Oolite Bulletins

Nite Owl wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 10:25 am

The T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

Not exactly a named character, given it isn't actually alive, but I'll give it a pass since it's definitely a shape changer.

spud42 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 12:37 pm

The Polymorph from Red Dwarf third season.

OK, that's a definite yes, and have an MBP for an answer I didn't know - for some reason I've never been a Red Dwarf fan.

OK, one to go and no more Gerry Anderson, E.E. "Doc" Smith, Terminator or Red Dwarf answers. There's still a VERY famous example out there, which has been both written fiction and multiple films. Lots of others too!

Searching for shape changers?
Not sure if Barbapapa is the intended answer...

hiran wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 6:46 pm

Searching for shape changers?
Not sure if Barbapapa is the intended answer...

Is it SF? On the whole I'm inclined to say no, not really, since there doesn't seem to be a clear explanation of the character's origin that would support that. Unless someone knows better, of course. But he's a shapechanger all right, and I didn't specify that he had to be able to mimic a human, so I think it's a valid answer if it's SF. Anyone able to clarify this?

ffutures wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 8:04 pm

hiran wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 6:46 pm

Searching for shape changers?
Not sure if Barbapapa is the intended answer...

Is it SF? On the whole I'm inclined to say no, not really, since there doesn't seem to be a clear explanation of the character's origin that would support that. Unless someone knows better, of course. But he's a shapechanger all right, and I didn't specify that he had to be able to mimic a human, so I think it's a valid answer if it's SF. Anyone able to clarify this?

It is not negliblevthat they are no human species.
But they are not of alien origin. As mentioned on
https://www.barbapapa.com/the-barbapa-family-en/
(their homepage):

Barbapapa was born in a garden, just like a flower.

But Jule Verne's 20000 miles does not contain aliens or space yet it is SF...

hiran wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 8:14 pm

ffutures wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 8:04 pm

hiran wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 6:46 pm

Searching for shape changers?
Not sure if Barbapapa is the intended answer...

Is it SF? On the whole I'm inclined to say no, not really, since there doesn't seem to be a clear explanation of the character's origin that would support that. Unless someone knows better, of course. But he's a shapechanger all right, and I didn't specify that he had to be able to mimic a human, so I think it's a valid answer if it's SF. Anyone able to clarify this?

It is not negliblevthat they are no human species.
But they are not of alien origin. As mentioned on
https://www.barbapapa.com/the-barbapa-family-en/
(their homepage):

Barbapapa was born in a garden, just like a flower.

But Jule Verne's 20000 miles does not contain aliens or space yet it is SF...

OK, fair point, he's some sort of sentient plant or similar. That gives you the fifth answer, which means you get to set the next question!

Oh my. That was not intentional.
And my knowlegde in this domain is limited - especially since most of the stories I enjoyed were in a different language.

Ok, let's try:
In what stories are souls from dead people a main issue?
I have even two of them in mind. And others may count if I get help on judging them...
Needless to say they need to be SF stories.

Let's go for the obvious one - Philip Jose Farmer's Riverworld series, in which the whole purpose of the Riverworld turns out to be to test the (artificial) souls of humanity and see if we are worthy to start making souls for new intelligent races.

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

ffutures wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2023 1:01 pm

Let's go for the obvious one - Philip Jose Farmer's Riverworld series, in which the whole purpose of the Riverworld turns out to be to test the (artificial) souls of humanity and see if we are worthy to start making souls for new intelligent races.

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

Mmmm. Sounds interesting. One of the stories beyond my knowledge. That is definitely worth a point.

I still have two in my box so go on!

Look To Windward by Iain M. Banks (part of the Culture series)

Commander_X wrote: ↑Fri Nov 03, 2023 4:20 am

Look To Windward by Iain M. Banks (part of the Culture series)

Another one of the stories beyond my knowledge. I'll add it to my to-read list and give a point.

But that means I still know unmentioned stories. I do not expect them to be guessed though.

Lets see one more time if they get found - which also means the next one wins the chalice.

i suppose this depends on what you mean by soul...

In We are Legion by Dennis Taylor , the main character Robert Johansson is killed shortly after signing up to cryogenically have his head preserved. approx 200 years later he wakes up in essintially a computer. He is then made into a von nueman probe and sent to the stars . i wont ruin the story any more in case you havent read it . so far there are 4 books in the series.

spud42 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 07, 2023 12:32 pm

i suppose this depends on what you mean by soul...

In We are Legion by Dennis Taylor , the main character Robert Johansson is killed shortly after signing up to cryogenically have his head preserved. approx 200 years later he wakes up in essintially a computer. He is then made into a von nueman probe and sent to the stars . i wont ruin the story any more in case you havent read it . so far there are 4 books in the series.

Sounds like an interesting read slso. That's it then.
Congratulations, you got the point and I have something to do.

The chalice is yours.

Do I have to disclose what I had thought of?

hiran wrote: ↑Tue Nov 07, 2023 5:22 pm

spud42 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 07, 2023 12:32 pm

i suppose this depends on what you mean by soul...

In We are Legion by Dennis Taylor , the main character Robert Johansson is killed shortly after signing up to cryogenically have his head preserved. approx 200 years later he wakes up in essintially a computer. He is then made into a von nueman probe and sent to the stars . i wont ruin the story any more in case you havent read it . so far there are 4 books in the series.

Sounds like an interesting read slso. That's it then.
Congratulations, you got the point and I have something to do.

The chalice is yours.

Do I have to disclose what I had thought of?

I think it's voluntary - you can if you like, but nobody will complain if you don't, since you might want to use it for another question some time.

ahhh... gimme a sec or 3 to work up a question... i am out of inspiration atm...


Ok , this is a single answer question : a bit old school trivia style.

given these 3 clues what is the title of the book and the author.

1: sub light speed generation style ship
2: Teacher
3: SuperNova

At a wild guess (not having read the book in a VERY long time) I'll try Heinlein's Orphans of the Sky. though I've a feeling it's not the right answer.