Science Fiction Trivia

Website · Post by **Cody** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 6:48 pm

The five novels were later published in an omnibus edition, the title of which contains the name of a prominent star, for which the first galactic empire is named. The third novel covers the same events as the first, but from the perspective of one of the other galactic empires, also named for a prominent star.

Website · Post by **DaddyHoggy** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:10 pm

You're making it sound annoyingly familiar!

Post by **Disembodied** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 8:36 am

It's Shikasta, the first novel in Doris Lessing's Canopus in Argos series ... I can't remember the full title though!

Website · Post by **Cody** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 8:49 am

Yes, it's Re:Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta by Doris Lessing.
Over to you, Disembodied.

Website · Post by **DaddyHoggy** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 10:00 am

And turns out not to be the series I was thinking of!

Website · Post by **Cody** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 12:02 pm

DaddyHoggy wrote:
And turns out not to be the series I was thinking of!

Which was...?

Post by **Disembodied** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 2:50 pm

Right ... I was going to ask, "What unusual gift did Ray Bradbury receive for his 90th birthday" ... but I should warn people that said gift, while very funny (and apparently much enjoyed by the author), um, transgresses certain linguistic social norms, and is not likely to enhance your standing in either a work or family setting. Bluntly it contains many vulgar words and straight single-entrendres. But what you choose to do is between you and Google.

Anyway, my actual question. Name the novel and author:

Set on an ocean world without any land surface at all, a human population – the survivors of a crashed spaceship – form an uneasy relationship with an indigenous species; specifically, with one powerful member of that species. Several generations later, though, at least some of the human descendants start to wonder if the relationship has gone too far.

Website · Post by **Cody** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 3:30 pm

Thanks Disembodied... that is really, really funny.

Website · Post by **DaddyHoggy** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:57 pm

El Viejo wrote:
DaddyHoggy wrote:
And turns out not to be the series I was thinking of!
Which was...?

I don't know - but, having researched the correct answer - I know that's not what I was thinking of!

Post by **Disembodied** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:52 am

OK, first clue: it's by a Hugo-award winning author ... one mentioned in this thread at least once already (not that that narrows it down very much!).

Post by **Disembodied** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 8:45 am

Still no guesses? OK, another clue: the indigenous species may or may not be intelligent. The human population don't actually know if they've made a deal with a rational, conscious being, or have just set themselves up in a symbiotic relationship with a (very large) animal.

Website · Post by **DaddyHoggy** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:17 am

It sounds like something I've read by Alastair Reynolds... "Turquoise Days"?

Post by **Disembodied** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 10:18 am

Nope ... although there is a slight similarity in the names of the stories!

Post by **Disembodied** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 4:18 pm

OK, next clue: it's a three-word title, including a primary colour ...

Zieman · Post by **Zieman** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 7:11 pm

Dang, feeling vaguely familiar...