HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: REBECCA@YaleVM.YCC.Yale.Edu (Rebecca Drayer)
Subject: Re: Human Computers in SF--Help!
Organization: Yale University
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 13:15:13 EST

For books about humans that perform computer-like functions, try Joan D.
Vinge's _Snow Queen_ and _Summer Queen_.  She writes about sibyls, people who
have contracted an artificially-created virus that restructures their brains
and turns them, essentially, into data retrievers.  Whenever they say, "Input"
and someone asks them a question, they receive the answer via FTL transmission
from a central computer.
 
They're pretty good books.  I enjoyed them.
 
 
 
*************************************************************************
Rebecca A. Drayer, EMT        |    Rebecca@Yalevm.YCC.Yale.edu
P.O. Box 6349 Yale Station    |    Computing Assistant
New Haven, CT 06520           |    Silliman College, Yale University
 
Otto: "Don't EVER call me stupid."
Wanda: "No, that would be an insult to stupid people!!"
                                         -A Fish Called Wanda
*************************************************************************
 
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
From: jdnicoll@prism.ccs.uwo.ca (James Davis Nicoll)
Subject: Re: Plot(actually a setting) with no title
Organization: University of Western Ontario, London
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 19:07:57 GMT

In article <2B029E81@ssd0.laafb.af.mil> KitchenRN@SSD0.LAAFB.AF.MIL writes:
>
>And ca572@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Mark L. Stackpole) replied:
>>>       Uhhh... This sounds like a short novellette that was
>>>published in _Galaxy_ in 1954-6 (but I'm sure has been reprinted
>>>since).
>>>       "Big Ancestor" by F.L. Wallace
>>>
>And Dorothy J. Heydt also wrote:
>>>The title was Big Ancestor, and it appeared in Galaxy in the 1950s.
>>>I can't be sure of the author--Cogswell?  Simak?  Somebody will
>>>know.
>
>Thanks for the replies.  Now, does anybody know where this story might be 
>collected?
>

	Try looking  for 'Galactic empires two' edited by Brian Aldiss,
and published in paperback by Orbit, in 1976.  The  isbn  is 0860079090.

						James  Nicoll  
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
From: blum@medici.ils.nwu.edu (Daniel Blum)
Subject: Re: Sharon Green
Reply-To: blum@ils.nwu.edu
Organization: The Institute for the Learning Sciences
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 22:21:56 GMT

She is a real person, and she is a woman - I've met her.  I haven't
read any of her books (or Norman's), so I can't comment.  Maybe she
writes the Norman books as well. :)

--
______________________________________________________________________
Dan Blum           Institute for the Learning Sciences   Room 327
blum@ils.nwu.edu   1890 Maple Ave., Evanston, IL 60201   708-467-2306

"The only actual `Socratic' was Socrates, who may or may not have 
 actually existed, as he himself would doubtless be the first to admit
 if he were alive today."
______________________________________________________________________
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
From: umwieb69@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Brent Michael J. Wiebe)
Subject: Moiraine (off the wall idea!)
Organization: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 18:17:13 GMT

Don't ask me where I got this off the wall idea, but has anyone ever thought
that Moiraine could be a forsaken?  I mean, perhaps I am crazy, but a few ideas
have come to mind.  First of all, there is her knowledge of using balefire, now
I know that she explained that it was forbidden for Aes Sedai to use, and know,
so how does she know it?  Also, look at her interest in Rand, now I can't re-
member exact quotes, but doesn't she say something like, she's been watching
him and helping him so long, that she doesn't want to see him screw it up (it
meaning everything that he's fated to do).  This strikes me as strange that she
would like to control him so much.  The only others who have tried the same were
the Forsaken.

I think therefore, that Moiraine was a forsaken who had her ties cut to the
dark lord by Lews Therin before he broke the world (in the same way Rand cut
Sammael's(?) ties in the battle in Rhuidean).  This could explain a lot more.
So what do you think??????????????????

Regards
umwieb69@ccu.umanitoba.ca
Brent Wiebe

-- 
"Infinite:  Bigger than the biggest thing ever and then some.  Much bigger than
that in fact, really amazingly immense, a totally stunning size, real 'wow,
that's big' time.  Infinity is just so big that, by comparison, bigness itself
looks really titchy.  ... huge is the sort of concept we're trying to get across here."
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
From: sannuti@math.washington.edu (Arun Meda Sannuti)
Subject: _Swordspoint_ by Ellen Kushner
Originator: sannuti@frobenius.math.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington, Mathematics, Seattle
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 05:04:48 GMT

	Just an opinion, but _Swordspoint_ by Ellen Kushner is one of
the best fantasy books I have ever read.  Highly recommended.

