Book Four

Chronosynclastic Infundibulum

1.Electric Shepherd Productions (ESP) is a company founded by the sisters Laura Leslie and Isa Hackett. Who is their famous father?

ESP’s latest production is going to be a 4-episode mini-series to be telecast on SyFy channel, directed by Ridley Scott, and written by Frank Spotnitz (of X-Files fame) Which book is this TV series going to be based on?

2. Whose only non science-fiction novel, ‘Glide Path’, was based on the author’s experiences as the RAF officer in charge of the Ground Controlled Approach, the first radar talk-down system designed to guide airplanes down to the ground in stormy weather using radar images?

3. Given that Adam Roberts’s sense of humour is in the same plane as that of Appu’s—name this compilation of his short stories.

4. This is from the Alastair Reynolds short story ‘Tiger Burning’. Identify the playwright, and his work being alluded to here.

5. Whose art graces this book cover?

"Caladan" – 2:28"Sardaukar Levenbrech" – 2:08"Zoal, Face Dancer" – 2:38"Rosa" – 3:15"Avi" – 2:38"Feyd Rautha Dark Heart" – 3:44"Gambang" – 1:36"Venus in Fleurs" – 2:45"Grisgris" – 3:25"Shadout Mapes" – 4:34"Beast Infection" – 2:21

6. This is the track listing for the Grimes album ‘Geidi Primes’. What is the artist’s biggest inspiration for this album?

7. ‘Locus’ magazine recently published their list of Best 20th Century Science Fiction Novels, and Best 20th Century Fantasy Novels. Who is the only author whose works appear in the Top 5 of both the lists?

8. In the Jules Verne classic, ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’, the narrator Arronax gives a laborious itemised description of a giant squid that they spot. Arronax concludes by acknowledging his description as being too pallid, and saying that only “the author of ‘The Toilers of the Sea’” could do it justice.Jules Verne was thus paying tribute to which famous author?

9. The ‘TekWar’ series of books is credited to William Shatner. Which author, who among other things wrote a series of novels starring Groucho Marx as a detective, ghost wrote this popular sci-fi series?

XY 10. ‘X & Y’ is a

novel by Rudy Rucker that portrays X, a scientist and Y, an author as lovers. Solve for X and Y.

11. This phrase (a character name, in fact) is used in literary circles to denote author self-insertions especially when there is a wish-fulfillment angle to it. It originates from a 1973 Paula Smith story called ‘A Trekkie’s Tale’. Given below is a definition from 1976 by which time the phrase had started being used frequently in fan fiction.

____ ___ stories—the adventures of the youngest and smartest ever person to graduate from the academy and ever get a commission at such a tender age. Usually characterized by unprecedented skill in everything from art to zoology, including karate and arm-wrestling. This character can also be found burrowing her way into the good graces/heart/mind of one of the Big Three [Kirk, Spock, and McCoy], if not all three at once. She saves the day by her wit and ability, and, if we are lucky, has the good grace to die at the end, being grieved by the entire ship

What phrase/character?

12. Writer Gary Westfahl opines that this author wrote science fiction from 1939 to 1957, and wrote satires of science fiction from 1958 until his death in 1988. Who?

13. The teaching software on OLPC is named Nell after the idea of Nell’s Primer from which sci-fi book?

14. The first book in the Moreau series of books by S. Andrew Swann is titled ‘Forests of the Night’, and the fourth and final book is titled ‘Fearful Symmetries’. What sort of a creature is Nohar Rajasthan, the protagonist of these four books?

15. A classic short story, ‘Answer’, written by Fredric Brown in 1954, has every single computer in the galaxy linked together to answer a single question: “Is there a God?”

What is the computer’s response?

16. All three songs are about which character?

17. One of the ways in which M John Harrison’s ‘Viriconium’ stories flirted with sci-fi was the existence of weapons that were essentially laser blasters. What were these weapons called, a name Harrison borrowed from a Sanskrit word for arrow?

