Science Fiction Trivia

[aegidian]

Okay then,

The character from my opening clue briefly appears in a Pixar short. The author wrote his story twice.

[aegidian]

Options? ... can you feel anything when I do this?

You're nearing the time limit!

[Selezen]

Robert Sheckley?

[aegidian]

Robert Sheckley?

Yes, you have it.

The character in the opening clue is Mr. Nye/Woodrow Wilkins from his 'The Game of X', which became the Disney superhero film 'Condorman' starring Michael Crawford. Sheckley later novelised the film, hence writing the character's tale twice.

The second clues refer to the 'Status Civilisation' and, again, 'The Game of X'. Then a pointer to the appearance of Condorman in the Pixar short, 'Small Fry'.

The final clues were three more Sheckley book titles, 'Options', 'Can you feel anything when I do this.', and 'Time Limit'.


Sorry to everyone baffled by this, but I do recommend you track down and read a copy of 'The Game of X'. I think you'll love it.

Now over to Selezen for the holiday!

[Selezen]

Awesome! Condorman was one of those films that was bad in a good way. Meh, I enjoyed it!!

Anyway - Christmas themed trivia now.

Concrete log cabins and artificial snow are the least of the worries for a group of friends on an intergalactic skiing trip when the local robot wildlife decide that they are edible.

Name the short story and the author...

[Cody]

<googles> Merry Christmas, Mister Wolf by Steph Bennion?

[Selezen]

Correct! A merry tale for the festive season.

Your turn.

[Cody]

Set in an overpopulated world, this dystopian novel revolves around two main characters who share an apartment - one is an ambitious executive in a powerful corporation, while the other is a spy posing as a student. Title and author, please.

[Cody]

Clue the first: written in the '60s, this novel was considered innovative in style - something akin to infobesity.

[Cody]

Clues the second: Shalmaneser; the powerful corporation is invited to take-over the management of an African state.

[Cody]

Clues the third: a supercomputer; an early 20th century claim about the Isle of Wight; the narrative technique is based on U.S.A. Trilogy by John Dos Passos.

[Cody]

Hmm... this novel did win a Hugo, so it ain't too obscure, and neither is the author.

[Cody]

To recap: an overpopulated Earth; a supercomputer; a name (Shalmaneser); an island; a '60s Hugo award... should be easily findable from that.

[cim]

John Brunner, Stand on Zanzibar?

[Cody]

Give the man a coconut... over to you, cim!