Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in
white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably >several", but I can't think of any.
In article <10kll0a$f468$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in
white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably
several", but I can't think of any.
Tony
<snip excerpt which names Myron, Naharius, Dame Hester, and the planet
Dimmick orbiting the white dwarf Maudwell's Star... >>
In article <10kll0a$f468$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in
white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably
several", but I can't think of any.
Systems that _only_ have white dwarfs or systems that have in addition
to main sequence stars one or more white dwarfs?
On 1/19/26 12:05 PM, James Nicoll wrote:
In article <10kll0a$f468$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in
white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably
several", but I can't think of any.
Systems that _only_ have white dwarfs or systems that have in addition
to main sequence stars one or more white dwarfs?
I was thinking the former, but would also be happy with the latter.
- Tony
In article <10klpr8$hcab$2@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
On 1/19/26 12:05 PM, James Nicoll wrote:Any novel featuring either Sirius or Procyon. For example, Bova's
In article <10kll0a$f468$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in
white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably
several", but I can't think of any.
Systems that _only_ have white dwarfs or systems that have in addition
to main sequence stars one or more white dwarfs?
I was thinking the former, but would also be happy with the latter.
- Tony
1972 As On a Darkling Plain, where Sirius B being a white dwarf
(or how it became one) is relevent to the plot.
On 1/19/26 1:29 PM, James Nicoll wrote:
In article <10klpr8$hcab$2@dont-email.me>,Ah, yes - thanks. Not that I've read the Bova, but the two stars you
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
On 1/19/26 12:05 PM, James Nicoll wrote:Any novel featuring either Sirius or Procyon. For example, Bova's
In article <10kll0a$f468$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in
white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably >>>>> several", but I can't think of any.
Systems that _only_ have white dwarfs or systems that have in addition >>>> to main sequence stars one or more white dwarfs?
I was thinking the former, but would also be happy with the latter.
- Tony
1972 As On a Darkling Plain, where Sirius B being a white dwarf
(or how it became one) is relevent to the plot.
mention do show up in many SF works.
So now I guess I'm thinking more about the former.
Tony
In article <10klpq0$hcab$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
On 1/19/26 11:41 AM, Ted Nolan <tednolan> wrote:
In article <10kll0a$f468$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in
white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably
several", but I can't think of any.
Tony
<snip excerpt which names Myron, Naharius, Dame Hester, and the planet
Dimmick orbiting the white dwarf Maudwell's Star... >>
Dame Hester, Dame Hester...that's...Vance? Cordwainer Smith? <google,
google, google>
Aha! Lurulu - Vance. Nice!
His last novel, iirc.
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in
white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably several",
but I can't think of any.
In article <10klvvl$k234$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
On 1/19/26 1:29 PM, James Nicoll wrote:Being in the same system as a white dwarf probably means any formerly habitable planet had its atmosphere blow-torched off. Not an issue
In article <10klpr8$hcab$2@dont-email.me>,Ah, yes - thanks. Not that I've read the Bova, but the two stars you
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
On 1/19/26 12:05 PM, James Nicoll wrote:Any novel featuring either Sirius or Procyon. For example, Bova's
In article <10kll0a$f468$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in >>>>>> white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably >>>>>> several", but I can't think of any.
Systems that _only_ have white dwarfs or systems that have in addition >>>>> to main sequence stars one or more white dwarfs?
I was thinking the former, but would also be happy with the latter.
- Tony
1972 As On a Darkling Plain, where Sirius B being a white dwarf
(or how it became one) is relevent to the plot.
mention do show up in many SF works.
So now I guess I'm thinking more about the former.
Tony
for either Sirius or Procyon, as the stellar orbits preclude habitable planets.
Now, 40 Eridani is an interesing case where a sunlike star is orbited at
a fair distance by a red dwarf and a white dwarf. It may be that any Earthlike world around A was only badly damaged. Fodder for an Andre Norton-style death world.
On 2026-01-19, Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in
white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably
several",
... among the hundreds of fictional star systems in _Perry Rhodan_ ...
but I can't think of any.
I can't point to any.
Buuut we can google over site:perrypedia.de for "weiáer Zwerg"...
#740 has a single planet around a white dwarf
#1275 has a planetary system around a white dwarf
#2822+ has a ring world around a white dwarf
#2993 has a planetary system around a white sun
... or "weiáe Zwerg", "weiáen Zwerg" (the wonders of German adjective declension).
There are also a few hits from the _Atlan_ spin-off series and the non-canonical _Planetenromane_ paperbacks.