18. In Terry Pratchett’s Discworld universe, there are two origin hypotheses. One is the Big Bang which involves the Great A’Tuin and other turtles mating. What is the other theory which states that A’Tuin had come from nowhere and would continue at an uniform crawl into nowhere, for all time?

19. Fill in the header row for these two columns

X YNapoleon Boot WellingtonChalotte Madam CholetVulgarian Great Uncle BulgariaBingo BungoSydney Miss AdelaideStonks TomskTorreycanyon TobermoryOrococco Orinoco

20. As per a Publisher’s Weekly report, which book (first published in 1985) topped the bestsellers list in the science fiction genre?

21. It is well known that the Narnia series contains a lot of Biblical allusions. In the series, which food item plays a role analogous to that of the Biblical forbidden fruit?

22. Identify the character.

23. John Carpenter’s horror-classic ‘The Thing’ was based on the novella ‘Who Goes There’ (first published in the August 1938 edition of ‘Astounding Science-Fiction’)

Which influential figure in sci-fi wrote the novella?

24. The cover art for Neil Gaiman’s upcoming book was revealed recently. What in the world of music did sci-fi blogger Niall Alexander compare the cover art to?

25. Who has written the afterword in Cory Doctorow’s new book ‘Homeland’, the sequel to ‘Little Brother’? In the afterword, a fervent plea is made to the readers to get involved in stopping the Internet from becoming “some kind of giant stupid shopping mall.”

26. The 1869 novelette ‘The Brick Moon’ by Edward Everett Hale is considered the first description of what in science fiction?

27. Noted sci-fi author David Gerrold (the man who came up with the concept of a computer virus in his novel ‘When HARLIE Was One’) recently wrote an open letter to DC Comics offering to write a Superman story in the interest of balance.

Explain the context.

28. What are the aliens in ‘District 9’ called?

29. To whom did Brandon Sanderson give this autographed copy of his book ‘The Way of Kings’?

Which book’s title have I blanked out here?

“Some mechanism in my sub-consciousness took the dominant characteristics of various prize-fighters, gunmen, bootleggers, oil field bullies, gamblers, and honest workmen I had come in contact with, and combining them all, produced the amalgamation I call _____ .” 

30. An author talking about his most famous creation. Identify both.

31. ‘The Tea Garden Soap Box Grand Prix’, by David Tanh and Marcus Muller is a story about the Kame Clan and the Usagi Clan who decide to take their feud to the racetrack, where the Usagis have traditionally dominated.

This story is a reimagining of which famous tale?

32. This Internet meme usually features a photo of a cat that is hanging on to something by its claws (I thought the panda looked cuter, so I put that in) Identify the meme that takes its name from the last words uttered by Gandalf, the Grey.

33. What is the inspiration for the design of this paperweight?

34. When young James expressed interest in making sci-fi illustrations, his uncle, one of 20th century’s most prominent artists, expressed disgust. Name the uncle.

Also, name the book whose cover the artwork on the right adorned.

35. Author talking about how he was inspired by a scene in the movie ‘Let’s Do It Again’—

“I had gotten the idea several years earlier while attending a movie in a Redondo Beach theater. In this particular scene, Ray Milland, leaving Jane Wyman's apartment in a huff, accidentally put on Aldo Ray's hat, which sank down around his ears. Something in me asked, ‘What would happen if a man put on a hat which he knew was his and the same thing happened?’ Thus the notion came.”

Which 1956 novel resulted?

36. Along with singer Alicia Keys, and director Robert Rodriguez, he has been signed on as a brand ambassador for their latest product.

Who? Which brand/company?

37. Science fiction : Steampunk :: Fantasy : _______ _______

Complete the analogy above with a phrase that was originally coined to describe the comic ‘Girl Genius’ by Phil and Kaja Foglio.

38. This heavily Ballardian book has been out-of-print for a while, but is widely available on torrents. Which band’s fans are the most likely reason?

