# 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:** 58
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1141 "2023-02-12T03:40:04Z")
Thanks for trying. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2023, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1142 "2023-02-17T19:29:21Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Short story: a ginormous alien ship hundreds of miles high lands (docks?) on Earth, crushing a couple of states in the process. In an effort to destroy the ship heavily stealthed crawlers slowly climb up the legs of the ship like fleas, carrying nukes. _ **Maybe** _ one of Harlan Ellison’s or Philip K. Dick’s? ChatGPT knows exactly which story I’m talking about, except gives it a completely wrong title and author: “What science fiction short story featured a gigantic alien spaceship hundreds of miles high causing catastrophe when it landed on Earth?” "The science fiction short story you may be thinking of is “The Great C” by Philip K. Dick. In this story, a massive alien spaceship arrives on Earth and lands in the middle of North America, causing widespread destruction and chaos. The spaceship, known as the Great C, is so large that it extends hundreds of miles into the sky. As it comes to a stop on the ground, it creates massive earthquakes and alters the Earth’s gravitational field, causing further damage and disruption. The story follows the efforts of the government to investigate and understand the alien craft, as well as the reactions of various people to the arrival of the Great C. Without giving away too much of the plot, the story explores themes of power, authority, and the nature of reality." ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2023, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1143 "2023-02-18T00:48:19Z")
The story is similar to but not quite the same as “Heresies of the Huge God” by Brian Aldiss. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2023, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1144 "2023-03-21T15:44:37Z")
Based on the successful resolution of my [12 year old Sci-Fi ID thread here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-medicine-induced-help-me-find-these-books-thread/599350), I want to give this open mystery one final bump. I feel like we’re on a roll here, and that which could not be identified in 2011 and again in 2020 might now be primed and ready for an answer. > [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > **Easy one (classic era stuff, I think).** A guy lives in great solitude in a remote outpost on the edge of the solar system, on lookout for alien armadas. The timing and protocol of the alert communications that he might have to send are so complicated that he has to by hypnotized to learn the techniques. Then one day, here come the aliens. Our guy sits in his special seat, battles nerves to get into the proper trance-like state, then pounds away at a number pad. Don’t remember if he saved the day or not. > [@](#): > > Interesting sounding story, thanks, but not it. What I read was a more straightforward sci-fi short story (I think), themed more along the lines of the loneliness of space, the isolation of the watch. And as I recall it, it was focused on the mechanics of the deal. I specifically remember the mechanics of quickly and accurately manipulating the keypad that triggers the warning. This obviously had to be pre-computer era, because a more contemporary similar story would have to be from the viewpoint of the Arduino that could more than handle all of the needed computational power. ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2023, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1145 "2023-03-21T17:10:00Z")
Cuckoo’s Egg by C J Cherryh Never mind, I see it was answered, and anyway the question was 14 years old. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1146 "2023-03-21T20:50:11Z")
Interesting that Haldeman was mentioned…cause it has elements of Forever War but not all together. When they train on Charon or Pluto, they have to wait on a real life training attack and part of it is just sitting and sitting and sitting (So many Vietnam analogies in the novel) then finally when the attack starts they have to hit a button and let the computer handle the rest Later when they face real-life aliens a hypno-trigger phrase is said so they become killing machines. ---
**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:** [March 23, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1147 "2023-03-23T20:32:22Z")
And get to hear a cool Scottish song, too: [Scots Wha Hae- Braveheart - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD2GeJeEpZc) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1148 "2023-04-18T02:09:35Z")
There is a small series of two books, maybe more Fantasy than SF. The protagonist is a regular more or less London guy, but somehow he stumbles into a pirate bar. he makes friends with one of the waitresses. Then he finds she has been kidnapped and sailed out of ken. So he buys a ship and a crew and sails after her… ---
**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:** [April 18, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1149 "2023-04-18T02:21:01Z")
I feel bad about not recognizing this one. Do you have any other recollections about ut? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1150 "2023-04-18T18:18:46Z")
The guy is an everyman who turns inot a hero of soarts, there are supernatural elements. In the 2nd one, there are voodoo elements. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1151 "2023-04-18T18:28:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > …Then he finds she has been kidnapped and sailed out of ken… What about barbie? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1152 "2023-04-18T21:41:49Z")
Nah, he said he was a London guy, not Brisbane. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1153 "2023-04-19T01:04:05Z")
When did you read them? Approximately when was the story set? Are there fantastic elements in the story? What are they? ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1154 "2023-04-20T22:55:45Z")
Pretty sure it’s Chase the Morning (1990) by Michael Scott Rohan. Good fun, although I thought the sequel, The Gates of Noon, wasn’t as good. There was also 3rd in the series , Cloud Castles, which was better, imho. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1155 "2023-04-21T13:18:17Z")
Just adding a [picture of the cover.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/17270214@N05/11479367006) ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1156 "2023-04-21T13:22:50Z")
Do we do horror stories here, too? There’s a book I’d like to reread about an evil spirit loose in Ireland… ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1157 "2023-04-21T19:24:02Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Do we do horror stories here, too? I can’t see anyone objecting. Ask away. Give any details you can remember. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1158 "2023-04-21T19:36:23Z")
1970’s or so (which is when the book was written or maybe the 1980s) London. The protagonists finds out that yes, there is an alternate world you can get to with pirates, voodoo and such. > [@Meurglys](#): > > Chase the Morning (1990) by Michael Scott Rohan. That’s the one! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2023, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1159 "2023-04-21T21:45:51Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > [@SCAdian](#): > > > > Do we do horror stories here, too? > > I can’t see anyone objecting. Ask away. Give any details you can remember. Evil spirit is released from a grave near Cork, in southern Ireland. It somehow travels north (to Dublin?), where it takes a woman prisoner. Ties a very tight tourniquet around one arm, then starts removing flesh, all the way to bare bone. Does this with the other arm, then (I think) starts on the legs. No idea how, but the good guy tracks it down. Final battle between good guy and evil spirit, IIRC, is on a beach, possibly in the North. Paperback novel, not a novella or shorter story. Read it around 1999-2000. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2023, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417/1160 "2023-04-22T02:14:12Z")
I have a reverse question. I’m looking for an upbeat, utopian story or novel where things mostly work. Ursula Le Guin isn’t that author. The only thing I know is Eric Frank Russell’s novella, “And Then There Were None,” written in the 1950s. I’m hoping for something suitable for 18-24 year olds that they can read quickly but isn’t YA exactly, or at least not the type of YA that will turn off university students. Any ideas, anyone? @Andy_L ? @NinthAcolyte ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417.md?page=57) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417.md?page=59)