Science Fiction Trivia

[Zieman]

Zieman?

Is the answer right or wrong?

Umm, sorry, the term "free time" happens to be foreign to me right now, so sorry for the delays.

No, not a radio device, and nothing (AFAIK) from a movie, although a Soviet flim from the (IIRC) '50s or '60s had something similar in it.

More clues:
Man who worked inside the project, sabotaged it due to petty internal conflict(s). Much later the connection caused him being given into custody of an individual with silver face and Homburg hat - resulting in yet unclear but obviously unpleasant fate...
This connection killed the other guy, the killing benefited it enormously.

[Zieman]

Wow, I didn't think this question would really be difficult...

These two men are protagonists in two different short stories, both in their own.

[marcusrg]

Should it be something from the 2001 space odissey books? There are lots of conections like this in these great books.

[Zieman]

Nope, this is more recent stuff.

[Gimbal Locke]

Are it short stories by Darrell Schweitzer?

[Zieman]

Nope.

[Colonel Wasabi]

Is the answer a 'Denizen' ?

From - "Grafenwalder's Bestiary" - and - "A Spy In Europa" by Alasdair Reynolds ?

This is highly tenuous....... but
The men are Grafenwalder and Vargovic ?
Silver faced character with a homburg is Dr Trintignant in his Palanquin ??

Colonel Wasabi

[Zieman]

Excellent!

101,1% correct!

You deserve 10 points and a parrot sticker for getting not only the answer, but also all the clue details right!

Your turn, Colonel.

EDIT: <**nitpick mode on**>the author is Alastair Reynolds, not Alasdair <**nitpick mode off**>

[Rxke]

Impressive.

Despite having read both stories, I would never have guessed.

[Colonel Wasabi]

Ooooohhh !!!!

Wow ! I thought that I was way out on a limb there.....
Sorry about the hiatus in the thread everyone - I work funny shifts/days and hadn't logged on for a while.

Give me a day to come up with something meaningful - it's Sunday night and I need to sit down and swig a glass o'red after my son's birthday weekend. Laser Combat in some woods yesterday and rugby coaching today - just need to sit and think.

Promise I'll have a question by tomorrow night.

Sleep well,
Colonel W

PS The difficulty is going to be getting away from Al Reynolds (thanks for the correction Zieman, you're quite right ! ....and acording to my childrun I suposedly haite bad speling ) as he's the main Sci-Fi I've read in recent years....brilliant stuff.

[Colonel Wasabi]

OK guys & gals.
I've got to make some serious investments into some sci-fi books. I've checked my shelves and apart from Neuromancer and a couple of other unnamed publications (question to follow) it's all Reynolds !
I might have to wait until I finish Neal Stephenson's latest tome, though, which may take a while (on page 480ish) - he's the only other bloke I've got a whole section of on the shelf that might provide inspiration.....brilliant stuff if you've not read any of his books.

Nevertheless - here goes - and it's not Stephenson or Reynolds...
....probably far too obvious - but I'm desperate not to hold the thread back...


Question:
An alternate reality book within an alternate reality book. I am iching to know the name of both books, please ?

[Rxke]

The Grasshopper Lies Heavy?

[Selezen]

The Grasshopper Lies Heavy?

From The Man In The High Castle? We had that one a few weeks back - I know because I read it as a result of hearing about it here...

Good book, but should have been longer.

[Cody]

From The Man In The High Castle? We had that one a few weeks back

Well... in January, to be a little more precise.

[Colonel Wasabi]

Oh nuts.....

I should have looked back in the thread.
Sorry everyone

Maybe better to pass this next question over to Rxke anyway - you might get a faster question.

Colonel Useless