# Please help identify sci-fi book (The Ballad of Baby Boo) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 30, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-identify-sci-fi-book-the-ballad-of-baby-boo/282172 "2004-12-30T00:15:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![shadowthorn69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7c8e57/32.png) [@shadowthorn69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shadowthorn69)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-identify-sci-fi-book-the-ballad-of-baby-boo/282172/1 "2004-12-30T00:15:29Z")
Hiya. I’ve been lurking around here recently, and this is my first post. I thought I would see if anyone here can help me identify a science fiction book I read about 20 years ago. I don’t recall the title or author, nor even enough of the plot to try to summarize it for you. I recall a ditty that was near the front of the book, though, which has stuck with me ever since: **The Ballad of Baby Boo** Papa was a catcher on the company team Slowing down the rocks as they came down the beam Some of ‘em were low ones Some of ‘em were high Thirty tons of ore in the blink of an eye Mama was a sprayer in the company tanks Kept from going crazy by the company tranks Bees can’t stand the spinning Bees can’t hardly stand Mama trucks down aisles pollinating by hand One day Papa slipped up as it came across the plate Sixteen tons of ore like the black hand of fate Burn you mother thruster Thruster she won’t burn Papa’s ship is spinning like a funeral urn Mama got called in by the company … … Damn your stupid husband! Don’t give us any lip Can’t you see how much it costs to replace that ship? (there is one more stanza which I cannot recall) If anyone can figure out the name or author of this book, I will be very grateful. I’ve googled like crazy, but have found nothing. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Theo\_More](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@Theo\_More](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theo_More)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-identify-sci-fi-book-the-ballad-of-baby-boo/282172/2 "2018-12-16T11:25:04Z")
NEW DESTINIES, Fall 1987 (a quarterly magazine) Online copy at : [Full text of "New Destinies #02 (1987 Fall) (Gorgon776)"](https://archive.org/stream/New_Destinies_02_1987-Fall_Gorgon776/New_Destinies_02_1987-Fall_Gorgon776_djvu.txt) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-identify-sci-fi-book-the-ballad-of-baby-boo/282172/3 "2018-12-16T14:26:38Z")
Nice, but I think **shadowthorne** gave up after twelve years (last post was 2016). Welcome to the Dope, btw. We’re all about getting that answer, no matter how long it takes. You’ll fit in here just fine. ETA: But waif! The OP’s last activity was six weeks ago! He might actually see it! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-identify-sci-fi-book-the-ballad-of-baby-boo/282172/4 "2018-12-16T17:20:48Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > ETA: But waif! The OP’s last activity was six weeks ago! He might actually see it! Urchin, let’s hope he does! ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2018, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-identify-sci-fi-book-the-ballad-of-baby-boo/282172/5 "2018-12-16T17:38:53Z")
Somebody make a thread about the longest time between a question being asked and answered! Not me, I’m not doing all that searching 3 minutes at a time. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-identify-sci-fi-book-the-ballad-of-baby-boo/282172/6 "2018-12-16T18:38:08Z")
I’m really curious about the discovery process here. Did you read the story recently and remember that someone had asked about it 14 years ago? How did this come about?