# Trying to Remember the Name of a Sci-Fi Book

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-remember-the-name-of-a-sci-fi-book/631083>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 10, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-remember-the-name-of-a-sci-fi-book/631083 "2012-08-10T14:45:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-remember-the-name-of-a-sci-fi-book/631083/1 "2012-08-10T14:45:26Z")

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Hi all,

I am trying to remember the name of a science fiction book I read in the late 80’s or early 90’s. Aliens have cut Earth off from the rest of the universe due to our violet ways. A renegade alien (I think named Wide) has come to Earth, disables our weapons, and takes special forces groups into space to fight against another group of aliens who have periods of “insanity” during their mating cycles where they steal resources from other aliens.

Any help is appreciated!

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**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-remember-the-name-of-a-sci-fi-book/631083/2 "2012-08-10T16:20:01Z")

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Nevermind, I found it. The book was Starstrike by W. Michael Gear.

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**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-remember-the-name-of-a-sci-fi-book/631083/3 "2012-08-10T18:11:51Z")

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> [@Cyros](#):
>
> Aliens have cut Earth off from the rest of the universe due to our violet ways.

Damn purple humans!

😃

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**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-remember-the-name-of-a-sci-fi-book/631083/4 "2012-08-10T19:18:29Z")

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> [@RikWriter](#):
>
> Damn purple humans!
> 
> 😃

haha!

I need a spell check that checks for context.:smack:

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**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-remember-the-name-of-a-sci-fi-book/631083/5 "2012-08-10T19:29:02Z")

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It’s a good thing the aliens weren’t the Purple People Eaters.  
(They eat Purple People)

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**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:** [August 11, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-remember-the-name-of-a-sci-fi-book/631083/6 "2012-08-11T01:32:57Z")

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I remember that book. I think it was called _The Puce Patrol_.