Horizons
Communication Installation (Pistis)    
DOCK:  NONE

William T. Quick is a prominent American science fiction author and blogger, celebrated for his contributions to the cyberpunk subgenre during the late 1980s. Before establishing himself as a novelist, Quick developed a deep interest in computing and network communications, an experience that shaped his projection of future technological landscapes. He is most famous for his Dreams Trilogy, which launched with the 1988 cult hit Dreams of Flesh and Sand. This work is regarded for its depiction of corporate espionage, AI, and virtual space long before the internet made them popular. 

His stories detailed the technical and legal frameworks of a future where megacorporations utilize elite hackers and sentient data constructs to manipulate planetary economies. He treated cyberspace not merely as a visual gimmick, but as an economic reality. Quick expanded his reach in the genre by co-authoring the Quest for Tomorrow science fiction series alongside William Shatner. He also left a unique mark on real-world digital culture through his early political blogging, where he is widely credited with coining and popularizing the term "blogosphere" in 2001.

11G Surface 00
Baker Fortress
Military Settlement Small (Ioke)
DOCK:  Medium

Kage Baker was an accomplished American science fiction and fantasy author, best known for her time-travel stories and planetary romances. Before becoming a novelist, she worked in theater and taught Elizabethan English. This background gave her writing a rich historical texture and a sharp eye for cultural detail.

She launched her career in 1997 with stories in Asimov’s Science Fiction, followed by her debut novel, In the Garden of Iden. This book began her twelve-volume Company series. The series centers on a 24th-century megacorporation that uses immortal cyborg operatives to travel through time and salvage rare, extinct treasures from Earth's past.

Baker’s work blended corporate logistics with historical exploration and humor. Her stories often explored the psychological weight of immortality, the ethics of corporate greed, and the cultural friction faced by time travelers. She also earned acclaim for her 2003 novella, The Empress of Mars, which she later expanded into a novel. Set on a red planet abandoned by a profit-driven British colonial firm, it follows a pioneer woman who builds an independent settlement around the only tavern on the Tharsis Bulge. Baker portrayed these frontier settings as complex, living ecosystems where outcasts and entrepreneurs struggle to survive harsh conditions and navigate shifting monopolies.

Also… Sherlock Holmes reference. 
Maybe Baker Fortress is what the Baker Street Irregulars call the place they live?

11G Surface 01
Winstone Defence Outpost
Military Settlement Small (Ioke)
DOCK:  Medium

Simon Winstone is a respected British editor and author whose professional career has been heavily anchored in classic science fiction literature and media. Working closely within the modern publishing landscape, he served as a primary editor for the Virgin Doctor Who New Adventures series, a line of novels that kept the iconic franchise's narrative flame burning during its long television hiatus. 

This required Winstone to manage networks of contributing writers, enforce strict continuity across branching storylines, and maintain intricate thematic worldbuilding protocols. This deep background in overseeing shared lore gave him a specialized understanding of narrative frameworks and structural consistency, allowing him to seamlessly bridge the gap between creative storytelling and disciplined administrative design. 

Winstone's strength was his ability to guide complex, long-running storylines through challenging thematic transitions. Alongside his extensive editing work, he co-authored Where Angels Fear, a notable entry in the speculative sci-fi genre that blended human investigations with bizarre anomalies. His experience with dense science fiction frameworks and the realities of fictional universes translates perfectly into the concepts of data management and structural development. He treated worldbuilding as an analytical challenge, maintaining the internal logic of a complex universe with a balance of innovative vision and careful oversight.

11H Surface 00
Webster Barracks                         (Was Wolff)
Military Settlement Small (Ioke)          
DOCK:  Medium

Bud Webster was an American science fiction author, historian, and bibliographer who dedicated his life to preserving the history of speculative fiction. Active in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, he was revered in the genre community as a top scholar and a "past master." He gained acclaim as a fiction writer with his Bubba Pritchert stories, published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact. These tales earned multiple Analytical Laboratory awards for their witty, grounded portrayal of ordinary people encountering interstellar anomalies.

His most monumental contribution was his work as a literary detective and preservationist, serving as head of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Estate Project. Through this, Webster built massive databases to trace copyright records. He rescued forgotten Golden Age authors from obscurity, ensuring their families received credit and their work remained available to future generations.

Webster was known for balancing meticulous research with infectious humor. His landmark non-fiction books, such as Anthopology 101 and Past Masters & Other Bookish Natterings, analyzed the evolution of science fiction magazines and anthologies. He viewed genre history as a vast network where early publishers, editors, and writers established the rules modern creators still use today. He held a profound respect for that creative spark, working to organize the messy corridors of pulp history so those foundational architects would never be forgotten.

11H Surface 01 
Luna Command Garrison
Military Settlement Medium (Enyo)                   
DOCK:  Medium

8.  Last time for a base named Luna.
I’m amazed that Elite random-rolled Luna’s name 8 different times!!

See Luna Market, 07A Surface 03, for the full description.

12 Orbital 00
Stephenson Vision                     (Was Rock)
Communication Installation (Alethia)
DOCK:  NONE

Neal Stephenson (born 1959) is among the most ambitious and influential American science fiction authors of the last forty years. He is known for dense, idea-rich novels that blend a broad range of themes. His encyclopedic approach has earned him a reputation as a master of "hard" science fiction.

He achieved widespread acclaim with Snow Crash (1992). This groundbreaking cyberpunk novel popularized the term "metaverse" and helped inspire modern virtual reality concepts. The story follows Hiro Protagonist, a hacker and pizza delivery driver, as he battles a dangerous new drug and a viral threat in both the real and virtual worlds.

His other major works include The Diamond Age (1995), which explores nanotechnology and education in a tech-stratified future. He also wrote the Baroque Cycle, a massive three-volume historical hybrid set in the 17th and 18th centuries. Another notable title is Anathem (2008), an ambitious philosophical novel set on a parallel Earth where scientists and philosophers live in monastery-like seclusion.

Stephenson’s writing is defined by meticulous research, long-form storytelling, and intricate world-building. He is fascinated by how technology, economics, and culture shape human civilization. Often called a "maximalist," he is respected for the intellectual depth and the sheer scale of his narratives.

Personal NOTE: I read Snow Crash. It was an excellent story with immense depth. But I felt that he added words into the text simply to add bulk to the book. I wouldn’t go so far as to accuse him of "padding" like L. Ron Hubbard—no real writer deserves that accusation—but Stephenson does have a tendency to use more words than necessary.

