# Ask the guy who is pretty good at SF Story Identification **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [September 7, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417 "2008-09-07T00:08:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 41
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/801 "2021-06-07T01:37:24Z")
That makes me think of “The Marching Morons” by Henry Kutcher, but that’s probably not what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/802 "2021-06-07T01:45:57Z")
Link to the story [The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Marching Morons, by C. M. Kornbluth.](https://www.gutenberg.org/files/51233/51233-h/51233-h.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/803 "2021-06-07T16:09:14Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > …Wait, was the AI an uploaded person (with uploading being a not-very-popular alternative to the rejuvenation process)? That tickles a braincell or two. Hmm. I think maybe he was. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/804 "2021-06-07T18:47:13Z")
Henry Kuttner (stupid autocorrect!) ---
**Author:** ![cheeses\_of\_nazareth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheeses_of_nazareth/32/7700_2.png) [@cheeses\_of\_nazareth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheeses_of_nazareth)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/805 "2021-06-07T19:33:28Z")
Thanks- that’s the one! ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/806 "2021-06-08T19:05:22Z")
Also sounds like the B Plot of the Simpsons Monorail episode. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2021, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/807 "2021-06-08T20:57:28Z")
…in _SPACE!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/808 "2021-06-13T00:03:17Z")
Does this sound familiar to anybody? Time travelers send their mental selves “Quantum Leap” style into past people in order to experience life in the past. One gets stuck in Edgar Allen Poe because Poe has such a strong personality. His repressed memories inspire Poe’s fiction. (I’m trying to ID this for someone over at Stack Exchange. Come up with the answer and I’ll give you the credit.) I know I read this one but can’t remember the title/author. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/809 "2021-06-13T18:27:36Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Does this sound familiar to anybody? Time travelers send their mental selves “Quantum Leap” style into past people in order to experience life in the past. One gets stuck in Edgar Allen Poe because Poe has such a strong personality. His repressed memories inspire Poe’s fiction. (I’m trying to ID this for someone over at Stack Exchange. Come up with the answer and I’ll give you the credit.) I know I read this one but can’t remember the title/author. Castaway, by Ed Hamilton. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/810 "2021-06-13T18:32:34Z")
Ray Bradbury also wrote a short story about Poe (or a Poe-like author) being helped by time travelers who wanted him to get healthy and keep writing, rather than die too soon due to alcoholism and poor medical care. But it wasn’t the story **E\_DUB** asked about, I think. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/811 "2021-06-13T19:29:14Z")
Bingo. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/812 "2021-06-23T01:54:55Z")
The story is that there is this isolated beach that is a time nexus. You go in, and as long as you stay, time doesn’t pass outside. There’s a group of people there than don’t want anyone to leave, not because they are evil, but because in the far future the Earth is destroyed, and they came into the nexus at the last possible moment. They have nothing to go back to. I have it in one of my many many short story collections, I just haven’t been able to find it so far. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/813 "2021-06-23T02:06:11Z")
Whats the problem with them staying? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/814 "2021-06-23T02:24:45Z")
If I remember the story correctly, there really isn’t anything to do, other than interact with whoever comes in. And because the beach is so isolated, people don’t come in very often. And they all eventually leave. It’s ultimately boring, but the future people can’t leave. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/815 "2021-06-23T02:27:43Z")
Here’s one I’ve mentioned in other contexts on here a few times: A missionary goes to a planet occupied by aliens that are friendly, simple but utterly rational. He tries to convert them to Christianity. The aliens aren’t sure whether to believe him. So they do the logical thing and crucify him. Probably read it about 30-40 years ago ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/816 "2021-06-23T02:29:29Z")
[“The Streets of Ashkelon”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Streets_of_Ashkelon) by Harry Harrison. (_Not_ the sort of lighthearted romp you might expect from that author if you’ve only read his Stainless Steel Rat novels.) ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/817 "2021-06-23T03:07:36Z")
Thanks that was quick. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/818 "2021-06-23T07:41:30Z")
One of those “All leads up to the final line” short stories Humanity has been sending out radio waves for a century now trying to contact extraterrestrial life. Now they suddenly get a single clear and unmistakeable message from an alien planet near our solar system that simply reads Quiet, don’t let them hear you. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/819 "2021-06-23T11:06:56Z")
Oh, that does sound familiar. I’ll see what I can come up with. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/820 "2021-06-23T14:01:14Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > One of those “All leads up to the final line” short stories > > Humanity has been sending out radio waves for a century now trying to contact extraterrestrial life. Now they suddenly get a single clear and unmistakeable message from an alien planet near our solar system that simply reads Quiet, don’t let them hear you. Ha - I love that! There’s a lot packed into that message. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417.md?page=40) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417.md?page=42)