On 1/19/26 4:20 PM, James Nicoll wrote:
In article <10klvvl$k234$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nanceÿ <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
On 1/19/26 1:29 PM, James Nicoll wrote:Being in the same system as a white dwarf probably means any formerly
In article <10klpr8$hcab$2@dont-email.me>,Ah, yes - thanks. Not that I've read the Bova, but the two stars you
Tony Nanceÿ <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
On 1/19/26 12:05 PM, James Nicoll wrote:Any novel featuring either Sirius or Procyon. For example, Bova's
In article <10kll0a$f468$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nanceÿ <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in >>>>>>> white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably >>>>>>> several", but I can't think of any.
Systems that _only_ have white dwarfs or systems that have in
addition
to main sequence stars one or more white dwarfs?
I was thinking the former, but would also be happy with the latter.
- Tony
1972 As On a Darkling Plain, where Sirius B being a white dwarf
(or how it became one) is relevent to the plot.
mention do show up in many SF works.
So now I guess I'm thinking more about the former.
Tony
habitable planet had its atmosphere blow-torched off. Not an issue
for either Sirius or Procyon, as the stellar orbits preclude habitable
planets.
Re: "habitable": That's part of what inspired the question. With all the different types of life in SF, are there settings where someone put life
in a white dwarf system? For example, we have seen authors write about native silicon-based life, native life in the atmospheres of gas giants, etc.
Now, 40 Eridani is an interesing case where a sunlike star is orbited at
a fair distance by a red dwarf and a white dwarf. It may be that any
Earthlike world around A was only badly damaged. Fodder for an Andre
Norton-style death world.
Agreed.
Tony
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in
white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably several", but I can't think of any.
Tony
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in
white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably
several",
... among the hundreds of fictional star systems in _Perry Rhodan_ ...
Interesting - thanks!
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in
white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably several", but I can't think of any.
On 1/19/26 4:20 PM, James Nicoll wrote:
In article <10klvvl$k234$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
On 1/19/26 1:29 PM, James Nicoll wrote:Being in the same system as a white dwarf probably means any formerly
In article <10klpr8$hcab$2@dont-email.me>,Ah, yes - thanks. Not that I've read the Bova, but the two stars you
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
On 1/19/26 12:05 PM, James Nicoll wrote:Any novel featuring either Sirius or Procyon. For example, Bova's
In article <10kll0a$f468$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in >>>>>>> white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably >>>>>>> several", but I can't think of any.
Systems that _only_ have white dwarfs or systems that have in addition >>>>>> to main sequence stars one or more white dwarfs?
I was thinking the former, but would also be happy with the latter.
- Tony
1972 As On a Darkling Plain, where Sirius B being a white dwarf
(or how it became one) is relevent to the plot.
mention do show up in many SF works.
So now I guess I'm thinking more about the former.
Tony
habitable planet had its atmosphere blow-torched off. Not an issue
for either Sirius or Procyon, as the stellar orbits preclude habitable
planets.
Re: "habitable": That's part of what inspired the question. With all the >different types of life in SF, are there settings where someone put life
in a white dwarf system? For example, we have seen authors write about >native silicon-based life, native life in the atmospheres of gas giants, >etc.
On Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:09:46 -0500, Tony Nance wrote:
Have there been SF works that had life (inhabited planets/moons) in
white dwarf systems? I'm thinking "surely there have been - probably
several", but I can't think of any.
Dwarf stars, being small, would have a ?Goldilocks zone? (for
Earth-type life, anyway) very close in, leading to tidally-locked
planets, if you wanted livable ones.
However, it occurs to me that moons of those planets would be in the
same Goldilocks zone, and being tidally locked (if at all) to their
primary planet rather than the star, would enjoy the
temperature-moderating effects of day/night cycles to some degree.
If the planet were a giant planet, it could even have a decent-sized
moon, with sufficient gravity to hold on to a usable atmosphere.
I believe moons of tide locked worlds would likely be subject
to tidal deceleration.
Any novel featuring either Sirius or Procyon. For example, Bova's
1972 As On a Darkling Plain, where Sirius B being a white dwarf (or
how it became one) is relevent to the plot.
Being in the same system as a white dwarf probably means any
formerly habitable planet had its atmosphere blow-torched off.
On Mon, 19 Jan 2026 21:20:15 -0000 (UTC), James Nicoll wrote:
Being in the same system as a white dwarf probably means any
formerly habitable planet had its atmosphere blow-torched off.
Could the same blowtorch reduce a former gas giant into a smaller,
rockier, more habitable core?
Great stories about life on the surface of neutron stars.
very two dimensional but making the best of a high gravitation
and communicating with the homo sapiens off in the distance.
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