# The Best Last Lines in SF **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 4, 2000, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976 "2000-12-04T18:24:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/21 "2000-12-05T00:56:01Z")
**Fenris** , that is the last line from Harry Bates’ “Farewell to the Master”, upon which the movie _The Day The Earth Stood Still_ is (very loosely) based. There’s a website out there that has the complete text of the story, but I don’t know it offhand. The only ones of yours I knew have been guessed already. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/22 "2000-12-05T01:24:41Z")
Rereading my original post, I see that I may have come off cocky about the “easy” ones I answered. Not my intent! The truth is I was glad to get those because I had no clue on most of the others (some, already answered, I knew). I’m a big Kuttner fan; I’m glad to see that others on this board are too. A couple of other threads have confirmed this as well. This is a great thread. I’m always looking out for new recommendations to put on my shelf. ---
**Author:** ![Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/23 "2000-12-05T01:35:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Danimal \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > > \*\* “My word, I’m not even a hundred.” > > > > “_Death and destruction!_” \*\* > > Second is \* The Moon is a Harsh Mistress \* (actually I think it’s more like, “Great Bog, I’m not even a hundred yet.” > > > [@](#): > > > > “Next day it snowed, and killed off half the crops - but it was a good day.” > > That sounds like Ira Levin’s \* This Perfect Day, \* but I’m not sure. > > A favorite ending line of mine, as best I can recall it, is “. . . and he turned his back on the dwindling Sun.” Anybody recognize it? \*\* My word, is correct line I believe. I think you are thinking of the paragraph up where he says, "You listening Bog? Is a computer one of Your creations? ---
**Author:** ![Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/24 "2000-12-05T01:37:35Z")
I think the line is… I handed the bartender my empty glass. “I just found out where we’re going.” ---
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/25 "2000-12-05T02:00:29Z")
How delightful. Let’s play: > [@](#): > > ## “Here’s to crime!” > > ## “Check. Now some music while you wait?” She switched it on: “To the everlasting glory of the infantry-” > > ## “What is more important, you must love em as much as they love you. Can you do this?” > > Yes, throught Montag, that’s the one I’ll save for noon. For noon… > When we reach the city. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/26 "2000-12-05T02:26:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Uniball \* > \*\*How delightful. Let’s play: > \*\* Two "Aargh! I _know_ this one"s and an “easy” “Here’s to crime!” ## Aargh! #1 “Check. Now some music while you wait?” She switched it on: “To the everlasting glory of the infantry-” ## Easy, Starship Troopers, by Heinlein Yes, throught Montag, that’s the one I’ll save for noon. For noon… When we reach the city. Aargh! #2. I recognize the name Montag…Um…Zelazny? Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/27 "2000-12-05T02:34:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panamajack \* > \*\ ***Fenris** , that is the last line from Harry Bates’ “Farewell to the Master”, upon which the movie _The Day The Earth Stood Still_ is (very loosely) based. There’s a website out there that has the complete text of the story, but I don’t know it offhand. > > The only ones of yours I knew have been guessed already. \*\* Cool! I’ll check the ISFDB (everyone here knows about the ISFDB don’t they? On a thread about short stories, it’s invaluable for finding out which anthologies a story appeared in.) For instance, entering “Harry Bates” into the [ISFDB](http://www.sfsite.com/isfdb/search.html), tells me that he’s written about 20 short stories. Clicking on “Farewell to the Master” tells me that it’s appeared: > [@](#): > > Astounding Science Fiction, Oct 1940, John W. Campbell, Jr., 1940, $0.20 > Famous Science-Fiction Stories: Adventures in Time and Space, Raymond J. Healy+J. Francis McComas, 1946, The Modern Library, hc > The Great SF Stories 2 (1940), Isaac Asimov, 1979 > Golden Years of SF, Isaac Asimov, 1983, Bonanza Books, 0517401479 And I have at least two of those anthologies, so it’s time to read the thing. Or, if I’ve read it, to reread it. Anyway, I’ll post answers to my first set in a day or so. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/28 "2000-12-05T02:42:23Z")
Note for EC Comics fans: I’m not refering to the story you’re thinking of. And the quote is accurate for the original prose story that Williamson(?) was spoofing in the EC Comic: _And then some idiot turned on the lights._ Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/29 "2000-12-05T02:47:35Z")
_Five card stud, nothing wild. And the sky’s the limit._ ---