13 Orbital 00
Cannon Horizons
Relay Installation (Ichnaea)
DOCK:  NONE

This was a random name roll.  It’s not spelled correctly, but the spirit is there just the same…
Canonn’s official website:  https://canonn.science

From their official website:

“The Home of Science in the Galaxy
Founded in April 3301 by the eponymous Dr Arcanonn, Canonn Interstellar Research (also referred to simply as The Canonn) is the largest and most active scientific community throughout the Bubble. 

It all started with the emergence of the now infamous ‘Unknown Artefacts’ – a mystery (or is it a conspiracy?) that continues to dominate the Elite Dangerous universe.

Operating out of Thompson Dock, Varati, our extreme focus and diligence can be attributed to our diet of biscuits, whisky and a penchant for wearing tin foil hats. We take our Science seriously, but we do it without covering ourselves in chalkdust.

Our never-ending mission is not just to uncover the truth about these Unknown Artefacts, but all mysteries throughout the galaxy.

Dr Arcanonn is now helped by the Council who, in turn, only exist because of the members – those brave tinfoil-hat wearers who tirelessly sought the unknown artefacts in those dangerous early days; and who now continue to find exciting science to do, day after day after day after day after day.”

“The Canonn
Canonn Interstellar Research Group (or the ‘Canonn’ for short) is an independent cooperative made up of thousands of Commanders committed to science and discovering the mysteries of the universe. Founded in Varati on August 4th 3301 the Canonn has continued to spread and is even present in Colonia.

We are a non-exclusive, open group that does not take part in politics and is adamantly neutral, we believe anything that distracts from our research is to be avoided. We do not restrict our pilots but we do enforce that any overtly political actions are not taken in our name.

While initially founded to research the Unknown Artefact the Canonn has branched out as new mysteries have become available. Our interests also extend to the Large Barnacle, Unknown Probe, the Unknown Ships and any other mysteries we can get our hands on. A complete up to date list of our studies can be found in the codex of this website.

You can find all our research in these pages and we encourage anyone seeking to work with us to join us, take part in our discord and follow the “threadnought”. Be forewarned there will be plenty of off the wall “tinfoil” theories and talk of biscuits but that’s just an average day around here. Join us, discover the ongoing mysteries, and make some new friends!”

NOTE: 
The above two quotes are directly from the Canonn website.  I don’t understand why the two paragraphs have different founding dates, but assume it’s somehow correct, otherwise all these seriously brilliant folks would have noted an error and corrected it.

ANOTHER NOTE:
I asked Grok, and received a very reasonable explanation…

The dates don't actually conflict — they refer to two slightly different moments in the group's early history.

April 3301 — This is when Dr Arcanonn first began calling for research and started organizing the informal group around the Unknown Artefacts mystery. This is generally considered the founding of the Canonn movement/community.

August 4th 3301 — This is the date when Dr Arcanonn made the official public announcement of the formation of the Canonn Interstellar Research Group, and when the group was more formally established in Varati (specifically at Thompson Dock).

Simple Explanation:
Think of April as the “idea was born / informal start” date, and August 4th as the “we are now officially a group” date.

13 Orbital 01
Kirshner Sanctuary                    (was Image)
Communication Installation (Pistis)
DOCK:  NONE

Honoring Don Kirshner (1934–2011), a legendary American music publisher, producer, and talent scout known as “The Man with the Golden Ear.”

Kirshner had an extraordinary career shaping popular music. He discovered and nurtured talents like Carole King, Neil Diamond, Bobby Darin, and played a major role in the success of The Monkees and The Archies. He later created and hosted the influential television series Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, which brought live performances by major rock acts into homes across America during the 1970s.

For science fiction fans, Kirshner is particularly remembered for his work on Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–1974).
As music supervisor and executive producer for the show’s soundtrack, he helped shape the sonic identity of the first animated extension of the Star Trek universe. With composer Ray Ellis, Kirshner brought a sense of grandeur and emotional weight to the series’ scores, giving the animated adventures of Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise its memorable sound track.

Elite Dangerous 029 Verne Military - Terry Prospect - Kuttner Platform - Fraser Extraction Platform - Barnett Agricultural Holding

Elite Dangerous 029 Col 285 Sector WL-L c8-40
Verne Military - Terry Prospect - Kuttner Platform - Fraser Extraction Platform
Barnett Agricultural Holding
The Grand Tour, PAGE 29

NOTE:  All 138 facilities built in this system are listed (and shown) in order of distance from the sun.  At least, according to the in-game architect’s view.  There's a total of slightly over 18 hours of video, so the video, and the descriptions, are broken into smaller portions across multiple posts.
Some descriptions were written by myself, some with the help of AI.  I've personally edited all of them, so if you must blame someone, blame me.  :^)

11E Surface 00
Verne Military
Military Settlement Medium (Polemos)        
DOCK:  Medium

See Verne Outpost, 10D Surface 00, for the full description.

11F Orbital 00
Terry Prospect
Communication Installation (Alethia)
DOCK:  NONE

This was more of a “straight” tribute.  No tongue-in-cheek humor here.  Just a "First-Name" reference, because I liked it.  Also, see the previous post, it features two different facilities that are named in honor of Terry Pratchett.

Terry Pratchett was a monumental figure in speculative fiction, celebrated for his razor-sharp wit and an unparalleled ability to use satire to dismantle established systems (that sometimes take themselves ridiculously seriously.)

While he is universally revered for his fantasy masterwork, Discworld, Pratchett possessed a profound love for hard sciences and technology. Before becoming a full-time author, he worked for years as a publicity officer for the Central Electricity Generating Board, a background that gave him a practical understanding of bureaucracy and power dynamics. This allowed him to bridge the gap between traditional fantasy tropes and rigorous technological concepts, treating ideas as living, breathing elements of human progress.

His most magnificent contribution to hard science fiction came later when he collaborated with British sci-fi master Stephen Baxter to write The Long Earth series. This five-novel narrative serves as a thought experiment exploring the frontier of human expansion. The story details a universe where a simple, easily manufactured electronic device allows any human to "step" sideways into an infinite, parallel network of pristine, uninhabited Earths. Rather than focusing on standard space-war clichés, Pratchett utilized his trademark sociological eye to examine the deep realities of a species that suddenly has access to limitless land and raw resources, tracking how traditional planetary corporate syndicates, governments, and legal frameworks completely fracture when humanity can simply walk away.

11 F Orbital 01
Kuttner Platform
Communication Installation (Pistis)
DOCK:  NONE

Henry Kuttner was a towering giant of science fiction's Golden Age, celebrated for his versatility and his ability to blend swift pacing with sharp wit and psychological depth. 

Writing prolifically during the 1940s and 50s, Kuttner frequently published under many pseudonyms to avoid saturating the magazines, notably Lewis Padgett and Lawrence O'Donnell. The vast majority of his finest work was written in a collaborative literary partnership with his wife, C. L. Moore.
The duo collaborated so perfectly that contemporaries often joked it was impossible to tell where one author's sentence ended and the other's began. Together, they injected a sophisticated sense of irony, emotion, and consequence into a genre that was largely preoccupied with simplistic gadgets and monster-pulp action.

His most famous contribution to hard space opera is the 1947 novel Fury, a narrative set on a hostile, prehistoric Venus after humanity accidentally destroys the Earth. To survive the hyper-violent, toxic flora and fauna of the Venusian surface, the remnants of the human race retreat into massive automated undersea dome-cities called Keeps.  In these keeps, a stagnant, immortal feudal aristocracy rules over a complacent populace.

Kuttner utilizes this platform to explore the mechanics of human drive, tracing a ruthless, mutated protagonist who triggers a violent upheaval to force humanity out of its comfortable subaquatic cages and back onto the path of space-faring colonization. His explored satirical fiction as well, such as the Gallegher stories.  Gallegher was a brilliant, hard-drinking inventor who could only access his subconscious engineering genius while completely intoxicated, accidentally creating narcissistic, malfunctioning, and highly advanced autonomous robots. 

Kuttner possessed a rare talent for exploring the strains of technology on the human mind. In Mimsy Were the Borogoves, he analyzed how two young children stumble upon an advanced educational toy box dropped from the distant future, slowly adapting to a non-Euclidean, multidimensional geometry that leaves adults behind. 
I like Kuttner, but to me, "Mimsy" read like a horror story.  It was very unsettling.

11F Surface 00
Fraser Extraction Platform               (Was Nightingale)
Mining Settlement Small (Ourea)
DOCK:  Small

Ronald Fraser was a distinct and deeply visionary voice working at the intersection of early British science fiction, allegorical fantasy, and mystical speculative fiction.
A decorated soldier who survived severe injuries in the trenches of the First World War, Fraser spent his primary career as a high-ranking British civil servant and career diplomat.  He served as a Commercial Minister in South America and Europe before being knighted for his distinguished public service in 1949. This intensive professional background gave him a grounded understanding of institutional systems and social engineering. He deliberately steered away from the space-monster tropes of early pulp magazines, instead using speculative and technological concepts to explore human consciousness. 

He was fascinated by the way extraordinary anomalies shatter the mundane rules of everyday life. Heavily influenced by H.G. Wells, Fraser loved to grant ordinary working-class citizens sudden, world-bending capabilities—such as a simple cloth merchant discovering the biological secret to personal levitation—and then methodically discover the consequences of that evolution.  His writing blended meticulous depictions of trade and geography with themes of enlightenment, viewing the cosmos as a  multi-dimensional grid waiting to open the minds of those brave enough to explore it.

Later in his career, Fraser pushed his speculative concepts into the realm of grand solar system exploration with Venus Quartet, which launched with the 1958 novel A Visit from Venus. In these narratives, he explored a universe where the planets of our solar system are inhabited by advanced, highly evolved civilizations who engage in philosophical and structural dialogues with one another.

11F Surface 01
Barnett Agricultural Holding                      (Was Senior)
Agriculture Settlement Small (Consus)
DOCK:  Small

Lisa A. Barnett was a distinct and meticulously detailed voice in American speculative fiction, celebrated for her historical insight and narrative control. Barnett specialized in writing highly intricate alternate histories, notably through her literary collaboration with author Melissa Scott. Her work, The Armor of Light, combined thorough historical research with speculative fantasy, transplanting political espionage, courtly intrigue, and magical philosophy into the Elizabethan era. This analytical approach to worldbuilding allowed her to examine how power structures, secret syndicates, and cultural frameworks adapt when traditional reality is disrupted by unexpected forces.

Barnett’s approach to speculative literature was defined by her focus on interpersonal dynamics and social architecture. She explored how small, marginalized groups navigate vast, indifferent systems of governance and corporate control. She treated her settings as complex ecosystems where trade, law, and personal relationships are deeply intertwined.  Her stories avoided easy answers, choosing instead realistic compromise and acceptable sacrifice.

Elite Dangerous 028 Dont Panic Always Carry a Towel - Gordons Progress - Weaver Vision - Kuiper Depot - Restaurant at The End of the Star System

Elite Dangerous 028 Col 285 Sector WL-L c8-40
Don't Panic - Always Carry A Towel
Gordon's Progress - Weaver Vision - Kuiper Depot
Restaurant at The End Of THe Star System
The Grand Tour, PAGE 28

NOTE:  All 138 facilities built in this system are listed (and shown) in order of distance from the sun.  At least, according to the in-game architect’s view.  There's a total of slightly over 18 hours of video, so the video, and the descriptions, are broken into smaller portions across multiple posts.
Some descriptions were written by myself, some with the help of AI.  I've personally edited all of them, so if you must blame someone, blame me.  :^)

11D Orbital 00
Don’t Panic – Always Carry A Towel            (Was Burns’s Folly)
Commercial outpost (Plutus)
DOCK:  Medium

I renamed this outpost as part of a “Terry Pratchett” set, having created the surface port “Restaurant at the End of the Star System” since this was one of the furthest facilities in the system.  If I’d had enough construction points left in the system, this would have been a Coriolis station, but it was one of my last builds. 
I’d been saving this planet, with its orbitals and its 3 surface slots for a whole tourist theme, which didn’t work out.  But I still got to do a tribute to Terry Pratchett, with a sense of humor for it’s end-of-the-system back-40 placement.  It was supposed to be a Coriolis, and 2 T2 Tourist stations, and the Civilian outpost. 
Ran out of points, made the hard choices, and suddenly it became a Refinery economy (and a very successful one, especially on the civilian outpost,) at the tail end of the system.  Still had my heart set on a Pratchett theme.  

This was one of just a few custom names I paid ARX for, that weren’t a tribute or memorial to family.  

Something in honor of Terry Pratchett was my main goal, but since it was the last planet in the system with significant potential, I wanted it and the surface port to be something worthy of a trip out this far.  In spite of not having a Coriolis, I'm happy with it.

11D Orbital 01
Gordon’s Progress
Comms Installation (Alethia)
DOCK:  NONE

\Writing as David Gordon, Randall Garrett was a defining voice of the Campbelline era, known for his relentless logic and wit. Under this specific pseudonym, he famously manipulated reader expectations in Analog, often using the name to publish multiple stories in a single issue without cluttering the contents page. This alias is most synonymous with his high-concept "puzzles," but the man behind the name, Randall Garrett, remains the true titan of the work. His crowning achievement is the Lord Darcy series, a masterful fusion of locked-room mystery and alternate-history magic that treats sorcery with the cold precision of forensic science. In his later years, Garrett’s legacy shifted toward the Gandalara Cycle, a sweeping "sword and planet" epic that remains a beloved staple of the genre for its evocative world-building and telepathic bond between man and giant cat.

