... out in deep space for a chance encounter with an old Earth object...)
V-GER?
Sounds like fun...
I know... On Star Trek Voyager, they found a pickup truck in the delta quadrant. Wouldn't that be fun in Oolite? Or maybe a house? How about a mission to find Terra?
And then we find out Terra is actually Raxxla...
This book also has sunflitters as a sport (much as today's sailboat racing), along the with military using them as orbital patrols...
You know those who, having been mugged and stabbed, fired, dog run over, house burned down, wife eloped with best friend, daughters becoming prostitutes and their countries invaded - still say that "all is well"?
I'm obviously not one of them.