39. Which famous tale is based partly on historical events—the pilgrimage of a Chinese monk, Xuanzang, to India, to recover Mahayana Buddhist scriptures for the court of China’s illustrious T’ang dynasty?

40. Name the protagonist and antagonist of this novel

41. This is the Solar System as represented in which series of books? What is the name for Venus in these books?

42. The only use mentioned for this technology in H2G2 is that it can shift all the molecules in women’s undergarments one foot to the left, thus making it a popular party trick. What technology? Also, name the more famous (and definitely more useful) related technology that drives a lot of the plot in the series.

43. What was held for the first time in 1939  in New York from July 2nd to 4th in conjunction with the Worlds Fair that was happening in the city at that time?

44. The 1921 play ‘Back to Methuselah’ included science fiction elements such as  people communicating via visual switchboard, an England governed by Chinese and African women, and of course as the title indicates, people who live to be three hundred and more.

Who wrote this play?

45. Which legendary sci-fi author coined the phrase “live long and prosper”?

Long Visual Connect36 visuals – 6 sets of 6 each+3, +2.5, +2, +1.5, +1, +0.5 -0.5 for wrong guess

Here be answers!

1.Electric Shepherd Productions (ESP) is a company founded by the sisters Laura Leslie and Isa Hackett. Who is their famous father?

ESP’s latest production is going to be a 4-episode mini-series to be telecast on SyFy channel, directed by Ridley Scott, and written by Frank Spotnitz (of X-Files fame) Which book is this TV series going to be based on?

AnswerPhilip K DickThe Man in the High Castle

2. Whose only non science-fiction novel, ‘Glide Path’, was based on the author’s experiences as the RAF officer in charge of the Ground Controlled Approach, the first radar talk-down system designed to guide airplanes down to the ground in stormy weather using radar images?

AnswerArthur C Clarke

3. Given that Adam Roberts’s sense of humour is in the same plane as that of Appu’s—name this compilation of his short stories.

AnswerAdam Robots

4. This is from the Alastair Reynolds short story ‘Tiger Burning’. Identify the playwright, and his work being alluded to here.

AnswerShakespeareThe Tempest

5. Whose art graces this book cover?

AnswerMax Ernst

"Caladan" – 2:28"Sardaukar Levenbrech" – 2:08"Zoal, Face Dancer" – 2:38"Rosa" – 3:15"Avi" – 2:38"Feyd Rautha Dark Heart" – 3:44"Gambang" – 1:36"Venus in Fleurs" – 2:45"Grisgris" – 3:25"Shadout Mapes" – 4:34"Beast Infection" – 2:21

6. This is the track listing for the Grimes album ‘Geidi Primes’. What is the artist’s biggest inspiration for this album?

Dune, by Frank Herbert

Answer

7. ‘Locus’ magazine recently published their list of Best 20th Century Science Fiction Novels, and Best 20th Century Fantasy Novels. Who is the only author whose works appear in the Top 5 of both the lists?

AnswerUrsula LeGuin

8. In the Jules Verne classic, ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’, the narrator Arronax gives a laborious itemised description of a giant squid that they spot. Arronax concludes by acknowledging his description as being too pallid, and saying that only “the author of ‘The Toilers of the Sea’” could do it justice.Jules Verne was thus paying tribute to which famous author?

AnswerVictor Hugo

9. The ‘TekWar’ series of books is credited to William Shatner. Which author, who among other things wrote a series of novels starring Groucho Marx as a detective, ghost wrote this popular sci-fi series?

AnswerRon Goulart

XY 10. ‘X & Y’ is a

novel by Rudy Rucker that portrays X, a scientist and Y, an author as lovers. Solve for X and Y.

AnswerTuring & Burroughs

11. This phrase (a character name, in fact) is used in literary circles to denote author self-insertions especially when there is a wish-fulfillment angle to it. It originates from a 1973 Paula Smith story called ‘A Trekkie’s Tale’. Given below is a definition from 1976 by which time the phrase had started being used frequently in fan fiction.

