Rule 34 is a near-future science fiction novel by Charles Stross. It is a loose sequel to Halting State, and was released on July 5 (US) and 7 (UK), 2011. The title is a reference to Rule 34 of the Internet, which states that "If it exists, there is porn of it. No exceptions." Rule 34 was nominated for the 2012 Arthur C. Clarke Award and the 2012 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. Plot summary The novel is told in second-person narrative but from three points of view: Edinburgh Police Inspector Kavanaugh who investigates spammers murdered in gruesome and inventive ways, and le...

The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a signalling, control and train protection system designed to replace the many incompatible safety systems currently used by European railways, especially on high-speed lines. ETCS requires standard trackside equipment and a standard controller within the train cab. In its final form, all lineside information is passed to the driver electronically, removing the need for lineside signals which, at high speed, could be almost impossible to see or assimilate. The need for ETCS stems from EU Directive 96/48 about the interoperability of high-spee...