There were some crazy conventional technologies also. One scientist, as a joke, did a calculation about the effects of adding mercury to rocket fuel. It wouldn't react with the fuel, but it would add a lot of weight which would make the thrust more efficiently move the rocket forward.

This was tested, found to be true, and thankfully never put to use in any actual rockets.

(For confirmation, track down Ignition!.)

You mean, a convenient feature.

For everyone who's scrolling through this thinking, "Hey, this is pretty morbid," you ought to read http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories/colderwar.htm which kicks that feeling up to 11.

Pluto missiles also appear in Missile Gap, also by Charlie Stross - ballistic missiles have stopped working for quite an interesting reason....

NB A Colder War also gives me the creeps - largely for the point about what certain entities actually do with the souls they eat...

I know exactly which line you're talking about, and it's probably one of my favorite lines in literature.

I swear there is something in the water on the British Isles...