Oolite Bulletins

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

Disembodied wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2017 8:55 am

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.

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

Where is the last known source of Illudium Phosdex?

Disembodied wrote:

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.

Amazing picture!

Cody wrote:

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!

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

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.

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

Hmm... time for a musical clue.

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

Disembodied wrote:

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!

Earthquake? or maybe the newer 10.0??

spud42 wrote:

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.

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!

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