____ ___ stories—the adventures of the youngest and smartest ever person to graduate from the academy and ever get a commission at such a tender age. Usually characterized by unprecedented skill in everything from art to zoology, including karate and arm-wrestling. This character can also be found burrowing her way into the good graces/heart/mind of one of the Big Three [Kirk, Spock, and McCoy], if not all three at once. She saves the day by her wit and ability, and, if we are lucky, has the good grace to die at the end, being grieved by the entire ship

What phrase/character?

AnswerMary Sue

12. Writer Gary Westfahl opines that this author wrote science fiction from 1939 to 1957, and wrote satires of science fiction from 1958 until his death in 1988. Who?

AnswerRobert Heinlein

13. The teaching software on OLPC is named Nell after the idea of Nell’s Primer from which sci-fi book?

AnswerThe Diamond Age, by Neal Stephenson

14. The first book in the Moreau series of books by S. Andrew Swann is titled ‘Forests of the Night’, and the fourth and final book is titled ‘Fearful Symmetries’. What sort of a creature is Nohar Rajasthan, the protagonist of these four books?

AnswerTiger

15. A classic short story, ‘Answer’, written by Fredric Brown in 1954, has every single computer in the galaxy linked together to answer a single question: “Is there a God?”

What is the computer’s response?

AnswerThere is now.

16. All three songs are about which character?

Elric of Melnibone

Answer

17. One of the ways in which M John Harrison’s ‘Viriconium’ stories flirted with sci-fi was the existence of weapons that were essentially laser blasters. What were these weapons called, a name Harrison borrowed from a Sanskrit word for arrow?

AnswerBaans

18. In Terry Pratchett’s Discworld universe, there are two origin hypotheses. One is the Big Bang which involves the Great A’Tuin and other turtles mating. What is the other theory which states that A’Tuin had come from nowhere and would continue at an uniform crawl into nowhere, for all time?

AnswerSteady gait

19. Fill in the header row for these two columns

X YNapoleon Boot WellingtonChalotte Madam CholetVulgarian Great Uncle BulgariaBingo BungoSydney Miss AdelaideStonks TomskTorreycanyon TobermoryOrococco Orinoco

X – RumblesY – Wombles

Answer

20. As per a Publisher’s Weekly report, which book (first published in 1985) topped the bestsellers list in the science fiction genre?

AnswerEnder’s Game, by Orson Scott Card

21. It is well known that the Narnia series contains a lot of Biblical allusions. In the series, which food item plays a role analogous to that of the Biblical forbidden fruit?

AnswerTurkish delight

22. Identify the character.

AnswerGeordi La Forge

23. John Carpenter’s horror-classic ‘The Thing’ was based on the novella ‘Who Goes There’ (first published in the August 1938 edition of ‘Astounding Science-Fiction’)

Which influential figure in sci-fi wrote the novella?

AnswerJohn W Campbell, Jr.

24. The cover art for Neil Gaiman’s upcoming book was revealed recently. What in the world of music did sci-fi blogger Niall Alexander compare the cover art to?

AnswerAlbum cover of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’

25. Who has written the afterword in Cory Doctorow’s new book ‘Homeland’, the sequel to ‘Little Brother’? In the afterword, a fervent plea is made to the readers to get involved in stopping the Internet from becoming “some kind of giant stupid shopping mall.”

AnswerAaron Swartz

26. The 1869 novelette ‘The Brick Moon’ by Edward Everett Hale is considered the first description of what in science fiction?

AnswerArtificial satellite

27. Noted sci-fi author David Gerrold (the man who came up with the concept of a computer virus in his novel ‘When HARLIE Was One’) recently wrote an open letter to DC Comics offering to write a Superman story in the interest of balance.

Explain the context.

AnswerIn response to homophobe Orson Scott Card

being roped in by DC Comics to write a Superman story.

David Gerrold is openly gay

28. What are the aliens in ‘District 9’ called?

AnswerPrawns

29. To whom did Brandon Sanderson give this autographed copy of his book ‘The Way of Kings’?

Which book’s title have I blanked out here?

