1. Book Four

2. 1. Electric Shepherd Productions (ESP) is a
company founded by the sisters Laura Leslie and
Isa Hackett. Who is their famous father?
ESP’s latest production is going to be a 4-episode
mini-series to be telecast on SyFy channel,
directed by Ridley Scott, and written by Frank
Spotnitz (of X-Files fame) Which book is this TV
series going to be based on?

3. 2. Whose only non science-fiction novel,
‘Glide Path’, was based on the author’s
experiences as the RAF officer in charge of
the Ground Controlled Approach, the first
radar talk-down system designed to guide
airplanes down to the ground in stormy
weather using radar images?

4. 3. Given that Adam
Roberts’s sense of
humour is in the same
plane as that of
Appu’s—name this
compilation of his
short stories.

5. 4. This is from the Alastair Reynolds short story ‘Tiger Burning’.
Identify the playwright, and his work being alluded to here.

6. 5. Whose art graces
this book cover?

7.  "Caladan" – 2:28
 "Sardaukar Levenbrech" – 2:08
 "Zoal, Face Dancer" – 2:38
 "Rosa" – 3:15
 "Avi" – 2:38
 "Feyd Rautha Dark Heart" – 3:44
 "Gambang" – 1:36
 "Venus in Fleurs" – 2:45
 "Grisgris" – 3:25
 "Shadout Mapes" – 4:34
 "Beast Infection" – 2:21

8. 7. ‘Locus’ magazine recently published their
list of Best 20th Century Science Fiction
Novels, and Best 20th Century Fantasy
Novels. Who is the only author whose works
appear in the Top 5 of both the lists?

9. 8. In the Jules Verne classic, ‘20,000
Leagues Under the Sea’, the narrator
Arronax gives a laborious itemised
description of a giant squid that they spot.
Arronax concludes by acknowledging his
description as being too pallid, and saying
that only “the author of ‘The Toilers of the
Sea’” could do it justice.
Jules Verne was thus paying tribute to
which famous author?

10. 9. The ‘TekWar’ series of books is credited
to William Shatner. Which author, who
among other things wrote a series of novels
starring Groucho Marx as a detective, ghost
wrote this popular sci-fi series?

11. X
Y 10. ‘X & Y’ is a novel
by Rudy Rucker that
portrays X, a
scientist and Y, an
author as lovers.
Solve for X and Y.

12. 11. This phrase (a character name, in fact) is used in literary circles
to denote author self-insertions especially when there is a wish-
fulfillment angle to it. It originates from a 1973 Paula Smith story
called ‘A Trekkie’s Tale’. Given below is a definition from 1976 by
which time the phrase had started being used frequently in fan
fiction.
____ ___ stories—the adventures of the youngest and smartest ever
person to graduate from the academy and ever get a commission at
such a tender age. Usually characterized by unprecedented skill in
everything from art to zoology, including karate and arm-
wrestling. This character can also be found burrowing her way into
the good graces/heart/mind of one of the Big Three [Kirk, Spock,
and McCoy], if not all three at once. She saves the day by her wit
and ability, and, if we are lucky, has the good grace to die at the
end, being grieved by the entire ship
What phrase/character?

13. 12. Writer Gary Westfahl opines that this
author wrote science fiction from 1939 to
1957, and wrote satires of science fiction
from 1958 until his death in 1988. Who?

14. 13. The teaching software on
OLPC is named Nell after the
idea of Nell’s Primer from which
sci-fi book?

15. 14. The first book in the Moreau series of
books by S. Andrew Swann is titled ‘Forests
of the Night’, and the fourth and final book
is titled ‘Fearful Symmetries’. What sort of a
creature is Nohar Rajasthan, the
protagonist of these four books?

16. 15. A classic short story, ‘Answer’, written by
Fredric Brown in 1954, has every single
computer in the galaxy linked together to
answer a single question: “Is there a God?”
What is the computer’s response?

18. 17. One of the ways in which M John
Harrison’s ‘Viriconium’ stories flirted with
sci-fi was the existence of weapons that were
essentially laser blasters. What were these
weapons called, a name Harrison borrowed
from a Sanskrit word for arrow?

