Science Fiction Trivia

Zieman · Post by **Zieman** » Fri Jul 09, 2010 11:39 am

Not that either.

Let's make this easier:
The book wasn't written in English, and the only translation I'm aware of is an adaptation as graphic novel

Zieman · Post by **Zieman** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 6:01 pm

More clues:

The book was originally written in Finnish and published in 2005.

JazHaz · Post by **JazHaz** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:53 pm

Zieman wrote:
The book wasn't written in English, and the only translation I'm aware of is an adaptation as graphic novel

No chance then. This thread is about Science-Fiction (ie text), not graphic novels (ie comics).

Post by **Cmdr James** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 6:08 am

That seems a little unfair, it is a book and has also been published in English as a graphic novel (which can still be sci fi anyway).

I dont think this is any different to the German scifi we had earlier in the thread.

Commander McLane · Post by **Commander McLane** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 7:58 am

JazHaz wrote:
Zieman wrote:
The book wasn't written in English, and the only translation I'm aware of is an adaptation as graphic novel
No chance then. This thread is about Science-Fiction (ie text), not graphic novels (ie comics).

Huh?

First, finding more obscure things is what Google is for.

Second, since when does only anglo-american SF count?

Third, in my understanding SF is a genre of fiction, not a medium. Therefore we had in this very thread already questions about books, movies, television shows, and probably other media as well, IIRC even comics. I see absolutely no reason at all to exclude only the medium of graphic novels, as long as they are in the genre SF.

And fourth, since when do you dictate what this thread is about?

Post by **Disembodied** » Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:12 am

Speaking of Google ... my Finnish isn't up to much (ahem!) but I think I've got the answer. Is it Sarasvatin Hiekkaa (translated as The Sands of Sarasvati – reviewed here) by Risto Isomäki?

Zieman · Post by **Zieman** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 2:51 pm

And Disembodied got it absolutely right!

Your turn sir.

Post by **Disembodied** » Thu Jul 15, 2010 3:44 pm

OK ... author and title for the short story, please. The crew of a spaceship discover a planet which contradicts all manner of physical laws, not to mention common sense. And there's one unique creature: a great big bearlike animal that's friendly and comical – up to the point where he attacks the explorers ...

Post by **Disembodied** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 12:02 pm

OK, clue time: the author in question was an American, born in 1914 and died in 2002. He didn't start writing until the 1950s but still managed to publish more than 30 novels and more than 200 short stories (so there's hope for us yet!).

Website · Post by **Cody** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 12:34 pm

Every time I looked at that first clue, I thought of Yogi Bear.
So here’s a wild, Wiki inspired guess:

‘Thieving Bear Planet’ by R. A. Lafferty.

Post by **Disembodied** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 12:44 pm

Close, but no cigar! Right author, wrong story ...

Post by **Disembodied** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:07 am

The story is named after the nickname the explorers give to the bearlike creature ... it's kind of an onomatopoeic name!

Website · Post by **Cody** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:15 am

He had some great titles, did Lafferty… and lots of them.
I’ll try ‘Snuffles’.

Post by **Disembodied** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 10:57 am

"Snuffles" is the right answer! It's a great little story, from the collection Nine Hundred Grandmothers – well worth seeking out.

Over to you, El Viejo!

Website · Post by **Cody** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 11:15 am

Thank you sir.

An old theme… post-apocalypse America. A plague has destroyed civilisation, and only ruined cities and crumbling roads remain as a reminder of past glory. Some small settlements have united and prospered, and an expedition is mounted to search for a mythical town where all the books of past generations had been gathered to preserve them.

Title and author, please.