AnswerPatrick RothfussThe Wise Man’s Fear

“Some mechanism in my sub-consciousness took the dominant characteristics of various prize-fighters, gunmen, bootleggers, oil field bullies, gamblers, and honest workmen I had come in contact with, and combining them all, produced the amalgamation I call _____ .” 

30. An author talking about his most famous creation. Identify both.

AnswerConan

31. ‘The Tea Garden Soap Box Grand Prix’, by David Tanh and Marcus Muller is a story about the Kame Clan and the Usagi Clan who decide to take their feud to the racetrack, where the Usagis have traditionally dominated.

This story is a reimagining of which famous tale?

AnswerThe Hare and the Tortoise

32. This Internet meme usually features a photo of a cat that is hanging on to something by its claws (I thought the panda looked cuter, so I put that in) Identify the meme that takes its name from the last words uttered by Gandalf, the Grey.

AnswerFly, you fools!

33. What is the inspiration for the design of this paperweight?

AnswerThe dragon eggs from Game of Thrones

34. When young James expressed interest in making sci-fi illustrations, his uncle, one of 20th century’s most prominent artists, expressed disgust. Name the uncle.

Also, name the book whose cover the artwork on the right adorned.

AnswerAndy Warhol Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert

Heinlein

35. Author talking about how he was inspired by a scene in the movie ‘Let’s Do It Again’—

“I had gotten the idea several years earlier while attending a movie in a Redondo Beach theater. In this particular scene, Ray Milland, leaving Jane Wyman's apartment in a huff, accidentally put on Aldo Ray's hat, which sank down around his ears. Something in me asked, ‘What would happen if a man put on a hat which he knew was his and the same thing happened?’ Thus the notion came.”

Which 1956 novel resulted?

AnswerThe Shrinking Man, by Richard Matheson

36. Along with singer Alicia Keys, and director Robert Rodriguez, he has been signed on as a brand ambassador for their latest product.

Who? Which brand/company?

AnswerNeil GaimanBlackberry

37. Science fiction : Steampunk :: Fantasy : _______ _______

Complete the analogy above with a phrase that was originally coined to describe the comic ‘Girl Genius’ by Phil and Kaja Foglio.

AnswerGaslamp fantasy

38. This heavily Ballardian book has been out-of-print for a while, but is widely available on torrents. Which band’s fans are the most likely reason?

AnswerSwans

39. Which famous tale is based partly on historical events—the pilgrimage of a Chinese monk, Xuanzang, to India, to recover Mahayana Buddhist scriptures for the court of China’s illustrious T’ang dynasty?

AnswerJourney to the West

40. Name the protagonist and antagonist of this novel

AnswerHG WellsJack, the Ripper

41. This is the Solar System as represented in which series of books? What is the name for Venus in these books?

AnswerThe Space Trilogy / Cosmic Trilogy, by CS

LewisPerelandra

42. The only use mentioned for this technology in H2G2 is that it can shift all the molecules in women’s undergarments one foot to the left, thus making it a popular party trick. What technology? Also, name the more famous (and definitely more useful) related technology that drives a lot of the plot in the series.

AnswerFinite improbabilityInfinite improbability

43. What was held for the first time in 1939  in New York from July 2nd to 4th in conjunction with the Worlds Fair that was happening in the city at that time?

AnswerWorldCon (World Science Fiction Convention)

44. The 1921 play ‘Back to Methuselah’ included science fiction elements such as  people communicating via visual switchboard, an England governed by Chinese and African women, and of course as the title indicates, people who live to be three hundred and more.

Who wrote this play?

AnswerGeorge Bernard Shaw

45. Which legendary sci-fi author coined the phrase “live long and prosper”?

AnswerTheodore Sturgeon

Long Visual Connect36 visuals – 6 sets of 6 each+3, +2.5, +2, +1.5, +1, +0.5 -0.5 for wrong guess

AnswerSymbols on an Alethiometer (in Philip

Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy)