• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Science fiction short story

MG1962

Unregistered
MG1962
Joined
Sep 27, 2006
Messages
17,252
I am looking for the name of a story I recall reading possibly in the mid 70's but may have been part of an anthology of older works. From what I recall of the style it had to be golden age or later

Anyway it is set on Earth in the last days of a giant space slug invasions. These creatures have decended from the skies and are systematically eating everything on the planet.

A small group of humans realise the only way survive would be to get inside one of the creatures and live as parasites once the creatures head back into space looking for new planets

Ringing any bells? :confused:

Thanks in advance
 
MG1962 said:
I am looking for the name of a story I recall reading possibly in the mid 70's but may have been part of an anthology of older works. From what I recall of the style it had to be golden age or later

Anyway it is set on Earth in the last days of a giant space slug invasions. These creatures have decended from the skies and are systematically eating everything on the planet.

A small group of humans realise the only way survive would be to get inside one of the creatures and live as parasites once the creatures head back into space looking for new planets

Ringing any bells? :confused:

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Was it written in the 70's?
 
I recall a story that has humans as parasites in space traveling aliens. The humans would kill the aliens from inside, then ride a bubble from the alien in hopes of infecting another alien. Instead of names, the humans were known by their scents.

Don't recall the name, though.
 
MG1962 said:
I am looking for the name of a story I recall reading possibly in the mid 70's but may have been part of an anthology of older works. From what I recall of the style it had to be golden age or later

Anyway it is set on Earth in the last days of a giant space slug invasions. These creatures have decended from the skies and are systematically eating everything on the planet.

A small group of humans realise the only way survive would be to get inside one of the creatures and live as parasites once the creatures head back into space looking for new planets

Ringing any bells? :confused:

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Hope this thread isn't too old for you to get this. I believe you are talking about 'Strange Exodus' by Richard Abernathy. Published originally in 'Planet Stories' Volume 4 no. 8, dated 'Fall 1950'. It is available online as a pdf, or in various electronic formats. I can't post a link-not allowed, too new to the form, but go to www-dot-archive-dot-org-forward slash-details-forward slash-Planet_Stories_Volume_4_Number_8_ You will find it there. ;)
 
martinjbull said:
Hope this thread isn't too old for you to get this. I believe you are talking about 'Strange Exodus' by Richard Abernathy. Published originally in 'Planet Stories' Volume 4 no. 8, dated 'Fall 1950'. It is available online as a pdf, or in various electronic formats. I can't post a link-not allowed, too new to the form, but go to www-dot-archive-dot-org-forward slash-details-forward slash-Planet_Stories_Volume_4_Number_8_ You will find it there. ;)
Click to expand...

Never to late to give the correct information at JREF Forums! Good one, and welcome, new guy! Stick around. We have a few SF geeks about(not that I qualify - just a fan).
 
I note that page three of that file is an advert for the Hequaz Odd Name Collection Club, a society for people who want to be "among the thousands that are taking up this new and interesting hobby." It's really simple, apparently, and "loads of fun wherever you are, when you hear an odd name to jot it down for your collection."

The best part is what you get if you join:
"A free list of 50 names to begin your collection and every three months the addresses of members all over the country will be sent to you. So you can either exchange or sell your names to other members."

I wonder how that would work. Would you send a letter to someone saying that you have 35 highly unique and special names that you'd wish to sell for a few dollars? How on earth would you prevent someone from taking your money and sending you crap names? Could you request a sample of names the seller has beforehand? But then what would stop the buyer from just taking those names and add them to his/her collection without paying the seller anything?

Was there a Name Collectors' Code of Honour? A Name Collectors' Oath?

If there's anyone on this forum who is/was a name collector, I would love to find out more about this hobby.
 
Kotatsu said:
I note that page three of that file is an advert for the Hequaz Odd Name Collection Club, a society for people who want to be "among the thousands that are taking up this new and interesting hobby." It's really simple, apparently, and "loads of fun wherever you are, when you hear an odd name to jot it down for your collection."

The best part is what you get if you join:
"A free list of 50 names to begin your collection and every three months the addresses of members all over the country will be sent to you. So you can either exchange or sell your names to other members."

I wonder how that would work. Would you send a letter to someone saying that you have 35 highly unique and special names that you'd wish to sell for a few dollars? How on earth would you prevent someone from taking your money and sending you crap names? Could you request a sample of names the seller has beforehand? But then what would stop the buyer from just taking those names and add them to his/her collection without paying the seller anything?

Was there a Name Collectors' Code of Honour? A Name Collectors' Oath?

If there's anyone on this forum who is/was a name collector, I would love to find out more about this hobby.
Click to expand...

I think it was a hobby in the mind of the author of the Heqaz Book of Odd Names, published in '49. Since the ad for the "club" is from 1950, and there's almost no reference to it anywhere else, I'm going to guess it didn't exactly gain traction.

The "rights" to said book were picked up both those parasites at Kessinger. This generally indicates that it slipped into the public domain with no one having ever re-printed the original.
 
Here's the lovely (you just can't beat bright yellow and white coloring-book-sized embossed cardboard - and the tastefully framed tiny rose anchoring the design - when it comes to keepsakes) Kessinger edition at Amazon; it's fairly searchable; the author, Rose Kelley Nichols, presents herself as a numerologist with an intuitive sense of the vibrating essences of names (ahh... we should all be so blest, Hypatia); some examples of her numerological intuitions -- from C:

When you kiss my lips "CHARNEY" my lover
It is as pleasure that streams from the sky in
the early morning light.
(Notice the emotional depth of this man's name, "Charney")

"CLETUS" my boy keep thy mind concentrated on the
way to win. By persevering in thine efforts in holding
before thine inner vision the plans you desire to bring
out into outer manifestation.
(Ambition and intense desire is strong in the name of "Cletus")

& F:

I keep gazing on the far away gloom of the sky.
"FRAZEEL" my love, where art thou in the midst of the
darkened clouds; somewhere above the Atlantic, you are
sailing.
(Notice the fearlessness of this name "Frazeel")

"FLUESHA" the sky of my heart is overcast with
clouds of thy doubt, while thy faith in me would make my
world bright with the sunshine of your love.
(The rhythm of this name intrigues me, "Fluesha")

Think I'll add Fluesha to my collection. Time for your flu shot, Fluesha!
 
Last edited:
Well, isn't it about time to revive this hobby-that-never-were? It's certainly more attractive than collecting beer coasters or Happy Meal toys.
 
Kotatsu said:
Well, isn't it about time to revive this hobby-that-never-were? It's certainly more attractive than collecting beer coasters or Happy Meal toys.
Click to expand...

Yes, and we could have members trade in Namecoins, the most important development of the 21st century. Members could post REAL MONEY to my account, and I'd give them a certain amount of Namecoins to trade with. The amount would depend on the morning fixture which I'd invent arbitrarily after I have my first coffee.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom