Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]


Groups > rec.arts.sf.written > #660179 > unrolled thread

(ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas

Started byjdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll)
First post2026-09-02 10:06 -0400
Last post2026-09-07 02:56 +0000
Articles 13 on this page of 173 — 26 participants

Back to article view | Back to rec.arts.sf.written


Contents

  (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas jdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll) - 2026-09-02 10:06 -0400
    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-02 11:12 -0400
      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-09-02 15:30 +0000
        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-02 15:24 -0400
      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas jdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll) - 2026-09-02 16:43 +0000
        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-02 21:47 +0000
          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2026-09-02 17:13 -0500
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas wollman@hergotha.csail.mit.edu (Garrett Wollman) - 2026-09-03 04:01 +0000
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-03 08:54 -0700
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2026-09-03 16:04 +0000
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-03 12:46 -0400
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-04 08:46 -0700
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-03 08:53 -0700
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2026-09-03 18:36 -0700
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-03 20:18 -0700
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-04 11:59 -0400
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-05 09:15 -0700
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas a425couple <a425couple@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-06 19:53 -0700
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas jdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll) - 2026-09-07 14:26 +0000
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas quadibloc@invalid.com (John Savard) - 2026-09-08 02:53 +0000
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas quadibloc@invalid.com (John Savard) - 2026-09-08 02:52 +0000
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-08 03:22 +0000
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-09-08 16:08 +0000
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-08 13:10 -0400
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-09-08 17:56 +0000
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-09 08:58 -0700
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-08 20:02 -0400
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2026-09-08 18:22 -0500
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-09 02:33 +0000
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2026-09-08 22:35 -0500
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-08 20:49 -0700
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-09-09 14:50 +0000
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-09 09:00 -0700
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2026-09-09 15:31 -0500
                      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-09-09 21:06 +0000
                        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2026-09-09 21:47 -0500
                          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-09 20:36 -0700
                          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-09-10 15:12 +0000
                      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-09 21:58 +0000
                      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> - 2026-09-09 18:20 -0400
                      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-09 20:46 -0700
                        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-10 08:51 -0700
                      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-10 08:45 -0700
          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas jdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll) - 2026-09-03 02:20 +0000
          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Robert Woodward <robertaw@drizzle.com> - 2026-09-02 21:45 -0700
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2026-09-03 05:00 +0000
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Robert Woodward <robertaw@drizzle.com> - 2026-09-03 21:49 -0700
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Ahasuerus <ahasuerus@email.com> - 2026-09-04 12:05 -0400
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Robert Woodward <robertaw@drizzle.com> - 2026-09-04 21:43 -0700
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-05 04:59 +0000
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-03 06:55 +0000
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-03 13:25 -0400
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-09-03 17:46 +0000
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2026-09-03 18:06 +0000
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2026-09-03 18:31 -0700
                      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-04 04:02 +0000
                        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-03 21:13 -0700
                          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2026-09-04 05:13 +0000
                        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-04 12:04 -0400
                          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-04 10:12 -0700
                            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2026-09-04 13:21 -0700
                            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-05 15:16 -0400
                          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-05 10:04 -0400
                            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-05 15:21 -0400
                              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-05 16:01 -0700
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2026-09-03 22:09 -0500
                      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-03 20:59 -0700
                        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2026-09-03 23:28 -0500
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-04 08:50 -0700
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas a425couple <a425couple@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-06 20:06 -0700
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-06 20:48 -0700
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas a425couple <a425couple@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-07 07:32 -0700
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-07 11:51 -0400
                      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-07 15:01 -0400
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-09-08 16:13 +0000
                      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-08 13:13 -0700
                        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2026-09-08 14:34 -0700
                        GFC. Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> - 2026-09-09 12:41 +1200
                          Re: GFC. Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-09 06:01 +0000
                            Re: GFC. Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-09 09:32 -0700
                              Re: GFC. William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> - 2026-09-09 16:38 -0400
                          Re: GFC. kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-09 08:56 -0400
                        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-09 09:03 -0700
