[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference noted::sf

Title:Arcana Caelestia
Notice:Directory listings are in topic 2
Moderator:NETRIX::thomas
Created:Thu Dec 08 1983
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1300
Total number of notes:18728

1009.0. "Need info on Short Story" by SANCHO::ZICCARDI (My God, It's Full Of Cars) Fri Aug 09 1991 00:52

    
      If anyone out there in Note-land can help me, I'd greatly appreciate
    it. In a recent (Last 4 months) issue of Analog, there was a short
    story very much along the lines of the classic "The Cold Equations". I
    would like to get the title/author of the story, and the issue of
    Analog it was in, so I can get the back issue. My copy got
    inadvertantly tossed, and I really would like to have a copy of that
    story. I enjoyed the different viewpoint/solution in the new version.
    Thanks in advance for the help.
    
    mIkEy Z. 
    
    BLKWDO::ZICCARDI
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1009.1SET SEEN/BEFORE=a few months ago?DRUMS::FEHSKENSlen, EMA, LKG1-2/W10Fri Aug 09 1991 10:165
    I'd swear there was discussion of this story just a short time ago in
    this conference, but I can't find it...
    
    len.
1009.2The Cold EquationsDPDMAI::MILLERRFri Aug 09 1991 12:2516
    That brings to mind a question I have never had solved to my
    satisfaction.  I have "The Cold Equations" in an anthology published 12
    or 15 years ago.  In the preface, the editor mentioned that there were
    at least 2 good ways in which it would be possible to save both the
    pilot _and_ the stowaway.  I forget the editor, but it was a biggie
    like Asimov or Clarke.  
    
    Anyway, has anyone ever heard an explanation of a good alternative 
    in which the stowaway could have been saved?
      
    
    (I also saw this on a rerun of the "New Twilight Zone" last year.
    Excellently done!). 
    
    - Russ.
1009.3See SF 326MTWAIN::KLAESAll the Universe, or nothing!Fri Aug 09 1991 15:002
    	"The Cold Equations" is discussed in SF Topic 326.
1009.4helpFASDER::ASCOLAROTardis Del., When it has to be there Yestdy.Wed Aug 14 1991 17:2318
    Well, I need info on another short story.
    
    Many years ago someone loaned me a collection of short stories.  There
    was a story about two battle fleets controlled by computer.  The fleets
    never fought, they just jockeyed for position.  The computers knew
    reenforcement rates, etc and the side on top was waiting for the most
    bloodless time to attack.  The losing side took a crazy man from the
    psycho ward, disconnected the battle computer and let him run the show.
    
    The psycho decisively defeated the other computer.
    
    What is the name of the short story, the collection and where do I find
    it?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Tony
1009.5A similar themed storySALEM::MCWILLIAMSTue Aug 20 1991 13:2119
    Although it isn't the story you were thinking of, Gordon Dickson's HOUR
    OF THE HORDE has a somewhat similar theme.
    
    spoiler after the FF

    
    The galaxy was being invaded by an irresistable foe. The galaxy's races
    put together a warfleet to oppose them. To allow every planet/race to
    participate they filled several small ships with a single
    representatives of non star-faring races (such as earth). As the big
    battle was about to commence, the order went out to retreat and leave
    the galaxy to the invader since computer simulation said that it
    couldn't be won. One of the small ships containing the Earth
    representative instead decided to do the illogical thing and attack
    suicidally. This changed the enemy battle structure and then when
    simulation said they could win, the galaxy fleet joined the battle and
    won.
    
    /jim