# Help me find this sci-fi short story
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-sci-fi-short-story/282833
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 3, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-sci-fi-short-story/282833 "2005-01-03T14:49:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-sci-fi-short-story/282833/1 "2005-01-03T14:49:30Z")
It was in one of those “Best Sci-Fi” compilation books (probably of 2003). The premise was that it was shortly after a first contact with an alien species, and the aliens were described as being like large insects. The particular plot involved one of these aliens who went along on a mountain-climbing expedition up an Everest-class mountain, and featured the usual getting-to-know-one-another devices that alien/human sci-fi usually has. The title was something like “K is for Karmenides,” but I think I have the Karmenides part wrong because I can’t find it again. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
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### Author:  [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-sci-fi-short-story/282833/2 "2005-01-03T23:27:34Z")
I remember the story you’re talking about, but not the Author or exact name.
I think it’s earlier than 2003, though, I’m reading through all of Gardner Dozois’ anthologies in order, that story was a few books back, and I’m up to… 1994
Look in ‘The year’s Best Science Fiction’ anthologies for 90,91, or 92 and I’ll bet you’ll find it.
I found a link that had a lot of those old anthologies, and contents, but couldn’t find one with 'K is for…" in the title.
[http://www.isfdb.org/topppop.html](http://www.isfdb.org/topppop.html)
Good luck.
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### Author:  [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)
#### Post date: [January 3, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-sci-fi-short-story/282833/3 "2005-01-03T23:50:11Z")
If it helps anyone narrow it down to a volume, it also featured as story about lobster consciousnesses being uploaded to the web and becoming sentient (honest).
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### Author:  [@fireman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fireman)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-sci-fi-short-story/282833/4 "2005-01-04T00:11:10Z")
How about “On K2 with Kanakaredes” by Dan Simmons.
It’s in The Year’s Best Science Fiction, Nineteenth Annual Collection, edited by Gardner Dozios. Published in 2002.
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### Author:  [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-sci-fi-short-story/282833/5 "2005-01-04T00:14:36Z")
I would have to guess that that’s it. Thanks.
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### Author:  [@fireman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fireman)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-sci-fi-short-story/282833/6 "2005-01-04T00:20:11Z")
The storyline is just as your op states. If I had the book at hand, I could give the ISBN, or the source of the story. I’m basing this on memory, but I’m sure it’s the one you want.
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### Author:  [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-this-sci-fi-short-story/282833/7 "2005-01-04T00:27:30Z")
The story first appeared in the 2001 original anthology, [Redshift: Extreme Visions of Speculative Fiction, edited by Al Sarrantonio](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0451458591/qid=1104798678/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-5392588-1419936?v=glance&s=books).