19. 18. In Terry Pratchett’s Discworld universe,
there are two origin hypotheses. One is the
Big Bang which involves the Great A’Tuin
and other turtles mating. What is the other
theory which states that A’Tuin had come
from nowhere and would continue at an
uniform crawl into nowhere, for all time?

20. X Y
Napoleon Boot Wellington
Chalotte Madam Cholet
Vulgarian Great Uncle Bulgaria
Bingo Bungo
Sydney Miss Adelaide
Stonks Tomsk
Torreycanyon Tobermory
Orococco Orinoco

21. 20. As per a Publisher’s Weekly
report, which book (first
published in 1985) topped the
bestsellers list in the science
fiction genre?

22. 21. It is well known that the Narnia
series contains a lot of Biblical
allusions. In the series, which food
item plays a role analogous to that of
the Biblical forbidden fruit?

23. 22. Identify the character.

24. 23. John Carpenter’s horror-classic ‘The
Thing’ was based on the novella ‘Who Goes
There’ (first published in the August 1938
edition of ‘Astounding Science-Fiction’)
Which influential figure in sci-fi wrote the
novella?

25. 24. The cover art for
Neil Gaiman’s
upcoming book was
revealed recently.
What in the world of
music did sci-fi
blogger Niall
Alexander compare
the cover art to?

26. 25. Who has written the afterword in Cory
Doctorow’s new book ‘Homeland’, the
sequel to ‘Little Brother’? In the afterword,
a fervent plea is made to the readers to get
involved in stopping the Internet from
becoming “some kind of giant stupid
shopping mall.”

27. 26. The 1869 novelette ‘The Brick
Moon’ by Edward Everett Hale is
considered the first description
of what in science fiction?

28. 27. Noted sci-fi author David Gerrold (the
man who came up with the concept of a
computer virus in his novel ‘When
HARLIE Was One’) recently wrote an open
letter to DC Comics offering to write a
Superman story in the interest of balance.
Explain the context.

29. 28. What are the aliens in ‘District 9’ called?

30. 29. To whom did
Brandon
Sanderson give
this autographed
copy of his book
‘The Way of
Kings’?
Which book’s title
have I blanked out
here?

31. “Some mechanism in my sub-consciousness
took the dominant characteristics of various
prize-fighters, gunmen, bootleggers, oil field
bullies, gamblers, and honest workmen I had
come in contact with, and combining them
all, produced the amalgamation I call _____ .”
30. An author talking about his most famous
creation. Identify both.

32. 31. ‘The Tea Garden Soap Box Grand Prix’,
by David Tanh and Marcus Muller is a
story about the Kame Clan and the Usagi
Clan who decide to take their feud to the
racetrack, where the Usagis have
traditionally dominated.
This story is a reimagining of which
famous tale?

33. 32. This Internet meme usually features a photo of a cat that is
hanging on to something by its claws (I thought the panda looked
cuter, so I put that in) Identify the meme that takes its name from
the last words uttered by Gandalf, the Grey.

34. 33. What is the
inspiration for the
design of this
paperweight?

35. 34. When young James
expressed interest in
making sci-fi
illustrations, his uncle,
one of 20th century’s
most prominent artists,
expressed disgust. Name
the uncle.
Also, name the book
whose cover the artwork
on the right adorned.

36. 35. Author talking about how he was inspired by a scene in the
movie ‘Let’s Do It Again’—
“I had gotten the idea several years earlier while attending a
movie in a Redondo Beach theater. In this particular scene, Ray
Milland, leaving Jane Wyman's apartment in a huff,
accidentally put on Aldo Ray's hat, which sank down around
his ears. Something in me asked, ‘What would happen if a man
put on a hat which he knew was his and the same thing
happened?’ Thus the notion came.”
Which 1956 novel resulted?

37. 36. Along with
singer Alicia Keys,
and director Robert
Rodriguez, he has
been signed on as a
brand ambassador
for their latest
product.
Who? Which
brand/company?

38. 37. Science fiction : Steampunk ::
Fantasy : _______ _______
Complete the analogy above with a
phrase that was originally coined to
describe the comic ‘Girl Genius’ by Phil
and Kaja Foglio.

