Science Fiction Trivia

[Disembodied]

Is it the Varon-T disruptor, from Star Trek?

[CaptSolo]

Is it the Varon-T disruptor, from Star Trek?

Indeed it is. I pass the baton onto you, most worthy one.

Quite a coincidence, but the episode in which this weapon appeared, "The Most Toys", aired last night on cable.

[Disembodied]

Ta … a quick one, easily googleable even if you don't know it:

Where is the last known source of Illudium Phosdex?

[Cody]

There's the Plough visible above the volcano, upside down...

Simply had to post today's APOD pic:



Oh yeah... Planet X? Had no idea whatsoever, so I Wiki'd it.

[Disembodied]

Amazing picture!

Planet X? Had no idea whatsoever, so I Wiki'd it.

It is indeed Planet X, source of Illudium Phosdex, the shaving cream atom … over to you!

[Cody]

It's a novel: bye-bye, California!

[ffutures]

My first thought was the original Superman film, but you've said it's a novel. Googling on "California Secedes from USA SF novel" got me Ectopia (1975) by Ernest Callenbach:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotopia

I doubt it's right, but it's the best my feeble brain can manage today.

[Cody]

No, not Ecotopia. An oblique clue: Bo Derek has a part in the answer, as does the Red Baron.

[Cody]

Hmm... time for a musical clue.

[Disembodied]

Might it be The Last Days of the Late, Great State of California by Curt Gentry?

[Cody]

Might it be The Last Days of the Late, Great State of California by Curt Gentry?

One could say that the title I'm after goes one better!

[spud42]

Earthquake? or maybe the newer 10.0??

[Cody]

Earthquake? or maybe the newer 10.0??

<scratches head> Earthquake is a movie, yes? And what is the 'newer 10.0'?

We're certainly in earthquake territory though - another clue coming soon.

[Cody]

Part of the novel's plot concerns a plan to spot-weld Earth's tectonic plates together using nuclear bombs.

I shudder to think of the possible consequences of that in real life!

[Disembodied]

Got it, I think: Richter 10, by Arthur C. Clarke and Mike McQuay.