Science Fiction Trivia

Website · Post by **Cody** » Fri May 07, 2010 8:41 am

I thank you!

The planet Earth is in dire peril… all life will die. Only one scientist is aware of the approaching catastrophe. He and the other protagonists (his wife, a reporter, an aristocratic adventurer and a professor), take measures to survive, in which oxygen cylinders play a major part.

The title of the novella and it's author please.

snork · Post by **snork** » Fri May 07, 2010 2:11 pm

Thanks for this idea, sounds like I might want to read this Newton's Wake.

(I practically stopped reading unknown SF, with the hit to miss ratio in minimum quality being so low )

about ElViejo's question : no idea.

Website · Post by **Cody** » Fri May 07, 2010 2:22 pm

Hi snork

I'd recommend all of Ken MacLeod's work, especially the 'Engines of Light' trilogy.

snork · Post by **snork** » Fri May 07, 2010 2:35 pm

yes, the wikipedia article made me curious about him, but the first will have to be Newton's Wake, I think.

You know, the bonus of having a female combat archaeologist in the story is irresistible to me.

Website · Post by **Cody** » Sat May 08, 2010 10:52 am

El Viejo wrote:
The planet Earth is in dire peril… all life will die. Only one scientist is aware of the approaching catastrophe. He and the other protagonists (his wife, a reporter, an aristocratic adventurer and a professor), take measures to survive, in which oxygen cylinders play a major part.

The title of the novella and it's author please.

A clue:

The central character appears in four other stories, one of which has been adapted into film several times.

Website · Post by **Cody** » Sun May 09, 2010 10:47 am

Another clue:

The central character shares his name with a ‘famous’ spacecraft.

Website · Post by **Cody** » Mon May 10, 2010 9:53 am

Yet another clue, then…
I’d like to have used a bit of cover art, but TinEye has put the kibosh on that, so it’ll have to be an anagram.

Re-arranged, this is the authors name:

LAIRY ORCA THUNDERS ON

Rxke · Post by **Rxke** » Mon May 10, 2010 10:30 am

[quote="El
I’d like to have used a bit of cover art, but TinEye has put the kibosh on that, [/quote]

Didn't we agree not to use TinEye?

Website · Post by **Cody** » Mon May 10, 2010 10:34 am

Rxke wrote:
Didn't we agree not to use TinEye?

On that basis, here's the cover art:

Commander McLane · Post by **Commander McLane** » Mon May 10, 2010 11:03 am

I clearly see the oxygene cylinders playing a major part in the cover art.

(Still have no clue about the novel, though.)

JazHaz · Post by **JazHaz** » Mon May 10, 2010 2:09 pm

I cheated and looked it up on TinEye!

Obviously I have heard of the author, but never heard of the novel!

This has got to be a hard one!

Website · Post by **Cody** » Mon May 10, 2010 2:35 pm

JazHaz wrote:
I cheated and looked it up on TinEye!

Tsk! Tsk!

JazHaz wrote:
Obviously I have heard of the author,

I should think that nearly everyone, not just sci-fi fans, will have heard of the author… most people will know the title of the other story mentioned in the first clue, the one that has been made into film many times.

Zieman · Post by **Zieman** » Mon May 10, 2010 9:00 pm

Sir Athur Conan Doyle: The Poison Belt

No TinEye, only solving the anagram & some Web browsing needed...

Website · Post by **Cody** » Mon May 10, 2010 9:22 pm

Zieman wrote:
Sir Athur Conan Doyle: The Poison Belt

It is indeed... from the Professor Challenger stories.
'in maZe' gets the anagram prize again.

Your turn sir (said 'Evil Joe')!

JazHaz · Post by **JazHaz** » Mon May 10, 2010 9:59 pm

El Viejo wrote:
Zieman wrote:
Sir Athur Conan Doyle: The Poison Belt
It is indeed... from the Professor Challenger stories.

Oh bum!

I thought it might be Professor Challenger, then I thought it can't be!