39. 38. This heavily
Ballardian book has
been out-of-print for a
while, but is widely
available on torrents.
Which band’s fans are
the most likely reason?

40. 39. Which famous tale is based partly on
historical events—the pilgrimage of a Chinese
monk, Xuanzang, to India, to recover
Mahayana Buddhist scriptures for the court of
China’s illustrious T’ang dynasty?

41. 40. Name the
protagonist and
antagonist of this
novel

42. 41. This is the Solar
System as represented in
which series of books?
What is the name for
Venus in these books?

43. 42. The only use mentioned for this
technology in H2G2 is that it can shift all
the molecules in women’s undergarments
one foot to the left, thus making it a
popular party trick. What technology?
Also, name the more famous (and
definitely more useful) related technology
that drives a lot of the plot in the series.

44. 43. What was held for the first
time in 1939 in New York from
July 2nd to 4th in conjunction with
the Worlds Fair that was
happening in the city at that time?

45. 44. The 1921 play ‘Back to Methuselah’
included science fiction elements such
as people communicating via visual
switchboard, an England governed by
Chinese and African women, and of course
as the title indicates, people who live to be
three hundred and more.
Who wrote this play?

46. 45. Which legendary sci-fi author coined the
phrase “live long and prosper”?

47. 36 visuals – 6 sets of 6 each
+3, +2.5, +2, +1.5, +1, +0.5
-0.5 for wrong guess

61. 1. Electric Shepherd Productions (ESP) is a
company founded by the sisters Laura Leslie and
Isa Hackett. Who is their famous father?
ESP’s latest production is going to be a 4-episode
mini-series to be telecast on SyFy channel,
directed by Ridley Scott, and written by Frank
Spotnitz (of X-Files fame) Which book is this TV
series going to be based on?

62.  Philip K Dick
 The Man in the High Castle

63. 2. Whose only non science-fiction novel,
‘Glide Path’, was based on the author’s
experiences as the RAF officer in charge of
the Ground Controlled Approach, the first
radar talk-down system designed to guide
airplanes down to the ground in stormy
weather using radar images?

64.  Arthur C Clarke

65. 3. Given that Adam
Roberts’s sense of
humour is in the same
plane as that of
Appu’s—name this
compilation of his
short stories.

66.  Adam Robots

67. 4. This is from the Alastair Reynolds short story ‘Tiger Burning’.
Identify the playwright, and his work being alluded to here.

68.  Shakespeare
 The Tempest

69. 5. Whose art graces
this book cover?

70.  Max Ernst

71.  "Caladan" – 2:28
 "Sardaukar Levenbrech" – 2:08
 "Zoal, Face Dancer" – 2:38
 "Rosa" – 3:15
 "Avi" – 2:38
 "Feyd Rautha Dark Heart" – 3:44
 "Gambang" – 1:36
 "Venus in Fleurs" – 2:45
 "Grisgris" – 3:25
 "Shadout Mapes" – 4:34
 "Beast Infection" – 2:21

72.  Dune, by Frank Herbert

73. 7. ‘Locus’ magazine recently published their
list of Best 20th Century Science Fiction
Novels, and Best 20th Century Fantasy
Novels. Who is the only author whose works
appear in the Top 5 of both the lists?

74.  Ursula LeGuin

75. 8. In the Jules Verne classic, ‘20,000
Leagues Under the Sea’, the narrator
Arronax gives a laborious itemised
description of a giant squid that they spot.
Arronax concludes by acknowledging his
description as being too pallid, and saying
that only “the author of ‘The Toilers of the
Sea’” could do it justice.
Jules Verne was thus paying tribute to
which famous author?

76.  Victor Hugo

77. 9. The ‘TekWar’ series of books is credited
to William Shatner. Which author, who
among other things wrote a series of novels
starring Groucho Marx as a detective, ghost
wrote this popular sci-fi series?

78.  Ron Goulart

79. X
Y 10. ‘X & Y’ is a novel
by Rudy Rucker that
portrays X, a
scientist and Y, an
author as lovers.
Solve for X and Y.

