A few years ago, my teacher gave me a sci-fi novel she thought I’d like. I read it and enjoyed it immensely, but I had to give it back to her and have subsequently forgotten the author and title.
Anyhow, the part of the plot I do remember is this:
Bunch of people on a satellite, I seem to think it was pyramid-shaped. The computer, for whatever reason, starts to go HAL all over them and fries one guy who was working on some solar panels or something. It was very graphic in describing this guy’s death.
Anyway, that’s about all I remember. Any guesses at all?
PS: This is what part of the alphabet would look like if “Q” and “R” were eliminated.
Heh… seriously, though…upon rereading, I realize I wasn’t exactly clear. The computer killed off most of the people, but that one guy was the one I particularly remember.
Also, I seem to remember something else about an experimental plane/space vehicle being used to rescue the survivors, but that may be from something else.
I think, think, mind you, that you might’ve been given one of Michael Flynn’s “Firestar” novels… maybe “Rogue Star”? The plot doesn’t sound familiar but some of the elements… experimental space planes… spaced-based lasers… a death while working on a panel.
But it wasn’t some evil computer, and I don’t recall the space station being pyramid (ical? esque?) in shape. Perhaps some more details would help. For example:
… was it set in the near future, far future?
… Did it read “modern” or not? What I mean is how accurate was the science and technology in the novel when compared to current theory and practice… if the people were using computers that “clicked and whirred”, then the book was written in the 60’s/70’s. If it mentions the Soviet Union as a serious competitor, than it is pre-1989. Things like that.
Hmm…I’ve looked up both those books on Amazon and they don’t sound familiar. I can see the resemblance, however.
More details…
I am fairly sure a computer was the antagonist (or perhaps someone who had taken over the on-board computer).
The scene with the man dying was written quite graphically; I think the computer rotated some mirrors he was working on or something, to direct sunlight right at the guy. Then about a page or so went to describing what happened to him as he died.
I believe it was set in the near future, and it didn’t seem to have anything “far out” in terms of technology or anything. I don’t seem to recall myself saying, “Yeah, RIGHT!” at any point…(of course, I was in eighth grade or so at the time…)
Speaking of eighth grade (I know I was in middle school, so I’ll just say eighth grade…) , that would limit the publication date to pre-summer of 1998.
It seemed to read fairly modern. I mean, there was nothing that made me think that it was hokey, like we’ve disproved something in it already. Actually most of it sounded feasible with current technology (time and resources notwithstanding).
I don’t really recall if or how much it focused on politics. I’ve read a few books with a similar premise (team in space faces adversity, someone saves the day), so they might have gotten jumbled together.
Anyhow, thanks for the input, and if anyone figures it out or has any questions, let me know…thanks.
You know, if you really want to find out what it was, the way to do it would be to contact the teacher again, and ask what the book was that he/she recommended. Yes, teachers really do remember their students, and are almost always glad to hear from them later.