	I don't want to talk about it, since saying anything would be
giving something away, but the writing is very good.  (It should be,
since she is a literature prof. at Northeastern University.)  The
characters are not flat, in fact, they are incredibly complex, yet you
grow to understand and appreciate them, though they aren't all that
wonderful as people.  Though it does seem weird that it is classified
as a fantasy, since I detected no magical elements in it.  Historical
fiction in a pseudo-medieval world would be more accurate.

Arun
asannuti@fine.princeton.edu

From: asannuti@fine.Princeton.EDU (Arun Meda Sannuti)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: _Sowrdspoint_ by Ellen Kushner
Distribution: world
Organization: Princeton University


	Just an opinion, but _Swordspoint_ by Ellen Kushner is one of
the best fantasy books I have ever read.  Highly recommended.

	I don't want to talk about it, since saying anything would be
giving something away, but the writing is very good.  (It should be,
since she is a literature prof. at Northeastern University.)  The
characters are not flat, in fact, they are incredibly complex, yet you
grow to understand and appreciate them, though they aren't all that
wonderful as people.  Though it does seem weird that it is classified
as a fantasy, since I detected no magical elements in it.  Historical
fiction in a pseudo-medieval world would be more accurate.

Arun
asannuti@fine.princeton.edu

Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
From: lalford@fsu1.cc.fsu.edu (LYNN ALFORD)
Subject: Re: Thief List
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Reply-To: lalford@fsu1.cc.fsu.edu
Organization: Florida State University
Date: 11 NOV 92 09:55:45    

In article <MANDEL.92Nov5195352@litp4.ibp.fr>, mandel@litp.ibp.fr (Arnaldo MANDEL) writes...
>Couldn't resist to add my favorite fictional thief, even though he doesn't
>belong to the SF realm:
> 
>The Saint, by Leslie Charteris,
> 
>who used "to rob the rich to give to the poor, keeping a 10 percent comission
>for services rendered".

Actually, it was even better then that.  Back in the days when he gave most 
of the 'booty' to charity, he robbed from thiefs, blackmailers and the 
like.  In other words, he only took money from those who hadn't earned 
their money.  By the time he was stealing from the rich, he no longer gave 
to the poor.

Early Saint stories (to about mid-1930's) are the best.  Books that date 
from the tv series and later are generally ok but not nearly as good.  
Things in between are good.  (As people might guess, I also love the 
Saint.)

Lynn

  _____      The Darwin fish
\/    o\
/\_____/
  bb bb
I had an opinion just a moment ago.  Now where did I put it?
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
From: jlc5f@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Jean L. Cooper)
Subject: Re: Looking for author/title of short story
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 17:05:22 GMT

There was an article similar to this in the Journal
of Irreproducible Results.  It was a joke.
--
Jean L. Cooper    (BITNET: JLC5F@virginia.edu   CIS: 70253,1114)
"The true University of these days is a Collection of Books." 
                                           --Carlyle                        
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
From: dani@netcom.com (Dani Zweig)
Subject: Who is Dave Duncan
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 05:27:45 GMT

Is the Dave Duncan who wrote "The Seven Swords" and "A Man of His Word"
the same David Duncan that was writing sf in the fifties and sixties?

advTHANKSance.

-----
Dani Zweig
dani@netcom.com

   It was mentioned on CNN that the new prime number discovered
   recently is four times bigger then the previous record.
				-- John Blasik
From: lalford@fsu1.cc.fsu.edu (LYNN ALFORD)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Re: Stephen Brust and Alexandre Dumas
Date: 31 Oct 92 17:07:11 GMT
Reply-To: lalford@fsu1.cc.fsu.edu
Followup-To: rec.arts.sf.written
Organization: Florida State University
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4

In article <1992Oct28.143347.21569@galileo.physics.arizona.edu>, lnh@soliton.physics.arizona.edu (sometimes a Wombat) writes...
>rmg3@grebyn.com (Robert Grumbine) writes:
>> 
>>   Having heard many recommendations of Stephen Brust, I finally picked
>> up one of his books recently.  After finishing _The Phoenix Guards_
>> I had a more than vague suspiscion that I'd read the story before.  
>> Namely, Alexandre Dumas' _The Three Musketeers_.  I've just finished
>> (re-)reading _The Three Musketeers_.
>> 
>>   Although there is no mention on the (paperback) edition of Brust's
>> book, it is indeed very much a lifting of the characters, style, and
>> general plot of Dumas.  IMHO the retelling (as a fantasy-history) is
>> substantially inferior to Dumas.
> 
>Um, Brust's afterword says something to this effect, stating that it
>was done in homage, not a steeling.  I've done just what you have.  I 
>found Brust's narrative to be cleaner and easier to follow.  Or at 
>least, easier than the unabridged translation I read.  