80.  Turing & Burroughs

81. 11. This phrase (a character name, in fact) is used in literary circles
to denote author self-insertions especially when there is a wish-
fulfillment angle to it. It originates from a 1973 Paula Smith story
called ‘A Trekkie’s Tale’. Given below is a definition from 1976 by
which time the phrase had started being used frequently in fan
fiction.
____ ___ stories—the adventures of the youngest and smartest ever
person to graduate from the academy and ever get a commission at
such a tender age. Usually characterized by unprecedented skill in
everything from art to zoology, including karate and arm-
wrestling. This character can also be found burrowing her way into
the good graces/heart/mind of one of the Big Three [Kirk, Spock,
and McCoy], if not all three at once. She saves the day by her wit
and ability, and, if we are lucky, has the good grace to die at the
end, being grieved by the entire ship
What phrase/character?

82.  Mary Sue

83. 12. Writer Gary Westfahl opines that this
author wrote science fiction from 1939 to
1957, and wrote satires of science fiction
from 1958 until his death in 1988. Who?

84.  Robert Heinlein

85. 13. The teaching software on
OLPC is named Nell after the
idea of Nell’s Primer from which
sci-fi book?

86.  The Diamond Age, by Neal Stephenson

87. 14. The first book in the Moreau series of
books by S. Andrew Swann is titled ‘Forests
of the Night’, and the fourth and final book
is titled ‘Fearful Symmetries’. What sort of a
creature is Nohar Rajasthan, the
protagonist of these four books?

88.  Tiger

89. 15. A classic short story, ‘Answer’, written by
Fredric Brown in 1954, has every single
computer in the galaxy linked together to
answer a single question: “Is there a God?”
What is the computer’s response?

90.  There is now.

92.  Elric of Melnibone

93. 17. One of the ways in which M John
Harrison’s ‘Viriconium’ stories flirted with
sci-fi was the existence of weapons that were
essentially laser blasters. What were these
weapons called, a name Harrison borrowed
from a Sanskrit word for arrow?

94.  Baans

95. 18. In Terry Pratchett’s Discworld universe,
there are two origin hypotheses. One is the
Big Bang which involves the Great A’Tuin
and other turtles mating. What is the other
theory which states that A’Tuin had come
from nowhere and would continue at an
uniform crawl into nowhere, for all time?

96.  Steady gait

97. X Y
Napoleon Boot Wellington
Chalotte Madam Cholet
Vulgarian Great Uncle Bulgaria
Bingo Bungo
Sydney Miss Adelaide
Stonks Tomsk
Torreycanyon Tobermory
Orococco Orinoco

98.  X – Rumbles
 Y – Wombles

99. 20. As per a Publisher’s Weekly
report, which book (first
published in 1985) topped the
bestsellers list in the science
fiction genre?

100.  Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card

101. 21. It is well known that the Narnia
series contains a lot of Biblical
allusions. In the series, which food
item plays a role analogous to that of
the Biblical forbidden fruit?

102.  Turkish delight

103. 22. Identify the character.

104.  Geordi La Forge

105. 23. John Carpenter’s horror-classic ‘The
Thing’ was based on the novella ‘Who Goes
There’ (first published in the August 1938
edition of ‘Astounding Science-Fiction’)
Which influential figure in sci-fi wrote the
novella?

106.  John W Campbell, Jr.

107. 24. The cover art for
Neil Gaiman’s
upcoming book was
revealed recently.
What in the world of
music did sci-fi
blogger Niall
Alexander compare
the cover art to?

108.  Album cover of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’

109. 25. Who has written the afterword in Cory
Doctorow’s new book ‘Homeland’, the
sequel to ‘Little Brother’? In the afterword,
a fervent plea is made to the readers to get
involved in stopping the Internet from
becoming “some kind of giant stupid
shopping mall.”

110.  Aaron Swartz

111. 26. The 1869 novelette ‘The Brick
Moon’ by Edward Everett Hale is
considered the first description
of what in science fiction?

112.  Artificial satellite

113. 27. Noted sci-fi author David Gerrold (the
man who came up with the concept of a
computer virus in his novel ‘When
HARLIE Was One’) recently wrote an open
letter to DC Comics offering to write a
Superman story in the interest of balance.
Explain the context.

