OBE

Overcome By Events...It's a phrase one of my 8 bosses uses on occasion. I've realized, as I've slowly resumed writing a story I began in 1987, that every idea I had that was new and original when I put it on paper (ok, in bits) has been done by someone else.

Among those ideas:

• Traffic Automation (done by DKM in The Long Run
• Gyro-stabilized hovercars (done by DKM in Emerald Eyes)
• Remote-control VR warfare (Haldeman in Forever Peace)
• Major consensual fully immersive VR system (done by Stephenson in Snow Crash)
• Artificial island used for nanotech research banned elsewhere (done by Egan in Distress)
• Reverse auctions for durable goods (Priceline anyone?)
• Paper-based books become rare (Stephenson - Diamond Age)
• Commercial-skipping technology ubiquitous (Tivo and Replay)

It's obvious - I have to write faster. Or maybe I can just sell my ideas to other people to use for their stories...