Gemini AI wrote the above. 
To add my own note, I’ve read and enjoyed the Lord Darcy books. 
But the epic that lives in my soul forever is the Gandalara Cycle.  The story focuses on a man who finds himself trapped in a strange world, trying to figure out why.  In the process, the entire direction of the book is guided by his unwavering sense of honor.

Talk about a man I’d respect… this was one of my all time favorite characters, in a 5-book set that I've read so many times the binding has fallen apart.

Later, I found out that David Gordon/Randall Garrett was an undisciplined womanizer, unfaithful to his amazing wife (Vicki Ann Heydron), a drunkard, and generally disreputable person.

It bothered me for years, trying to figure out how such a horrible person could write such an honorable character with such a depth of emotion.  I eventually found out.  It’s a tragic story.  In short, he got terminally ill and lost his ability to write and create.  His wife, also a successful author, spent years writing the Gandalara Cycle in his behalf, and gave him lead credit for the writing.  It’s worth looking up.

But when I was reading a tale of honor and faith… it was Vicki Heydron I was reading.  Someone who understands more than most what it means to sacrifice everything for love.

11D Surface 00
Weaver Vision
Refinery Hub (Silenus)
DOCK:  NONE

Won the jackpot on random names…
While Sigourney Weaver cemented her "Sci-Fi Queen" status by surviving the ultimate extraterrestrial nightmare as Ellen Ripley in the Alien franchise, she totally owned the genre by brilliantly satirizing it in Galaxy Quest.

She played Gwen DeMarco, the actress behind Lieutenant Tawny Madison—a character relegated to the role of "ship’s eye candy."  Weaver perfectly captured the meta-frustration of a seasoned pro forced to navigate a "real" spaceship while mocking her own ridiculous TV tropes. Whether screaming, "Whoever wrote this episode should DIE!" in the hallway of "chompers," or shouting, "I have ONE job on this ship! It's stupid, but I'm going to do it!"—referring to her task of repeating the computer’s voice—she proved that she didn't just lead the genre, she understood exactly how to poke fun at it.

I'm so stoked to get "Weaver Vision", I had to stop playing to explain it to Monique.  She doesn't follow a lot of my name choices, but this one... this one she shared in my excitement.

And to add the cherry on top, we were celebrating my birthday a couple of days ago by watching Galaxy Quest (for the umpteemth time), courtesy of my son and his wife.  They had found a 4k Ultra Hi Def DVD of it, and sent it as my birthday gift.
So it was an all-rounder Galaxy Quest birthday this year!

(I had already scored a station name earlier for Tim Allen, “Allen’s Folly.”  Getting Weaver Vision made it even better.)

Also very cool, and worth noting, that with Weaver Vision, this little planet plays tribute to two giants of comedic sci-fi, Galaxy Quest and Hitchhiker's Guide.

11D Surface 01
Kuiper Depot
Refinery Hub (Silenus)
DOCK:  NONE

Gerard Kuiper (1905–1973) is the Dutch-American astronomer who essentially "discovered" the modern solar system's architecture. He is best known for proposing the existence of the disc of icy bodies beyond Neptune, which we now call the Kuiper Belt. While he didn't write fiction, he was the doctoral advisor to Carl Sagan. His research on the atmospheres of Mars and Titan provided the scientific "grounding" for generations of hard sci-fi writers who wanted their stories to be realistic. 

In a twist worthy of a thriller, Kuiper served in a secret military mission called Alsos at the end of WWII. He actually went behind enemy lines in a jeep to rescue the legendary physicist Max Planck before Soviet troops could capture him.
All told, Kuiper seriously earned his place in this list.

11D Surface 02
Restaurant at The End of The Star System           (was Park)
Civilian Surface Outpost (Clotho)          
DOCK:  Large

This was originally going to be part of a tourist planet, as I mentioned above. 
It was the furthest planet in this system that had multiple surface slots, and orbitals.  It was intended for one of the final big projects, but as the points started running out, I realized my options were limited. 

I wanted an asteroid station lined up in the middle of the system where most of my Coriolis stations are. And I wanted a Tourist planet, with Coriolis.  There were only enough points to do one… or the other.

A tourist planet made sense, being this far near the end of the system.  But I wanted the asteroid base more.  So the planet got the old standby; a couple of refinery hubs, and a civilian surface outpost.

That being the case, the surface outpost received the “Restaurant at The End of…” title, and the main orbital slot got the “Don’t Panic” title.  They were too fun to let go of, even if the build didn’t go as planned. 

Even though it wasn’t the “Tourist Facilities with Coriolis” that I’d planned, it still got to be the Terry Pratchett tribute, at the very last good stop for the whole system.  
It was a comedy of errors and misplanning that I think Terry Pratchett would have approved of.

Elite Dangerous 027 - Coke - Lee Horticulture - Kobayashi - Farmer Horizons - Wright Defense - Priest Arms - Brewer Engineering - Geiger Command Outpost

Elite Dangerous 027 Col 285 Sector WL-L c8-40
Coke Sanctuary - Lee Horticultural Holding - Kobayashi Hydroponics Market
Farmer Horizons - Wright Defense Barracks - Priest Arms Installation
Brewer Engineering Enterprise - Geiger Command Outpost
The Grand Tour, PAGE 27

NOTE:  All 138 facilities built in this system are listed (and shown) in order of distance from the sun.  At least, according to the in-game architect’s view.  There's a total of slightly over 18 hours of video, so the video, and the descriptions, are broken into smaller portions across multiple posts.
Some descriptions were written by myself, some with the help of AI.  I've personally edited all of them, so if you must blame someone, blame me.  :^)

11A Orbital 00
Coke Sanctuary
Communication Installation (Alethia)
DOCK:  NONE

No famous author or scientist here.  I just figured Coca Cola should have at least one station dedicated in their name.  

Because, after all… Things go better with Coke.
(And, as I edit this post this very moment, I'm sipping a Coca Cola.)

11A Surface 00
Lee Horticultural Holding
Agriculture Settlement Small (Consus)
DOCK:  Small

Cozy Mystery author, Mother, Wife, and to my wife and myself, she was a good friend.
Lea Wait was a remarkable individual whose life was defined as much by her intellectual curiosity and professional expertise as by the warmth she extended to those around her. Before she became an author of cozy mysteries, Lea was the proprietor of an antique print shop. Her deep knowledge of historical art and the stories behind the images she curated informed her later career, bringing a unique authenticity to her writing that brought her books to life.

