# What Is The Name Of This SciFi Story **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 6, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402 "2004-12-06T19:28:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![goofyfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@goofyfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goofyfish)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/1 "2004-12-06T19:28:25Z")
Has anyone ever heard of a short story where most intellegent beings figure out faster-than-light travel when they have bronze-age technology? Humans, however, didn’t figure it out so when these other races discover earth they’re amazed by our level of technology. We trade them glow sticks so they can use those instead of candles to light their interstellar spaceships… My apolgies for the vagueness, I am getting this second hand and really have no other details to offer. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/2 "2004-12-06T19:58:23Z")
I remember the story, but damned if I can recall the name or author. I particularly remember a line that went something like “For the aliens, it must have been like poking a nest of angry bees”, because by the time humans had discovered the simple secret of space travel, they also had massive weapons technology far superior to that of the aliens’. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/3 "2004-12-06T20:13:19Z")
That is one of my favourite stores. It was in Analog in '84 and was called something like “The Road Not Taken”. The aliens, typical pirates and privateers such as we have had often in our history, discover the secret of interstellar travel (and presumably flight) at the usual time in history (around the same time as iron- and glass-working), and go on to found an interstallar empire. They take two weeks or so to travel between stars (just long enough that their air doesn’t run out), plotting courses witrh sextants and simple telescopes. They conquer new planets, impressing the natives with their matchlock guns and smoothbore cannons… just before they slaughter and/or enslave them. One day they discover Earth. Something seems odd when they are descending through the atmosphere and they see these sharklike metal things hurtling past their ship. They land in a city and open the door. Instead of fresh air, they smell something more like a lamp that has been put out. Then the natives approach… It’s a great story. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/4 "2004-12-06T20:21:51Z")
Here it is. “The Road Not Taken”, Harry Turtledove, Analog, November 1985. Some of the pages I’ve googled say that the author wrote this story under the pseudonym of Eric Iverson. ---
**Author:** ![goofyfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@goofyfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goofyfish)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/5 "2004-12-06T20:32:30Z")
I knew I could count on you all. You’re worth your weight in bellybutton lint! 😉 Rick ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/6 "2004-12-06T20:44:51Z")
There was an SNL skit along these same lines once. “Fear our mighty weapons! This stick can propel a metal slug so fast it can penetrate your skin!” “Oh, yeah? Well THIS stick can propel 1,000 metal slugs a minute.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/7 "2004-12-06T21:30:47Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Here it is. “The Road Not Taken”, Harry Turtledove, Analog, November 1985. > > Some of the pages I’ve googled say that the author wrote this story under the pseudonym of Eric Iverson. I loved Eric Iverson. I looked forward to every issue of Analog that had a new story by him. Then this new guy Harry Turtledove showed up… If I remember correctly his publisher thought his real name sounded too phony and convinced him to use the Iverson name. He came to his senses as he was building a reputation but before he was really famous. ---
**Author:** ![Gamaliel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@Gamaliel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gamaliel)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/8 "2004-12-06T21:43:42Z")
Is this story anthologized anywhere? ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/9 "2004-12-06T21:44:37Z")
If interstellar travel ends up being as easy as banging a couple rocks togeather in the right order, a lot of people over at NASA are going to be pretty embarassed. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/10 "2004-12-06T21:49:49Z")
> [@Gamaliel](#): > > Is this story anthologized anywhere? [Apparently so.](http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/stories.html) I’ll have to look that one up. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/11 "2004-12-06T21:50:34Z")
> [@Malodorous](#): > > If interstellar travel ends up being as easy as banging a couple rocks togeather in the right order, a lot of people over at NASA are going to be pretty embarassed. You’ve got two empty halves of coconut and you’re bangin’ 'em together. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/12 "2004-12-06T22:05:51Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > I’ll have to look that one up. If you get a chance, pick up his new anthology 3XT. It includes his books “Noninterference”, “Kaleidoscope” (which has that story), and “Earthgrip”. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/13 "2004-12-07T00:02:19Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > You’ve got two empty halves of coconut and you’re bangin’ 'em together. No, that’s for horse travel. Spaceships go “woosh.” ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/14 "2004-12-07T00:21:20Z")
Now the question has been answered, I’d like to say it reminded me of a story of the opposite happening. It’s called The High Crusade by Poul Anderson. A belligerent star faring race land in England in the middle ages, and underestimating the local knights manage to get themselves overpowered. The knights then travel to another planet by luck more than judgement. It’s very tongue in cheek and I thought it very amusing. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/15 "2004-12-07T06:45:31Z")
I’ve got it right here. It is November '85, and it is under the Turtledove name (starts on page 12.) I haven’t gotten to that issue of Analog yet - I’m a little behind in my reading. I’ll read the story tonight - sounds good. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/16 "2004-12-07T08:47:04Z")
> [@Vetch](#): > > Now the question has been answered, I’d like to say it reminded me of a story of the opposite happening. It’s called The High Crusade by Poul Anderson. A belligerent star faring race land in England in the middle ages, and underestimating the local knights manage to get themselves overpowered. > The knights then travel to another planet by luck more than judgement. It’s very tongue in cheek and I thought it very amusing. Larry Niven used pretty much the same thing for the Kzinti; primitive group of ferocious warriors overpower the interstellar traders, enslave them, and go on to build a massive empire. When they meet humans they are technically far ahead but socially far behind. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/17 "2004-12-07T10:32:30Z")
Since this is about fiction, I’ll move this thread to the Cafe Society forum. bibliophage moderator GQ ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/18 "2004-12-07T10:46:57Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > It is November '85 […] I haven’t gotten to that issue of Analog yet - I’m a little behind in my reading. Just so you know, you’re further behind in your reading than some of our members have been alive. I don’t want to know which edition of the local newspaper you’re on. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/19 "2004-12-07T13:06:26Z")
How about Isaac Asimov’s tale about two feuding planets? I can’t remember the title or even the names of the planets, so… Planet A had high tech, state-of-the-art space ships and weapons. Planet B was low tech with wheezy ships and severely outdated gunnery. The technological gap was something akin to our current fighter jets going up against WWI biplanes. Maybe worse. But the twist was that PLanet A’s technology was so utterly superior to B’s that it couldn’t cope. I cannot recall any of the details, but say that a Planet A warship would lock on to a Planet B rattletrap. The B ship would then make an extremely tight turn that the much faster A cruiser couldn’t negotiate, and even with its ancient weaponry, B would blow A out of the ether. Ultimately, Planet B triumphed in this most amusing story. Isaac must have had a fine time writing this one. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402/20 "2004-12-07T13:17:45Z")
Or David Weber’s _Excaliber Alternative_ (set in David Drake’s _Ranks of Bronze_ universe). A group of English soldiers are crossing the channel to fight under (I think) the Black Prince when they are abducted by aliens. The aliens need them to fight for them. According to their trade federation rules they can not use superior weapons to force primitives to their will so they kidnap superior primitive fighters from Earth. Of course the aliens underestimate the humans or there wouldn’t be a book. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-this-scifi-story/278402.md?page=2)