And as some have mentioned, you should try reading some of the Vlad Taltos 
books.  I think these books represent his best writing, so don't decide 
from one book that you don't like the author.  I rather liked Phoenix 
Guards, and I like the original Musketeers.  Come to think of it, I just 
happen to like swashbuckling adventure stories.  

Lynn
  _____      The Darwin fish
\/     \
/\_____/
  bb bb
I had an opinion just a moment ago.  Now where did I put it?
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
From: dani@netcom.com (Dani Zweig)
Subject: Re: "The Chieftan", or John Norman Returns
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 00:16:23 GMT

trebor@foretune.co.jp (Robert J Woodhead):
>I recall that the first half-dozen Gor books were actually quite decent -- 
>sort of "R-Rated John Carter on Counter-Earth, the Sequel" if you will.  
>They went into decline...

I was told that starting with the fourth book, Norman managed to
negotiated a no-editing clause.  But it was certainly after the
sixth issue that the writing took its precipitous decline.

-----
Dani Zweig
dani@netcom.com

   If you're going to write, don't pretend to write down.  It's going to be the
   best you can do, and it's the fact that it's the best you can do that kills
   you! -- Dorothy Parker
From: mcad@SEQ1.LOC.GOV (Michelle Cadoree)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
Subject: Librarians save the world
Date: 12 Nov 92 21:09:22 GMT


Does anyone know of a science fiction series in which librarians
save the world?
Please reply directly to mcad@seq1.loc.gov

Thank you,

Michelle Cadoree
Science and Tech. Div
Library of Congress
Washington, DC  20540

Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
From: smackinnon@mta.ca
Subject: DUfE
Reply-To: smackinnon@mta.ca
Organization: Mount Allison U, Sackville, N.B. Canada 
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 15:59:42 GMT

Possible spoilers



























	I liked this episode. It surprised me when I found out that Connie
was the leaper. Liked the special Fx. I also like the fact that Zoey and
al were somewhat the same.
	I also like how the door to the observation chambers were oposite
one was round and red and the other Blue and square.
	Does any one know the name of the computer that Zeoy was using?
I missed it.
	Some interessed questions
		What would happen if Zeoy and Alia switched places?
		what would happen if Alia and sam switched places/
just something to think about
		Keep on leaping in a free world
qshawn
smackinnon@mta.ca
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
From: jjh37997@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (James J. Herlburt)
Subject: Re: DUfE
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 06:13:33 GMT

In article <1992Nov12.223021.1475@asns.tredydev.Unisys.COM> tmm@asns.tredydev.Unisys.COM (Tim McCaffrey) writes:
>The name of the computer for Dark QL:  Wasn't it Largoes? (or something
>similar).  Isn't that the same name as the Sign of Chaos from Zelzany's
>Amber series? 

I think it was Logos. A good name for a AI.
>
>						Tim McCaffrey


Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
From: higgins@fnalf.fnal.gov (Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey)
Subject: Re: Librarians save the world
Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 1992 02:47:55 GMT

In article <9211122109.AA06204@seq1.loc.gov>, mcad@SEQ1.LOC.GOV (Michelle Cadoree) writes:
> 
> Does anyone know of a science fiction series in which librarians
> save the world?

No, but if there isn't one, there oughta be!  

Libraries, especially public libraries, are an amazingly nice feature
of the Universe, considering that it also contains the Second Law of
Thermodynamics and alarm clocks.  I would encourage the production of
a TV series that glorified librarians.  Want to work on a treatment
together, Michelle?

(*Young Indiana Jones* is in this ballpark, with its glorification of
a tough-talkin', whip-crackin', straight-shootin', hard-ridin' scholar
of antiquities...)

> Michelle Cadoree
> Science and Tech. Div
> Library of Congress
> Washington, DC  20540

Aha, a vested interest.

Disclaimer: I am *not* a librarian, though I always kinda thought it
would be fun to be one.  And I do have a few thousand books at home.