114.  In response to homophobe Orson Scott Card being
roped in by DC Comics to write a Superman story.
 David Gerrold is openly gay

115. 28. What are the aliens in ‘District 9’ called?

116.  Prawns

117. 29. To whom did
Brandon
Sanderson give
this autographed
copy of his book
‘The Way of
Kings’?
Which book’s title
have I blanked out
here?

118.  Patrick Rothfuss
 The Wise Man’s Fear

119. “Some mechanism in my sub-consciousness
took the dominant characteristics of various
prize-fighters, gunmen, bootleggers, oil field
bullies, gamblers, and honest workmen I had
come in contact with, and combining them
all, produced the amalgamation I call _____ .”
30. An author talking about his most famous
creation. Identify both.

120.  Conan

121. 31. ‘The Tea Garden Soap Box Grand Prix’,
by David Tanh and Marcus Muller is a
story about the Kame Clan and the Usagi
Clan who decide to take their feud to the
racetrack, where the Usagis have
traditionally dominated.
This story is a reimagining of which
famous tale?

122.  The Hare and the Tortoise

123. 32. This Internet meme usually features a photo of a cat that is
hanging on to something by its claws (I thought the panda looked
cuter, so I put that in) Identify the meme that takes its name from
the last words uttered by Gandalf, the Grey.

124.  Fly, you fools!

125. 33. What is the
inspiration for the
design of this
paperweight?

126.  The dragon eggs from Game of Thrones

127. 34. When young James
expressed interest in
making sci-fi
illustrations, his uncle,
one of 20th century’s
most prominent artists,
expressed disgust. Name
the uncle.
Also, name the book
whose cover the artwork
on the right adorned.

128.  Andy Warhol
 Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein

129. 35. Author talking about how he was inspired by a scene in the
movie ‘Let’s Do It Again’—
“I had gotten the idea several years earlier while attending a
movie in a Redondo Beach theater. In this particular scene, Ray
Milland, leaving Jane Wyman's apartment in a huff,
accidentally put on Aldo Ray's hat, which sank down around
his ears. Something in me asked, ‘What would happen if a man
put on a hat which he knew was his and the same thing
happened?’ Thus the notion came.”
Which 1956 novel resulted?

130.  The Shrinking Man, by Richard Matheson

131. 36. Along with
singer Alicia Keys,
and director Robert
Rodriguez, he has
been signed on as a
brand ambassador
for their latest
product.
Who? Which
brand/company?

132.  Neil Gaiman
 Blackberry

133. 37. Science fiction : Steampunk ::
Fantasy : _______ _______
Complete the analogy above with a
phrase that was originally coined to
describe the comic ‘Girl Genius’ by Phil
and Kaja Foglio.

134.  Gaslamp fantasy

135. 38. This heavily
Ballardian book has
been out-of-print for a
while, but is widely
available on torrents.
Which band’s fans are
the most likely reason?

136.  Swans

137. 39. Which famous tale is based partly on
historical events—the pilgrimage of a Chinese
monk, Xuanzang, to India, to recover
Mahayana Buddhist scriptures for the court of
China’s illustrious T’ang dynasty?

138.  Journey to the West

139. 40. Name the
protagonist and
antagonist of this
novel

140.  HG Wells
 Jack, the Ripper

141. 41. This is the Solar
System as represented in
which series of books?
What is the name for
Venus in these books?

142.  The Space Trilogy / Cosmic Trilogy, by CS Lewis
 Perelandra

143. 42. The only use mentioned for this
technology in H2G2 is that it can shift all
the molecules in women’s undergarments
one foot to the left, thus making it a
popular party trick. What technology?
Also, name the more famous (and
definitely more useful) related technology
that drives a lot of the plot in the series.

144.  Finite improbability
 Infinite improbability

145. 43. What was held for the first
time in 1939 in New York from
July 2nd to 4th in conjunction with
the Worlds Fair that was
happening in the city at that time?

146.  WorldCon (World Science Fiction Convention)

147. 44. The 1921 play ‘Back to Methuselah’
included science fiction elements such
as people communicating via visual
switchboard, an England governed by
Chinese and African women, and of course
as the title indicates, people who live to be
three hundred and more.
Who wrote this play?

148.  George Bernard Shaw

149. 45. