Science Fiction Trivia

[spud42]

cheers, i have no idea what filk is, i have not heard of it until your question.

[Cholmondely]

According to my darling Araminta, "filking" is a form of throxinillificatory oscination which involves following the abstract oscination of another.

[Nite Owl]

Not sure if this fits the true definition of the genre as it is more of a Parody then anything else but it is the first relatable thing that popped into my head.

THE SAGA BEGINS

[Disembodied]

I don't know if it counts as a filk song if there isn't a tune, but you're welcome to sing this to whatever you can fit it to:

The Voiders' Last Goodnight

Your years turn fast, our days run slow now
Your light is shifting into red
Our ships are fleeting, we must go now
When we return you'll long be dead.

We take our pleasures where we find 'em
Then we leave 'em far behind
We're not such as let things bind 'em
When they're out of time and mind.

So do not look to us for grief, dears
Though your tears may fall like rain
For we are bound across the light-years
And never shall we meet again.

But there may come another day when
We will warp down from above
And we'll recall you, young and gay then
And your laughter, and your love.

And there is world enough and time, here
While our hearts still beat as one
So let us drink to joys sublime, dears
Till one last rising of your sun.

[ffutures]

cheers, i have no idea what filk is, i have not heard of it until your question.

Briefly, songs written by SF fans etc. based on popular books, films, etc. and usually set to music such as folk songs, rock music etc. There was a filk convention last weekend which is what put the idea into my head.

Not sure if this fits the true definition of the genre as it is more of a Parody then anything else but it is the first relatable thing that popped into my head.

THE SAGA BEGINS

That definitely counts - have a MBP for a really good example. Two to go, and no more Star Wars.

I don't know if it counts as a filk song if there isn't a tune, but you're welcome to sing this to whatever you can fit it to:

The Voiders' Last Goodnight

Your years turn fast, our days run slow now
Your light is shifting into red
Our ships are fleeting, we must go now
When we return you'll long be dead.

We take our pleasures where we find 'em
Then we leave 'em far behind
We're not such as let things bind 'em
When they're out of time and mind.

So do not look to us for grief, dears
Though your tears may fall like rain
For we are bound across the light-years
And never shall we meet again.

But there may come another day when
We will warp down from above
And we'll recall you, young and gay then
And your laughter, and your love.

And there is world enough and time, here
While our hearts still beat as one
So let us drink to joys sublime, dears
Till one last rising of your sun.

It looks like it could be set to music, I don't see an obvious fictional inspiration but I think I'm going to accept it and give you an MBP for effort (assuming you wrote it). One to go.

[RockDoctor]

you're welcome to sing this to whatever you can fit it to:

/self : gets a bigger hammer.

[ffutures]

Just did a search and found that someone has recorded all of the verses of the Stellaris Aquatics space chanty - unfortunately the singing isn't as good as the original, but it's OK if you want to know the rest of it

https://youtu.be/qVUHxnjZpFA?si=i_iT_SiLC1YIZBhm

[ffutures]

Just did a search and found that someone has recorded all of the verses of the Stellaris Aquatics space chanty - unfortunately the singing isn't as good as the original, but it's OK if you want to know the rest of it

https://youtu.be/qVUHxnjZpFA?si=i_iT_SiLC1YIZBhm

And the original song it's based on is here:

https://www.contemplator.com/sea/fishes.html


OK, since this seems to have come to a bit of a halt I'm going to wait another day then select the winner RANDOMLY from one of the four entrants if there are no more.

[ffutures]

Of course it would help if I REMEMBERED to choose things randomly...

I'm going to roll 1D6 for each participant, plus 1 if you got an MBP, and the highest roll is the victor. If there's a tie I'll re-roll between the "winners".

Spud - Doctor in the Tardis - no MBP
Disembodied - Space chanty - no MBP
Nite Owl - The Saga Begins - MBP
Disembodied - Own work - MBP

Spud - dice roll 1
Disembodied (1st) - 6
Nite Owl - 2+1=3
Disembodied (2nd) 1+1=2

So Disembodied is now proud owner of the poisoned chalice, without the aid of MBPs - until the next round, anyway.

[Disembodied]

Well, that'll teach me to show off …

OK: five examples, please, of mercenaries/soldiers of fortune/guns for hire in science fiction. With some sort of name or other identifier, either personal or organisational. Usual rules, only one per author/universe.

[ffutures]

Well, that'll teach me to show off …

OK: five examples, please, of mercenaries/soldiers of fortune/guns for hire in science fiction. With some sort of name or other identifier, either personal or organisational. Usual rules, only one per author/universe.

The Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet - an organization invented more or less out of nothing by Miles Vorkosigan as part of rescuing his emperor. He acquired ships by taking over another mercenary group, and the fleet eventually became an important covert operation for the government of Barrayar. First appeared in The Warriors Apprentice (1986) by Lois McMasters Bujold, and in several of her subsequent SF novels.

https://vorkosigan.fandom.com/wiki/Dend ... nary_Fleet

[Cholmondely]

Lois McMasters Bujold

I've read her Chalion series, which I greatly enjoyed. Is her SF any good?

[Disembodied]

The Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet - an organization invented more or less out of nothing by Miles Vorkosigan as part of rescuing his emperor. He acquired ships by taking over another mercenary group, and the fleet eventually became an important covert operation for the government of Barrayar. First appeared in The Warriors Apprentice (1986) by Lois McMasters Bujold, and in several of her subsequent SF novels.

https://vorkosigan.fandom.com/wiki/Dend ... nary_Fleet

That's one …

[Commander_X]

Torin Kerr the main character of the Valor and Peacekeeper series by Tanya Huff . Up to gunnery sergeant during the Valor series, and mostly mercenary/soldier of fortune in Peacekeeper.

[Disembodied]

Torin Kerr the main character of the Valor and Peacekeeper series by Tanya Huff . Up to gunnery sergeant during the Valor series, and mostly mercenary/soldier of fortune in Peacekeeper.

Not one I know myself, but I see Torin Kerr described as "an independent troubleshooter" with the emphasis on "shooter", so that would qualify. That's two.