     O~~*           /_) ' / /   /_/ '  ,   ,  ' ,_  _           \|/
   - ~ -~~~~~~~~~~~/_) / / /   / / / (_) (_) / / / _\~~~~~~~~~~~zap!
 /       \                          (_) (_)                    / | \
 |       |     Bill Higgins   Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
 \       /     Bitnet:     HIGGINS@FNAL.BITNET
   -   -       Internet:  HIGGINS@FNAL.FNAL.GOV
     ~         SPAN/Hepnet:      43011::HIGGINS
From: finifter@gandalf.rutgers.edu (Tracy E. Finifter)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
Subject: Re: QL: New Blood requests
Date: 8 Nov 92 21:13:32 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

jenkirtl@lynx.dac.northeastern.edu (Jennifer Kirtley) writes:

>Okay, okay, I admit it, I'm new to QL.

Welcome!  Always pleased to have another Leaper join our ranks!

>Of course I have a *ton* of questions,...
>Sooo, could some kind soul tell me how to find my way to a FAQ,
>and/or supply me with an episode guide?  I will be in your
>debt (of course, you have to stand in line behind the University,
>my credit cards, and my parents! ;) ).  Thanks!

An anonymous ftp site is maintained which contains both a FAQL and
an episode guide, plus a lot of other neat stuff.  To get there, just
ftp ziggy.3com.com, sign in as anonymous, and use you user ID as the
password.  While you're there, you might want to check out the QL primer,
as well.

>"Theorizing that one could travel through Boston on the MBTA,
>Dr. Sam Beckett stepped onto the Green Line... and vanished!
>Trapped on the `T', Dr. Beckett finds himself leaping from
>station to station, using `T' Passes that are not his own..."

Love the .sig!!

Keep leaping...

-- 
* Tracy E. Finifter			  * "The only thing worse than losing *
*  finifter@gandalf.rutgers.edu		  *  an election is winning one."     *
*  Douglass College, Rutgers University   *				      *
*  New Brunswick, New Jersey		  *  		- Lois H. Finifter    *
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
From: fletch@camelot.bradley.edu (Alan Lurie)
Subject: QL: my 2 cents on The Evil Leaper
Organization: Bradley University
Date: 11 Nov 92 02:09:07 GMT


			(SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
		(GET OUT NOW WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!!!)


























	Okay.  I know there are going to be some people who are going
to nitpick and say they didn't like this or that.  But, I'm easy to
please.  I *LOVED* the episode.  I liked the fact that you didn't know
everything until the end.  The Evil Leaper and her hologram counterpart
were well played, and I look forward to seeing them again in future
episodes, as long as they don't use them to explain too many
inconsistencies later on.  Just my humble bit of opinion....

--

_______________________________________________________________________________
Alan S. Lurie, Esq., Time Traveller Extrordinaire = fletch@camelot.bradley.edu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       "Don't do anything that I wouldn't do.  But, if you do, take
	pictures."
		              -- Al, QUANTUM LEAP
From: GGPERRY@NUACVM.ACNS.NWU.EDU (ggreg)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
Subject: babylon 5
Date: 10 Nov 92 18:26:02 GMT
Article-I.D.: NUACVM.1689BAEDB.GGPERRY
Organization: Northwestern University

hopefully this show will bring back elements of real science-fiction,
along the lines of outer limits, max headroom (but wasn't that british,
anyway?), as opposed to the purile, pretentious, predictable bullshit
of star trek ng.   why is it, on stng, with their huge budget, that most
alien makeup consists of clay on the forehead/eyebrows/bridge of nose?
just hearing about the non-oxygen breathing aliens gives me a great deal
of hope about babylon 5.
                          ggreg
 
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
From: hamlet@zeus.tamu.edu (Rosencrantz & Guildinstern are dead!)
Subject: Re: Subplots
Summary: Ranting to the newsgroups won't help.
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: Texas A&M University, Academic Computing Services
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 00:53:00 GMT

In article <3224@romana.Tymnet.COM>, jms@romana.Tymnet.COM (Joe Smith) writes...
>In message <1992Nov11.023308.7401@grebyn.com>, billones@grebyn.com (Jeremy Billones) writes:
>>I HATE split-plot stories!  My worst fear going into this episode was ...
> 
>Jeremy, are you ever going to learn?
> 
>1) The proper term is subplot, not "split-plot".
> 
>2) The use of subplots is a standard device for dramatic works.  You will
>   find them all over the place, in novels, plays, movies, and TV shows.
> 
>3) Intelligent people do not have problems with subplots.  They understand
>   how subplots make stories more interesting by adding to the dramatic
>   tension.