Her Antique Print Mystery series featuring protagonist Maggie Herbert, was a testament to her passion. She masterfully blended the intrigue of a well-crafted mystery with the world of antique prints. Her final work, which centered on the theme of adoption, held a deeply personal resonance for her; as someone who had adopted her own children, this narrative was a true labor of love.

Beyond her literary success, Lea was a generous and thoughtful friend.  She was the kind of person who made you feel seen and valued.

Her final years were marked by immense personal difficulty, including the loss of her husband and her own battle with cancer. Despite the weight of those circumstances, the memory of her spirit remains bright. We cherish our time with her and the way she invited us into her world, through her books and through a shared, quiet friendship. She left behind a legacy that lives on in the pages of her novels and in the memories of everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

11A Surface 01
Kobayashi Hydroponics Market
Agriculture Settlement Small (Consus)
DOCK:  Small

See Kobayashi Command Base, 08C Surface 00, for the full description.

11B Orbital 00
Farmer Horizons
Communication Installation (Soter)
DOCK:  NONE

Philip José Farmer (1918–2009) was one of the most radical, boundary-pushing iconoclasts of science fiction's Golden and New Wave eras. 

Farmer was a monumental literary rebel who specialized in shattering traditional genre taboos, injecting raw realism, grand mythological restructuring, and high-concept cosmic pulp into the medium. 

Farmer is globally immortalized for his Hugo Award-winning Riverworld saga, which begins with the landmark novel To Your Scattered Bodies Go. The narrative operates as a massive, planet-scale thought experiment where every human being who ever lived on Earth, from prehistoric Neanderthals to modern 20th-century historical figures, is simultaneously resurrected along the banks of a seemingly endless, millions-of-miles-long river on an artificial alien world. He used this staggering platform to explore human sociology, cultural clashes and survival, tracking an eclectic group of historical figures as they construct makeshift riverboats to sail upstream, desperate to confront the god-like architects behind the resurrection matrix. 

Beyond Riverworld, Farmer was a master of grand, multi-dimensional worldbuilding, most notably in his World of Tiers series. In these novels, he created a universe engineered by an ancient alien race known as the Lords, who constructed artificial pocket universes.  The World of Tiers is a massive, tiered planet shaped like a stepped pyramid where each level possesses its own unique ecosystem, physics and civilizations.
Farmer had a profound fascination with classic pulp literature as well.  He wrote brilliant, metafictional biographies that connected legendary fictional heroes into a single, massive, genetically advanced family tree within the Wold Newton universe. 

In the Wold Newton family universe, where he treated classic pulp heroes as real, living historical figures. Farmer conceptualized a brilliant, sprawling alternate history based on a real-world astronomical event. In his lore, a radioactive meteorite struck Wold Newton, Yorkshire, in 1795, causing a radical mutation in the passengers of a passing coach. The descendants of these families inherited superhuman intelligence, physical strength, and sensory awareness.  He posited a massive, interconnected family tree of legendary adventurers including Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, and the characters who fascinated Farmer most: Tarzan and Doc Savage.

Farmer channelled this obsession into a series of highly respected fictional biographies that treated pulp icons with the absolute seriousness of a historian. In his landmark 1972 book Tarzan Alive: A Definitive Biography of Lord Greystoke, and his 1973 companion volume Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life, Farmer completely bypassed the cheesy, simplistic tropes of old comic strips.

Instead, he meticulously analyzed decades of original stories, applying rigorous real-world logic, geographic calculations, and psychological profiling to explain how an actual human being could survive growing up in a wild jungle or undergo the intense, lifelong scientific training required to become the world's ultimate renaissance man and adventurer.

Alongside these biographies, Farmer wrote classic high-octane adventure novels. In Escape from Loki, he penned the official, canon story of a young Doc Savage's very first adventure during World War I. He also collaborated on The Dark Heart of Time, an authorized Tarzan novel.

However, Farmer’s boundary-pushing nature occasionally crossed into highly controversial territory.  The less said about those books, the better, in my opinion.

Yet, when he restrained his worst impulses, Farmer’s legitimate work with Doc Savage and Tarzan redefined how modern culture views shared universes and crossover lore.

11B Surface 00
Wright Defense Barracks    (Was GoTo)
Military Settlement Small (Ioke)        
DOCK:  Medium

John C. Wright is a prominent voice in contemporary hard science fiction, recognized for his complex deep-future space operas. Before turning to fiction full-time, Wright worked as a trial lawyer.  This gave him a rigorous understanding of legal philosophy, corporate contracts, and social architecture. Within this framework he created his core books, the Golden Age trilogy.  Set thousands of years in our future within a post-scarcity solar system ruled by the Golden Oecumene, humanity achieved functional immortality, mapping their consciousnesses into a vast virtual network where planet-sized artificial intelligences manage the background simulation of interstellar society. Wright explores the legal and moral ramifications of post-human evolution, tracking how an advanced civilization handles memory manipulation, corporate monopolies, and the ownership of artificial minds.

What distinguishes Wright’s approach is his adherence to the realities of physics and economics. His stories detail the engineering protocols required to construct Dyson spheres, dismantle moons for raw industrial materials, and manage long-range exploration fleets. His characters navigate worlds where thoughts can be commodified, and digital identities can be fractured across multiple physical bodies.  Worlds where corporate syndicates engage in financial warfare across centuries. Wright explored the grand scale of humanity's dark dreams.

11B Surface 01
Priest Arms Installation
Military Settlement Small (Ioke)
DOCK:  Medium

Christopher Priest (1943–2024) was a master of British science fiction and speculative literature. His works explored the manipulation of time, memory, and reality. 

Christopher Priest is globally recognized for his award-winning 1974 speculative masterpiece, Inverted World. The narrative centers on Earth City, a massive, mobile settlement built on wheels that must continuously travel along railway tracks laid across a topologically distorted planet. To survive, the city’s guilds must perpetually tear up the tracks behind them and lay new ones ahead, racing toward a geographic point called the optimum. Time dramatically slows down behind the moving city and rapidly accelerates ahead of it, meaning a surveyor spending a single day exploring the frontier returns to find months have passed for the population. 

Priest also wrote The Prestige (also a movie starring Hugh Jackman), a historical speculative novel about an intense rivalry between two Victorian stage magicians that explores the dark overlap of showmanship and experimental science. He also created the Dream Archipelago series, an intricate collection of stories set across a vast network of islands on an unmapped planet.  Within that world, shifting political factions, strange geometric anomalies and psychological fragmentation challenge the very nature of objective truth.

11C Surface 00
Brewer Engineering Enterprise
Industrial Settlement Small (Fontus)
DOCK:  Small

From a company flier available at Brewer Engineering Enterprise’s local office:

Welcome to Brewer Engineering Enterprise!

On behalf of the Brewer Corporation and Brewer Logistics, we are thrilled to welcome you to our forward-operating industrial facility. You may already know our parent corporation as the master architects behind the Drake-Class Fleet Carrier—the five-billion-credit marvels of modern engineering that have permanently rewritten the rules of interstellar transit and allowed independent commanders to establish thriving colonies tens of thousands of light-years from the core worlds. Here at this Small Industrial Settlement, we bring that exact same spirit of macro-engineering, structural grit, and frontier ambition down to the planetary surface.

While our massive orbital shipyards handle the grand assembly of interstellar megastructures, Brewer Engineering Enterprise serves as the vital, boots-on-the-ground precision core of our localized operations. Our facility specializes in processing rare metallurgical catalysts, refining specialized tritium fuel manifolds, and fabricating the heavy structural framing components required to maintain the region’s transport fleets and fleet carrier infrastructure. Every weld struck and every ton of raw material refined within these automated manufacturing bays directly feeds the industrial pipeline that keeps our sector connected to the wider galactic economy.

We pride ourselves on being the silent partner in your journey through the void. Whether you are an independent hauler stopping by to trade high-grade polymers, an extraction specialist offloading raw planetary ores, or a traveler exploring the edge of human civilization, our dedicated team of engineers and logistical coordinators ensures that the mechanical arteries of this system never stop flowing. Thank you for visiting Brewer Engineering Enterprise—where we don't just witness the expansion of humanity across the stars; we forge the tools that make it possible.

11C Surface 01
Geiger Command Outpost
Military Settlement Small (Ioke)          
DOCK:  Medium

Taken from a sector garrison briefing:

Geiger Command Outpost stands as a vital, forward-operating defensive shield and environmental monitoring garrison for the sector. Named in honor of Dr. Hans Geiger, the pioneering physicist who co-invented the particle-detection technology that allows humanity to measure ionizing radiation, this small military settlement embodies the eternal vigilance required to survive the invisible dangers of the cosmic void. In a galaxy where active stellar nurseries, volatile neutron stars, and radioactive anomalies pose a constant, lethal threat to human biology and structural hull integrity, this outpost serves as the sector's premier early-warning shield.

Architecturally and systemically, the garrison is optimized for high-readiness reconnaissance and environmental containment. Rather than functioning as a massive staging ground for heavy capital ships, Geiger Command Outpost operates as a specialized, rapid-response monitoring hub. The facility houses a dense matrix of high-frequency deep-space scanning arrays, atmospheric radiation scrubbers, and armored tactical reconnaissance wings. The military personnel stationed here are tasked with mapping volatile solar flares, tracking localized electromagnetic anomalies, and securing the surrounding planetary boundaries against hostile pirate incursions or illegal black-market salvage operations looking to exploit irradiated wrecks.

For any independent commander operating in the region, dropping anchor at Geiger Command Outpost offers an immediate sense of structural stability. The station’s automated defensive batteries and tactical patrol wings enforce strict legal protocols, maintaining a secure perimeter that allows commercial haulers and scientific research vessels to pass through the sector without fear. By anchoring your security network with this specialized garrison, you are acknowledging the cold, mathematical reality of frontier survival: the vacuum of space is a radioactive crucible, and the forces stationed at Geiger are the only shield standing between civilization and the silent, blinding forces of the cosmos.

NOTE:  I asked Gemini to create a company flyer for Brewer Engineering Enterprise.  It was perfect for an AI's bombastic, overly florid writing.  I was thrilled with the result, which resulted in Gemini getting 'locked in' to that viewpoint.  Without my requesting it, he also created this page for Geiger Command Outpost in the same style.  I went ahead and accepted the second "in-universe viewpoint" description.  And then realized Gemini was stuck in that mode, and didn't want to break away from it.
For a while I shifted to Grok, trying to give Gemini time to "reset."  I don't mind editing AI text, adding my personal thoughts and style to the writing.  But this was an entire perspective shift, and Gemini really resisted going back to our previous collaborative style.  
AI has its good and bad points.  It's been very interesting, learning how to get it to follow my goals.

Elite Dangerous 026 - Read Hub - Verne's Garden - Hardy's Keep - May Enterprise - Israel Vision - Wolfe Sanctuary

Elite Dangerous 026 Col 285 Sector WL-L c8-40
Read Hub - Verne's Garden - Hardy's Keep - May Enterprise - Israel Vision - Wolfe Sanctuary
The Grand Tour, PAGE 26

NOTE:  All 138 facilities built in this system are listed (and shown) in order of distance from the sun.  At least, according to the in-game architect’s view.  There's a total of slightly over 18 hours of video, so the video, and the descriptions, are broken into smaller portions across multiple posts.
Some descriptions were written by myself, some with the help of AI.  I've personally edited all of them, so if you must blame someone, blame me.  :^)

10J Orbital 00
Read Hub 
Scientific Outpost (Prometheus)    
DOCK:  Medium

Read Hub celebrates the pure and timeless act of reading itself — the gateway through which imagination, knowledge, and wonder flow.

In the vast universe of science fiction and beyond, reading has always been humanity’s most powerful technology. It allows minds to travel faster than light, experience impossible worlds, and connect with ideas across centuries. From the earliest pulp magazines to the greatest novels, reading has been the foundation upon which science fiction was built and shared.

Reading launched my curious young mind onto a lifetime journey of enjoyment, learning, and refuge. When Covid took my mother-in-law in 2021, it also took my ability to read and comprehend at a glance, plus the ability to visualize full color and and limited motion images while reading.  

Mom is memorialized in this system (and another) as Georgie Girl.  

Reading, once effortless, has been a struggle since Covid.  At first I had to sound out each word with the next word, string them together and try to find meaning. With a job at the newspaper focused on advertising, legal notices, and obituaries… not being able to read quickly, and with comprehension, was an issue.  

I began skipping lunches, working late off the clock, all the while slowly losing ground as I was trying to re-learn everything.  Not only work suffered, but also entertainment.  I was out for a month with Covid, wasn’t sure I’d live, not sure if I cared. 
Afterward, aside from losing my skill for reading, it was impossible to play my favorite games, Elite Dangerous being at the top of the list.  In the course of ONE month, it all became overwhelmingly incomprehensible.

For several years, my reading was on the level of simple point-of-view stories designed for ‘young readers.’  My memory and cognitive skills were severely limited, and trying to read was depressing.  