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> - 2026-09-07 15:26 -0400
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-07 21:41 +0000
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-07 04:21 +0000
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-07 08:49 -0400
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Christian Weisgerber <naddy@mips.inka.de> - 2026-09-07 14:44 +0000
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-07 12:14 -0400
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-07 11:54 -0400
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-07 22:13 +0000
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas jdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll) - 2026-09-07 14:30 +0000
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-07 21:41 +0000
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas wollman@hergotha.csail.mit.edu (Garrett Wollman) - 2026-09-08 00:05 +0000
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-07 14:26 -0700
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Don <g@crcomp.net> - 2026-09-07 03:38 +0000
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas jdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll) - 2026-09-03 12:45 +0000
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-03 09:34 -0400
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas danny burstein <dannyb@panix.com> - 2026-09-03 13:43 +0000
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-03 13:34 -0400
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-04 11:37 -0400
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> - 2026-09-04 13:09 -0400
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-04 11:36 -0400
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2026-09-04 19:28 -0500
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-04 17:41 -0700
                    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2026-09-04 22:37 -0500
                      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-05 03:50 +0000
                      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-04 21:53 -0700
                        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2026-09-05 05:13 +0000
                          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-05 09:41 -0700
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-05 09:29 -0700
      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Steve Coltrin <spcoltri@omcl.org> - 2026-09-02 12:36 -0600
      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas wollman@hergotha.csail.mit.edu (Garrett Wollman) - 2026-09-02 21:21 +0000
        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> - 2026-09-02 17:29 -0400
          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-03 00:42 +0000
        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-03 00:36 +0000
          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas wollman@hergotha.csail.mit.edu (Garrett Wollman) - 2026-09-03 04:04 +0000
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-03 05:11 +0000
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-03 09:30 -0400
        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.comNOSPAM> - 2026-09-03 08:47 -0400
          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2026-09-03 13:29 +0000
          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-03 21:14 +0000
          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Christian Weisgerber <naddy@mips.inka.de> - 2026-09-03 21:47 +0000
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-03 23:42 +0000
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2026-09-03 18:33 -0700
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Don <g@crcomp.net> - 2026-09-04 00:35 +0000
      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas quadibloc@invalid.com (John Savard) - 2026-09-06 01:48 +0000
        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-06 01:06 -0400
          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2026-09-06 05:46 +0000
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> - 2026-09-06 07:21 -0400
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-06 14:25 -0400
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> - 2026-09-06 16:40 -0400
          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-06 06:41 +0000
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-06 08:07 -0700
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> - 2026-09-06 11:14 -0400
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-06 09:31 -0700
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> - 2026-09-06 16:34 -0400
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-06 11:52 -0400
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas jdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll) - 2026-09-06 16:12 +0000
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas BobbieSellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.invalid> - 2026-09-06 09:57 -0700
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2026-09-06 19:20 +0000
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Christian Weisgerber <naddy@mips.inka.de> - 2026-09-06 16:44 +0000
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-06 14:32 -0400
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-06 14:30 -0400
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-06 16:39 -0400
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas WolfFan <akwolffan@zoho.com> - 2026-09-14 18:26 -0400
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-06 11:49 -0400
          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-06 09:57 -0700
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-09-06 14:36 -0400
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-07 14:34 -0700
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas quadibloc@invalid.com (John Savard) - 2026-09-08 03:00 +0000
              Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-08 09:32 -0700
                Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas quadibloc@invalid.com (John Savard) - 2026-09-08 17:38 +0000
                  Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> - 2026-09-09 09:05 -0700
        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas wollman@hergotha.csail.mit.edu (Garrett Wollman) - 2026-09-06 14:59 +0000
    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2026-09-02 17:11 -0500
    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-03 00:47 +0000
      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2026-09-03 04:59 +0000
    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-03 21:22 +0000
      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> - 2026-09-03 18:57 -0400
        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Jerry Brown <jerry@jwbrown.co.uk.invalid> - 2026-09-04 07:55 +0100
      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas "Gary R. Schmidt" <grschmidt@acm.org> - 2026-09-04 17:47 +1000
      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-04 11:40 -0400
        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-09-04 16:45 +0000
        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> - 2026-09-05 16:23 +1200
          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-05 04:31 +0000
          Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-09-20 19:26 -0400
            Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> - 2026-09-22 12:28 +1200
    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-04 22:43 +0000
    Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-05 08:21 +0000
      Vonnegut. Was: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> - 2026-09-07 11:37 +1200
      Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Don <g@crcomp.net> - 2026-09-07 02:25 +0000
        Re: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-07 02:56 +0000

