Science Fiction Trivia

[ffutures]

I'm amazed I even remembered the show, let alone that it was the right answer. OK, let's put my thinking cap on...

OK - this is a toy associated with a fairly old TV SF show - name the show. Anything that shows as a white oblong has been deleted because it makes this too easy.

[spud42]

Would it be The Adventures of Don Quick, a British SF sitcom from 1970? I'm not sure because the name of the ship isn't mentioned in the Wikipedia article, and I think I only saw one or two episodes at the time and my memory isn't that good, but it's based on Don Quixote so seems a possible contender.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adven ... _Don_Quick

Ah, not a show I've heard of! A shame it seems to be lost. I googled "Don Quick" "Ian Hendry", and "Rocinante", and although the (one! single!) hit seems to be unresponsive, the preview text reads

For the crew of the Rocinante and the leaders of the Inner Planets and the Belt, ... Cervantes in space: Don Quick (Ian Hendry), astronaut, ...

So even though it's not the answer I was expecting it's still a valid answer, with a MBP attached for sheer obscurity. The honour is yours once again …

now im wondering what the answer you expected was?

[Disembodied]

now im wondering what the answer you expected was?

Might save it for a future question …

[Old Murgh]

OK - this is a toy associated with a fairly old TV SF show - name the show. Anything that shows as a white oblong has been deleted because it makes this too easy.

I can't remember seeing a gun like that. Just taking a blind stab then based on the film and disk clues, The Mission Impossible TVshow from 1990? Nah, not sci-fi enough.

[ffutures]

OK - this is a toy associated with a fairly old TV SF show - name the show. Anything that shows as a white oblong has been deleted because it makes this too easy.

I can't remember seeing a gun like that. Just taking a blind stab then based on the film and disk clues, The Mission Impossible TVshow from 1990? Nah, not sci-fi enough.

Nice try but no. However, the show did have an espionage theme.

Clue time - this show ran in the late 1960s; a 1990s American rock group took their name from the show.

[ffutures]

OK - this is a toy associated with a fairly old TV SF show - name the show. Anything that shows as a white oblong has been deleted because it makes this too easy.

I can't remember seeing a gun like that. Just taking a blind stab then based on the film and disk clues, The Mission Impossible TVshow from 1990? Nah, not sci-fi enough.

Nice try but no. However, the show did have an espionage theme.

Clue time - this show ran in the late 1960s; a 1990s American rock group took their name from the show.

More clues - It's a British show, and the central gimmick was somewhat similar to the idea of the later Dollhouse TV show.

[Old Murgh]

More clues - It's a British show, and the central gimmick was somewhat similar to the idea of the later Dollhouse TV show.

In the category of things I've never seen and would never know but internet.., Joe 90 is evidently the answer.

Did this figure in your childhood? Looking at pictures, I can't get past my immediate impressions linked to Team America: World Police.

[ffutures]

More clues - It's a British show, and the central gimmick was somewhat similar to the idea of the later Dollhouse TV show.

In the category of things I've never seen and would never know but internet.., Joe 90 is evidently the answer.

Did this figure in your childhood? Looking at pictures, I can't get past my immediate impressions linked to Team America: World Police.

Joe 90 (1968-9) it is! A show in which none of the adult characters thought that there was anything at all unsavoury about giving a 9 year old boy access to all of the memories and skills of an adult, then telling him to do things like pilot a fighter aircraft in combat. Never mind the sexual memories, fantasies, etc...

Given that I was 15 when it first aired I think it was more of a "watch it if I'm at home and doing nothing else" thing - I think I saw four or five episodes then gave up on it.

The toy is an attaché case with "secret" compartments containing spy gear - one in perfect condition is worth about £100, I picked that one up in Portobello Road for £2, realised that a couple of bits were missing, and sold it on eBay for £40-ish (can't remember the exact amount)

Old Murgh has the virtual poison chalice!

[Old Murgh]

Joe 90 (1968-9) it is! A show in which none of the adult characters thought that there was anything at all unsavoury about giving a 9 year old boy access to all of the memories and skills of an adult, then telling him to do things like pilot a fighter aircraft in combat. Never mind the sexual memories, fantasies, etc...

Given that I was 15 when it first aired I think it was more of a "watch it if I'm at home and doing nothing else" thing - I think I saw four or five episodes then gave up on it.

The toy is an attaché case with "secret" compartments containing spy gear - one in perfect condition is worth about £100, I picked that one up in Portobello Road for £2, realised that a couple of bits were missing, and sold it on eBay for £40-ish (can't remember the exact amount)

Old Murgh has the virtual poison chalice!

I had never heard about this. Yes the concept seems dubious with contemporary eyes.
I became aware of Terrahawks at some point in my childhood, maybe something about Thunderbirds (Zzap64! my window to the world of entertainment), but this unique genre of UK puppet TV was never shared with us.

Right. Le calice empoisonné.. Hardball, eh?

This character is a 11th century peasant girl who rescues a man in magical forest, and while briefly transformed into a mind-reading unicorn, she discovers his secret -that he is a space-time agent–, which forces him to take her with him upon his return to the 28th century.

What is the name of this character?

[ffutures]

Any hints?

[Old Murgh]

Any hints?

Well.. In her original appearances she was a French speaking redhead, but on film rather blonde, speaking English.

[ffutures]

OK, it isn't Larry Niven's Svetz series unless I'm missing something - while there is a time travelling unicorn in there it doesn't appear to be a shape-changing human. Slightly baffled...

[Old Murgh]

OK, it isn't Larry Niven's Svetz series unless I'm missing something - while there is a time travelling unicorn in there it doesn't appear to be a shape-changing human. Slightly baffled...

Lol, there had to be something similar.

OK, visual clue#1

[ffutures]

OK, well, that made it pretty easy - it's Laureline, from the Valérian and Laureline comics which I've read in translation a few times. Recognized her straight away, I'd just somehow missed that she'd been a unicorn when she first met Valérian. In fact I haven't actually found any proof of this, it isn't mentioned in any of the articles I've checked on the series, but given that I know who she is I'm going to assume that it's something I missed.

[Old Murgh]

OK, well, that made it pretty easy - it's Laureline, from the Valérian and Laureline comics which I've read in translation a few times. Recognized her straight away

Yay. You saved me the embarrassment of posting the final cluepic

In fact I haven't actually found any proof of this, it isn't mentioned in any of the articles I've checked on the series, but given that I know who she is I'm going to assume that it's something I missed.

Aha! Well let me present compelling evidence:
From Les Mauvais Rêves:

Laureline's unicorn-enchantment is quite brief, but since it allows her to read his thoughts, she knows his secret, and that he's obliged to bring her along to the future.