There is a distinct difference between a sub-plot and a split plot. I, being 
an intelligent and discriminating TV viewer, can see that writers often 
write sub-plots in their stories, but don't fully develop the major story.

What I am trying to get at is that often when a writer attempts to show 
his/her talent by including a subplot, he/she fails miserably by either
giving to much time to the subplot and/or not fully developing the main
plot.  This results in a split plot situation where the viewer/reader/etc.
is uncertain as to what is trying to be accomplished (ie. what is the main
plot of the show, and what is secondary.)  Sometimes it is intended, but 
often it is not; it ia merely confusing.

Often, in a one hour TV show, (which equals about 52 minutes of actual 
programming) there not enough time to fully develop and do justice to
a subplot.  You can get around this obstacle by having plots which continue 
over the season or several weeks of a show.

In general, one hour episodic television does not lend itself to
plots _and_ subplots, because it often results in a split plot.  

	
	-Hamlet (with a lot of sub-plots.)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
| To .sig or not to .sig, that is the question.  Whether 'tis nobler |
| on the net to suffer the snickers and guffaws of those who .sig,   |
| or put fingers against the C on the keyboard, and by thus typing,  |
| end them.  To type, to conform, to conform perchance to bore, aye  |
| theres the rub!   -A modern day Hamlet                             |
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: CDOMS@VAX1.UMKC.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
Subject: Batman Animated Series
Date: 13 Nov 92 21:26:33 GMT

I have been enjoying the animated Batman series.  I have been impressed
with their animatation (for a tv show) as well as direction and the 
quality of actors they have used for the voices.

Did anyone, catch "Return of the Gray Ghost"?  I recognized the Ghost's
voice right away as _Adam West_.  That bit of casting was quite cleaver.
West portraying an aged actor, who could not get work, because he was
typecasted as a tv action adventure character.  Nicely done.

I also enjoyed the episode where Poison Ivy, Joker, Penquin, Two Face
and Crock, where relating their stories on how they "Almost Got" Batman.

I actually find alot of the scripts and story lines better than most
live action dramas I have seen on tv lately.  So what are some of
other folks favorite episodes so far?

Carol Doms
University of Missouri-Kansas City
cdoms@umkcvax1
cdoms@vax1.umkc.edu
From: jwells@netcom.com (Jason Paul Wells)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
Subject: Sci-Fi channel and V
Keywords: SCIENCE-FICTION V
Date: 10 Nov 92 02:13:44 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

Does anyone know if the Sci-Fi channel will ever show the weekly
"V" series from long ago? Not, the Mini-Series; but the one that
was on every Friday for a time.

Since I can't get the SF Channel in my area, if V won't be on
there, then I won't feel so bad. However, if I find out I am
missing V, my cable company will PAY! ... =)

-- 
 ______________________________________________________________
| jwells@netcom.netcom.com     |"Citizens of the Planet Earth, |
| wells@mhd1.moorhead.msus.edu | we bring you greetings...and  |
| jaywells@aol.com             | we come in peace."    ---John |
|______________________________|_______________________________|
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv
From: baylor@nebula.ssd.lmsc.lockheed.com
Subject: Re: REAL WEIRD LEAP IDEA!
Reply-To: baylor@nebula.ssd.lmsc.lockheed.com
Organization: LMSC, Sunnyvale, California
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 92 22:54:55 GMT

In article <92310.120901MRM122@psuvm.psu.edu>, MRM122@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
>OK, here's a concept I thought would be interesting (inspired after the idea
>about Sam as a woman kissing a man).
>Sam leaps in, and he is in bed (similar to Genesis or The Play's the Thing).
>There is a woman in bed who kisses him, says, "Good morning, honey." and leaves
>the room.  Sam is happy, since this seems like an easy start to a leap.  He
>gets out of bed, and goes to a mirror... to find he has lept into a woman!
>Of course, the censors would block this with a sledgehammer- look at the
>problems with "Running for Honor".  But it would make an interesting episode,
>don't you all think?
>
>                       M. R. Maresca
I find it hilarious (in the best, "let's watch Sam freak" tradition).
2 problems though: 
1) In the best of cases, Sam's real touchy about making time (pun intened)
   with someone else's lady, so it wouldn't happen quite like you describe.
2) In this situation, it'd be too easy to play the leapee as a very
   manish character (reinforcing old stereotypes that I have not
   seen to be especially true, and would therefore find offensive)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv,rec.arts.tv