Page 9 of 9 — ← Prev page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [9]


#660243

FromJerry Brown <jerry@jwbrown.co.uk.invalid>
Date2026-09-04 07:55 +0100
Message-ID<6qqk9lptkp98hck7cpv8j2goba79cdh3b9@jwbrown.co.uk>
In reply to#660226
On Thu, 3 Sep 2026 18:57:48 -0400, William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com>
wrote:

>Lawrence D’Oliveiro wrote:
>> On Wed, 2 Sep 2026 10:06:52 -0400 (EDT), James Nicoll wrote:
>> 
>>> Pursuing foolish ideas can be very, very good for plot.
>> 
>> I wonder if Fred Saberhagen’s “Berserker” story series qualifies.
>> 
>> The premise is there are these giant killer robot ships, (I think
>> self-repairing and self-reproducing), that are out to exterminate all
>> organic life (including humanity). Why? Because they are leftover from
>> an ancient war between two long-vanished civilizations. They were
>> created by one (or both?) of the warring parties as the ultimate
>> weapon, but they were *too* successful.
>
>
>The same idea is in Dick's short story, "Claw".  But in this case humans 
>have invented the weapons which are in the process of wiping out the 
>human race but have not yet gone interstellar.
>
>
>William Hyde

My favourite Star Trek episode "The Doomsday Machine" did this
plotline as well.

-- 
Jerry Brown

A cat may look at a king
(but probably won't bother)

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#660244

From"Gary R. Schmidt" <grschmidt@acm.org>
Date2026-09-04 17:47 +1000
Message-ID<9l9qmm-r03.ln1@paranoia.mcleod-schmidt.id.au>
In reply to#660223
On 04/09/2026 07:22, Lawrence D’Oliveiro wrote:
> On Wed, 2 Sep 2026 10:06:52 -0400 (EDT), James Nicoll wrote:
> 
>> Pursuing foolish ideas can be very, very good for plot.
> 
> I wonder if Fred Saberhagen’s “Berserker” story series qualifies.
> 
> The premise is there are these giant killer robot ships, (I think
> self-repairing and self-reproducing), that are out to exterminate all
> organic life (including humanity). Why? Because they are leftover from
> an ancient war between two long-vanished civilizations. They were
> created by one (or both?) of the warring parties as the ultimate
> weapon, but they were *too* successful. And having killed off their
> creators, there was nobody left with the ability to turn them off.
> 
> Either their original mission (“destroy the other side”) was not
> phrased specifically enough, or the machines themselves learned to
> generalize it, in the absence any remaining targets matching the
> original criteria, to attack other living beings they came across as
> well.
> 
Which is why the Kwibbian Kwibbian Kwell were developed.

> Given such a bleak-sounding premise, the stories themselves were
> surprisingly far from bleak. At least the few I remember reading so
> far.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#660250

Fromkludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey)
Date2026-09-04 11:40 -0400
Message-ID<117eop5$o42$1@panix2.panix.com>
In reply to#660223
Lawrence =?iso-8859-13?q?D=FFOliveiro?=  <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:
>On Wed, 2 Sep 2026 10:06:52 -0400 (EDT), James Nicoll wrote:
>
>> Pursuing foolish ideas can be very, very good for plot.
>
>I wonder if Fred Saberhagen’s “Berserker” story series qualifies.

Definitely.  The whole concept of long-lived autonomous war machines is 
a very, very bad idea.  Not just Berserkers, but also Cordwainer Smith's
Manshonyaggers and PKD's Claws.
--scott
-- 
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#660257

Fromscott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
Date2026-09-04 16:45 +0000
Message-ID<hACmS.157$ORN1.91@fx24.iad>
In reply to#660250
kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) writes:
>Lawrence =?iso-8859-13?q?D=FFOliveiro?=  <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:
>>On Wed, 2 Sep 2026 10:06:52 -0400 (EDT), James Nicoll wrote:
>>
>>> Pursuing foolish ideas can be very, very good for plot.
>>
>>I wonder if Fred Saberhagen’s “Berserker” story series qualifies.
>
>Definitely.  The whole concept of long-lived autonomous war machines is 
>a very, very bad idea.  Not just Berserkers, but also Cordwainer Smith's
>Manshonyaggers and PKD's Claws.

But without them, Korval would not have been forced
to leave Liad and Theo may have been unable to remove
the adverse citation on her Pilot's license :-)

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#660268

FromTitus G <noone@nowhere.com>
Date2026-09-05 16:23 +1200
Message-ID<117g5gb$17dh9$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#660250
On 05/09/2026 03:40, Scott Dorsey wrote:
> Lawrence =?iso-8859-13?q?D=FFOliveiro?=  <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:
>> On Wed, 2 Sep 2026 10:06:52 -0400 (EDT), James Nicoll wrote:
>>
>>> Pursuing foolish ideas can be very, very good for plot.
>>
>> I wonder if Fred Saberhagen’s “Berserker” story series qualifies.
> 
> Definitely.  The whole concept of long-lived autonomous war machines is 
> a very, very bad idea.  Not just Berserkers, but also Cordwainer Smith's
> Manshonyaggers and PKD's Claws.
> --scott

Keith Laumer's Bolo in Last Command and Relic of War state the opposite
by saving humanity or bits of it which is also very, very good for plot.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#660269

FromLawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid>
Date2026-09-05 04:31 +0000
Message-ID<117g5v4$17j0d$2@dont-email.me>
In reply to#660268
On Sat, 5 Sep 2026 16:23:54 +1200, Titus G wrote:

> Keith Laumer's Bolo in Last Command and Relic of War state the
> opposite by saving humanity or bits of it which is also very, very
> good for plot.

Just been reading another Keith Laumer story, “The Hounds Of Hell”.
The later part has the protagonist reincorporated in a form very much
resembling a bolo ...

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#660585

Fromkludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey)
Date2026-09-20 19:26 -0400
Message-ID<118pq31$pl3$1@panix2.panix.com>
In reply to#660268
In article <117g5gb$17dh9$1@dont-email.me>, Titus G  <noone@nowhere.com> wrote:
>Keith Laumer's Bolo in Last Command and Relic of War state the opposite
>by saving humanity or bits of it which is also very, very good for plot.

Okay, I had never read the Bolo stories, and I have had a number of people
recommend them in the past few years, so I bought a copy of The Compleat
Bolo and read it.

I think "Last Command" definitely supports my thesis of the danger of
leftover old combat machines, but "Relic of War" does show one saving
people in a good way.  So one for two, which isn't bad.

I will say: these stories are very well-plotted but not all that 
well-written.  So much better could have been done with them.  I
am glad I read the stories but I don't feel an urge to reread them
like I do with great SF.
--scott
-- 
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#660598

FromTitus G <noone@nowhere.com>
Date2026-09-22 12:28 +1200
Message-ID<118si2l$epjl$3@dont-email.me>
In reply to#660585
On 21/09/2026 11:26, Scott Dorsey wrote:
> In article <117g5gb$17dh9$1@dont-email.me>, Titus G  <noone@nowhere.com> wrote:
>> Keith Laumer's Bolo in Last Command and Relic of War state the opposite
>> by saving humanity or bits of it which is also very, very good for plot.

> Okay, I had never read the Bolo stories, and I have had a number of people
> recommend them in the past few years, so I bought a copy of The Compleat
> Bolo and read it.
> 
> I think "Last Command" definitely supports my thesis of the danger of
> leftover old combat machines, but "Relic of War" does show one saving
> people in a good way.  So one for two, which isn't bad.

I thought that they both contradicted your thesis but as your reading is
more recent, I think that you will be correct.

> I will say: these stories are very well-plotted but not all that 
> well-written.  So much better could have been done with them.  I
> am glad I read the stories but I don't feel an urge to reread them
> like I do with great SF.
> --scott

I rated them as an enjoyable read, Three Stars though perhaps they have
become dated?
Would you have included flying saucers and South Americans? That would
definitely be an improvement.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#660262

FromLawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid>
Date2026-09-04 22:43 +0000
Message-ID<117fhib$12092$4@dont-email.me>
In reply to#660179
On Wed, 2 Sep 2026 10:06:52 -0400 (EDT), James Nicoll wrote:

> Pursuing foolish ideas can be very, very good for plot.

Thought of another one: Jack Williamson’s novel “The Humanoids”. About
the creation of a (self-reproducing) race of robots dedicated to
making human lives as safe and comfortable as possible. Think of it as
Asimov’s First Law carried to the extreme.

Basically, these robots insist on following humans around to ensure
they don’t come to harm. All kinds of adventurous, but potentially
even slightly hazardous, activities are immediately stopped. And
there’s no option for turning them off, because obviously that opens
the door to humans coming to harm, which the robots will not allow.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#660276

FromLawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid>
Date2026-09-05 08:21 +0000
Message-ID<117gjdr$1b95v$3@dont-email.me>
In reply to#660179
On Wed, 2 Sep 2026 10:06:52 -0400 (EDT), James Nicoll wrote:

> Pursuing foolish ideas can be very, very good for plot.

I am currently reading Kurt Vonnegut’s “Cat’s Cradle”. I do know that
one of the plot elements is a doom-laden substance called “Ice 9”, the
invention of which was a very, very, very, very bad idea indeed ...

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#660326 — Vonnegut. Was: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas

FromTitus G <noone@nowhere.com>
Date2026-09-07 11:37 +1200
SubjectVonnegut. Was: (ReacTor) Five SFF Stories Featuring Terrible Ideas
Message-ID<117kuvb$2q237$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#660276
On 05/09/2026 20:21, Lawrence D’Oliveiro wrote:
> On Wed, 2 Sep 2026 10:06:52 -0400 (EDT), James Nicoll wrote:
> 
>> Pursuing foolish ideas can be very, very good for plot.
> 
> I am currently reading Kurt Vonnegut’s “Cat’s Cradle”. I do know that
> one of the plot elements is a doom-laden substance called “Ice 9”, the
> invention of which was a very, very, very, very bad idea indeed ...

I have recently finished Bluebeard which ranged over many disconnected
themes interspersed with his humorous insights. Mainly art appreciation
with the protagonist's skill at drawing images, (and that of his
illustrator mentor), as good as photographs contrasted with conventional
standards with the major difference being passion. He wanted to be an
artist and became an early famous Abstract Expressionist with the
implication that that style involved no talent. Also an anti-war horror
of death and a sort of resurrection for the Armenian immigrant family
with son, Rabo, achieving the mythical American Dream but also extreme
loneliness.
The original Bluebeard hid a great crime with the message to his current
wife that the combination of disobedience and curiosity results in
regret but in Rabo's case, his crime may have been hiding his soul in
the pigbarn but the curiosity of Mrs Berman......
It is decades since Vonnegut was a favourite but the light and
conversational style was instantly recognisable. The constant humour was
occasionally an interruption. I still enjoyed it. Three Stars.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#660329

FromDon <g@crcomp.net>
Date2026-09-07 02:25 +0000
Message-ID<20260906a@crcomp.net>
In reply to#660276
Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:
> On Wed, 2 Sep 2026 10:06:52 -0400 (EDT), James Nicoll wrote:
>
>> Pursuing foolish ideas can be very, very good for plot.
>
> I am currently reading Kurt Vonnegut’s “Cat’s Cradle”. I do know that
> one of the plot elements is a doom-laden substance called “Ice 9”, the
> invention of which was a very, very, very, very bad idea indeed ...

CAT'S CRADLE's portmanteau problem turns it into a slog for me. CRADLE
infuses an excellent story about Ice-9 into a jocularly adolescent anti-
Catholic allegory.
    An exorcism leaves behind a much more interesting, shorter story
similar to THE CATALYST by Yohe:

    <https://crcomp.net/arts/The%20Catalyst.html>

Despite its excellent Ice-9 component, CRADLE's continuous objectionable
content earns it a "-" on my customized "Nance Scale:"

   -   story contains an excess of objectionable material
   K   OK as a snack
   +   Taught me something new, or provided insight, or fired up
       my imagination, or put a fire in my belly, or catalyzed
       vague notions into solidity, or did something equally good

Remnants of advanced, alien civilizations can be close cousins to home
grown terrible ideas. THE CITY by Bradbury patiently waits for its prey.
    Some of the many stories of Perry Rhodan include encounters with
alien artifacts. For instance, stylistic Saberhagen Berserker class
robotic mechanisms appear in Perry Rhodan's "fat moss" story arc:

    "118 Sgt Robot"
    "119 Seeds of Ruin"
    "120 Planet Mechanica"
    "121 Heritage of the Lizard People"
    "130 Volunteers for Frago"
    "139 World Without Mercy"

Danke,

--
Don.......My cat's  )\._.,--....,'``.                     veritas    _|_
telltale tall tail /,   _.. \   _\  (`._ ,.               liberabit   |
tells tall tales.. `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.'              vos         |

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#660331

FromLawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid>
Date2026-09-07 02:56 +0000
Message-ID<117l94m$2ss3h$6@dont-email.me>
In reply to#660329
On Mon, 7 Sep 2026 02:25:48 -0000 (UTC), Don wrote:

> CAT'S CRADLE's portmanteau problem turns it into a slog for me.
> CRADLE infuses an excellent story about Ice-9 into a jocularly
> adolescent anti- Catholic allegory.

It contains elements of an alternative religion that is clearly taking
aim at conventional doctrinal concepts of *all* religions. How is that
“adolescent”, exactly?

    “What is sacred to Bokononists?” I asked after a while.
    “Not even God, as near as I can tell.”
    “Nothing?”
    “Just one thing.”
    I made some guesses. “The ocean? The sun?”
    “Man,” said Frank. “That’s all. Just man.”

[toc] | [prev] | [standalone]


Page 9 of 9 — ← Prev page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [9]

Back to top | Article view | rec.arts.sf.written


csiph-web