Rather than a pleasure, it was a constant reminder of what I’d lost.  Couldn’t give it up, but had to carefully choose… simple… plots and stories.  It was like starting all over again in school.
We all talk about Elite being a grind… but the real grind personally was the years spent trying to relearn lost skills.

One of my happiest moments was the day I opened up an August Derleth anthology and realized I could read his convoluted stories and follow the plot once again.  Slowly, having to re-read many sentences and paragraphs, but that was a huge landmark.  (I mentioned this in the Derleth segment also.  Bear with me please.  Hitting that landmark was the first time I had real hope in years.)

An even happier occasion occurred in late 2024; I’d improved enough that it occurred to me maybe I could relearn how to play Elite Dangerous. 
I was right, but it took from End-of-October 2024 to February of 2025.  It involved writing in-depth notes, creating spreadsheets, studying, forgetting, learning, and re-learning things that used to be second nature.

I still forget things too easily.  If I don’t play daily, basic things fade away quickly.  It helps to work on one specific loop at a time.  For months now, that loop has been Colonization.  I keep copious notes and guides open in a journaling program (Obsidian, it’s been essential.)  My favorite thing is to write a personalized short guide to anything I do, and keep those open in tabs, like a browser.  Doing a detailed system and planetary scan is a great example.  I can’t store that in memory.  Every time I need to do a detailed scan again, I have to follow my guide. It’s a bit overwhelming, but anything that can be done step by step at my own pace, I can generally grasp long enough to use my notes.

Monique is very proud of my determination to read, and keep improving.  She also believes, as I do, that re-learning how to play Elite, and doing so daily, has been a major reason I’ve had so much improvement.

Again, can’t say enough good things about Obsidian.  It’s not just journaling software.  It allows links between one note and another, like online links from one site to another.  Over the past 3 years, I’ve written (or copied, at times) over 5,000 pages of notes, memories, guides, and interlinked them thoroughly.  It’s like a neural network map of my brain.  Obviously, there are gaps that are just gone; but if a memory comes to mind, it’s important to stop everything and write it down before it’s gone again. 
Bit by bit, I’m getting back things that were lost.  And with the links, there’s a logical structure so re-finding something in my notes is usually pretty simple.

I’ll be turning 66 next month (Correction, I HAVE turned 66.)  By now, memory/cognitive issues from Covid are inextricably blended with simple “getting older” issues.  Things are slowly becoming more difficult again. 
Elite helps keep my mind active, but there’s always the fear that someday the servers will go down for one final time, and not come back.  Either that, or I’ll finally hit the point where the ability to understand, remember, and keep playing Elite will fade.

In an effort to create lasting memories of the fun I’ve had playing Elite, and the personal progress it's meant, I spent the past 6 months colonizing this system – Col 285 Sector WL-L c8-40.  Nearly another month just creating the videos of my "Grand Tour."

And now, writing this station-by-station guide to what each name means to me. Grok and Gemini (my 2 favorite AIs) have helped tremendously. My writing, like my reading, has suffered.  But it's also improved.  Some of these descriptions are completely mine.  Many from the AIs I've heavily edited to put my spin on it.  And some... have only had minimal editing.  It depends a lot on my mental energy.  
If I get stubborn and keep working after energy for concentration and focus is gone, then I tend to let Grok or Gemini slide by with minimal editing or make very bad mistakes.  
You can probably tell those times.  I usually can.

It’s unlikely anybody besides myself will read this incredibly long, boring series of blog pages.  That’s okay.  This is part of my plan, to help keep my personal memories of creating something meaningful.  If someone reads it, that’s cool; but it’s not essential to the plan.

When this write-up is done, I’m going to take a Grand Tour of the entire system.  All 138 facilities.  I’ll be using a Cobra Mk V, custom-built for the job.  With the Cobra, no matter how small the facility, if it has docking, I’ll be able to land.  The entire process will be recorded on video, in sequence from nearest the sun, to farthest. 

NOTE:  Already built the Cobra, already took the Grand Tour, make the videos, edited the videos, wrote the text... At this moment, I'm still uploading the videos, assembling the blogs, and doing this last pass for the editing.  The project is nearly over...

The videos will go on YouTube, not so others can see my boring adventures… but so I’ll always have access to these memories, even if something catastrophic were to happen to my computer or hard drives.  These bios will go here in my blog, to link with the matching videos.

That, in itself, will be enough to entertain and occupy me for quite some time.  And when it’s done, I’ll have a bank of videos and blogs, that will always be available from any connected computer, to remember.  When Elite as a game, or my ability to play it, is gone, I’ll always have a reminder of the incredible fun and amazing recovery that Elite made possible.

READ HUB is for every reader who stayed up late turning pages, every dreamer who found refuge or inspiration in words, and every curious mind that used stories as a launchpad into the stars. And for everybody who struggles in one way or another, found escape, and hope for the future, in reading.  

10J Surface 00
Verne’s Garden
Agriculture Settlement Small (Consus)  
DOCK:  Small

See Verne Outpost, 10D Surface 00, for the full description.

10J Surface 01
Hardy’s Keep             (was Corner)
Military Settlement Small (Ioke)        
DOCK:  Medium

David A. Hardy (born 1936) is the longest-established professional space artist in human history.  Decades before space probes sent back high-resolution photos of distant worlds, Hardy was mathematically calculating what planetary surfaces would look like and painting them with stunning, realistic precision. 

His vibrant astronomical scenes graced the covers of sci-fi magazines like Galaxy and The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.  Hardy collaborated with astronomer Patrick Moore to create illustrated astronomy books like Challenge of the Stars (1972). He even designed the iconic mechanical Martian tripod art for early iterations of The War of the Worlds.

Hardy's lifetime of work was so vital to how humanity visualizes the cosmos that in 2003, Asteroid 1998 SB32 was officially named "Davidhardy" in his honor. 

11 Orbital 00
May Enterprise
Satellite Installation (Angelia)    
DOCK:  NONE

Julian May was an absolute force in speculative fiction, celebrated for her ability to seamlessly fuse hard science fiction, human evolutionary biology, and mythic fantasy into highly structured narratives. 

Her career in the genre began remarkably early when, as a teenager in 1950, she wrote a brilliant short story titled Dune Roller that was eventually adapted into a feature film. Despite this early breakout success, she stepped away from writing fiction for over two decades to focus on editing and researching for technical encyclopedias, an experience that gave her an incredible baseline of scientific knowledge. When she finally returned to writing fiction in the late 1970s, she used that research background to construct her masterpiece, the Saga of Pliocene Exile, followed by its brilliant companion series, the Galactic Milieu.

In her fictional universe, a small percentage of humanity began to develop powerful latent mental abilities like telepathy, telekinesis, and precognition. Rather than treating these as magical superpowers, May analyzed them with the precision of a biologist, exploring how a species transitioning into a telepathically linked society would suffer sociological friction and political upheaval. Her books detailed the bureaucratic and corporate infrastructure that grew around these psychic factions, showing how profit-and-power based organizations would abuse the people with abilities, and the power.

Her worldbuilding mapped out how humanity's chaotic mental evolution eventually caught the attention of the Galactic Milieu, a co-equal federation of highly advanced alien species who had been quietly monitoring Earth. May dedicated thousands of pages the intricate diplomatic, philosophical, and economic realities of a young, rough-around-the-edges human race overwhelmed by technologically superior alien civilizations. She showed that the true challenge of exploring the stars wasn't just building the physical rockets, but adapting the collective human consciousness to survive the scale of an already populated galaxy. 

11 Orbital 01
Israel Vision
Communication Installation (Alethia)
DOCK:  NONE

Dr. Werner Israel is an absolute heavyweight of real-world physics. His contributions to gravitational theory make him one of the foundational architects of modern astrophysics. 

Werner Israel revolutionized the scientific understanding of black holes by proving the "No-Hair Theorem," which mathematically demonstrated that a collapsing star sheds all its complex irregularities as it crosses the event horizon.
He showed that no matter how chaotic, jagged, or magnetic a star is before its death, the resulting black hole becomes an object of supreme, mathematically pristine simplicity, definable only by its mass, spin, and electrical charge. He famously described the surface of a black hole as being as smooth and structurally uniform as a soap bubble.
This breakthrough completely altered how physicists map the geometry of space-time, transforming black holes from theoretical anomalies into predictable celestial entities. 

Later in his career, Israel collaborated extensively with Stephen Hawking on advanced relativistic thermodynamics and cosmic string dynamics. His equations mapped out the physical conditions hidden deep inside event horizons, analyzing the inner geometric boundaries where space and time break down completely. 

...Kind of puts our traditional trip to Sagittarius A* in a whole new light, doesn’t it?

11 Orbital 02
Wolfe Sanctuary
Communication Installation (Soter)
DOCK:  NONE

Gene Wolfe (1931–2019) bridges hard-science industrial engineering with deep-space narrative mystery.

Before he became a full-time novelist, Gene Wolfe was a highly accomplished mechanical engineer who worked for decades in corporate manufacturing labs.
He is most famous in industrial history for helping design the complex mass-production machinery used to manufacture Pringles potato chips.
Think about that for a moment... his work gave us... enough Pringles to feed the world!

This deep engineering background gave his writing a unique, ruthlessly logical viewpoint; he understood exactly how gears, metals, and industrial processes worked. When he transitioned into writing fiction, he used that same mindset to create masterworks like The Book of the New Sun, a sweeping narrative set on a dying Earth millions of years in our future.

Wolfe’s writing completely redefined the boundaries of speculative fiction by introducing the concept of the complex, unreliable narrator. His characters rarely understand the true nature of the deep-space machinery or alien artifacts they encounter, leaving it to the reader to figure it out. His stories frequently feature generation ships, ancient automated resource hubs, and corporate space-farers in an indifferent, ancient universe.

Elite Dangerous 025 - Mayberry Legacy - Knight Enterprise - Sherlock's Conservatory - Luna Cultivation Hub

 Elite Dangerous 025 Col 285 Sector WL-L c8-40
Mayberry Legacy - Knight Enterprise - Sherlock's Conservatory - Luna Cultivation Hub
The Grand Tour, PAGE 25

NOTE:  All 138 facilities built in this system are listed (and shown) in order of distance from the sun.  At least, according to the in-game architect’s view.  There's a total of slightly over 18 hours of video, so the video, and the descriptions, are broken into smaller portions across multiple posts.
Some descriptions were written by myself, some with the help of AI.  I've personally edited all of them, so if you must blame someone, blame me.  :^)

10I Orbital 00
Mayberry Legacy
Communication Installation (Alethia)
DOCK:  NONE

Stephen Mayberry is a contemporary American science fiction author known for his character-driven stories that often explore themes of exploration, artificial intelligence, and the human condition.

His writing is noted for its realistic portrayal of near-future technology and its focus on how ordinary people respond when faced with extraordinary scientific and societal changes.

Notable works include the novel The Silicon Messiah and several well-received short stories that have appeared in science fiction anthologies and magazines. Mayberry’s style tends to be more introspective than action-heavy, favoring psychological depth and moral questions over space battles and laser fights.

His contributions represent “quiet” science fiction — stories that ask important questions about consciousness, identity, and humanity’s place in an increasingly technological universe.

The Andy Griffith Show
The name also pays affectionate tribute to Mayberry, the fictional town from the classic television series The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968). Set in a gentle, slow-paced Southern town, Mayberry became an enduring symbol of small-town America, filled with colorful characters and wholesome humor.

Iconic residents include Sheriff Andy Taylor, his bumbling but good-hearted deputy Barney Fife, Opie, Aunt Bee, Ernest T. and the unforgettable Darling Family — the musically gifted, backwoods clan led by patriarch Briscoe Darling, famous for their energetic mountain music and appearances in several episodes.

10I Orbital 01
Knight Enterprise 
Scientific Outpost (Prometheus)
DOCK:  Medium

Damon Knight (1922–2002), is a towering figure in American science fiction as an author, editor, critic, and mentor to generations of writers.

Knight began publishing in the 1940s and quickly earned a reputation for sharp, intelligent, and often darkly humorous short stories. He is best remembered for his classic 1950 tale “To Serve Man,” which was famously adapted into a chilling episode of The Twilight Zone. The story’s twist ending has become one of the most iconic in all of science fiction.

Beyond his own writing, Knight made an enormous impact as an editor. He founded the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) and served as its first president. He also edited the influential Orbit anthology series (1966–1980), which became a major platform for innovative and literary science fiction during the New Wave era.

Knight was known for his rigorous critical standards and his famous quip: “Science fiction is what we point to when we say it.” His dedication to elevating the craft and quality of the genre helped professionalize science fiction and inspired countless authors who followed.

10I Surface 00
Sherlock’s Conservatory
Agriculture Settlement Medium (Picumnus)
DOCK:  Large

See 221B Baker Street, 09C Orbital 00 for the full description.

10I Surface 01
Luna Cultivation Hub
Agriculture Settlement Medium (Annona)
DOCK:  Small

7.  Again, Luna
See Luna Market, 07A Surface 03, for the full description.