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/30 "2000-12-05T03:08:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > **Two "Aargh! I _know_ this one"s and an “easy” > “Here’s to crime!” > Aargh! #1** Almost all of Harry Harrison’s The Stainless Steel Rat series. > [@](#): > > \*\*Yes, throught Montag, that’s the one I’ll save for noon. For noon… > When we reach the city. > Aargh! #2. I recognize the name Montag…Um…Zelazny? > \*\* Close. Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/31 "2000-12-05T03:18:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*_Five card stud, nothing wild. And the sky’s the limit._ \*\* One of the later Star Trek Movies? Generations? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/32 "2000-12-05T03:22:46Z")
If fantasy/spoof stories count: “How many experience points do I get?” (That’s the last line from [The Intercontinental Union of Disgusting Characters](http://home.netcom.com/~rogermw/ADnD/IUDC1.html). Warning: do not read this unless you enjoy laughing at the rules loopholes in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 1st Edition.) ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/33 "2000-12-05T03:24:29Z")
divemaster wrote: > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > > \*\*_Five card stud, nothing wild. And the sky’s the limit._ \*\* > > One of the later Star Trek Movies? Generations? Close. It’s from “All Good Things…”, the final episode of _Star Trek: The Next Generation_. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/34 "2000-12-05T03:36:21Z")
Interesting. I don’t recall ever having seen any _Next Generation_ episodes in their entirety. Must have associated it from bits and pieces somehow. It is Picard, right? Here’s a couple more from the literature: “He thought, _only a madman would give a loaded revolver to an idiot_.” “If they try to beat me again I’ll hurt them. I will.” ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/35 "2000-12-05T03:37:50Z")
Actually, that last one is not from the realm of SF. Sorry about that. I’ll try to stay on genre. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/36 "2000-12-05T03:45:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by divemaster \* > \*\* > Here’s a couple more from the literature: > > “He thought, _only a madman would give a loaded revolver to an idiot_.” > > “If they try to beat me again I’ll hurt them. I will.” \*\* These are two great lines: #1 is from a Fredric Brown story that I can’t remember the title of #2 is Matheson’s “Born of Man and Woman” Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/37 "2000-12-05T03:47:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by divemaster \* > \*\*Actually, that last one is not from the realm of SF. Sorry about that. I’ll try to stay on genre. \*\* As far as I’m concerned, we can consider the “SF” in my original post to mean “Speculative Fiction” if it means including Matheson. He’s just got too much good stuff to ignore. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/38 "2000-12-05T04:25:47Z")
Well, I don’t think I’ll get anywhere trying to identify any more of the remaining unguessed from above. I’ll have to wait for the answers. Here’s one more: “I hate them. I hate them. I hate everybody. I want to kill mankind. I’d kill them by slow torture if I could. If I can’t, blowing up the earth will do. I shall write my report.” from **sassy** : > [@](#): > > Arthur C. Clarke’s _The Star_ still makes me cry every time I read it… the last line is like a punch to the gut, especially if you were raised Christian. I saw this in one of my anthologies. I’ll read it tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it! ---
**Author:** ![mdf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@mdf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mdf)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/39 "2000-12-05T04:47:20Z")
Okay, without reading any more of the thread (but I’ve only got a couple incomplete guesses, anyway): > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > > “The other two pulled away from her breasts and added their voices to the call, translucent wings unfolding and stirring the air, and for the first time in hundreds of years, the night came alive with the music of dragons.” I’m going with Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series, but I don’t know which particular book. Long time since I read them, I should do it again. > [@](#): > > “P.P.S. Please if you get a chanse put some flowrs on Algernons grave in the bak yard…” Another partial (but fairly obvious one): Flowers for Algernon. This time I don’t remember the author. Oh, well. At least a half point? -mdf ---
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976/40 "2000-12-05T04:51:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mdf \* > Another partial (but fairly obvious one): Flowers for Algernon. This time I don’t remember the author. > \*\* Daniel Keyes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-last-lines-in-sf/43976.md?page=3)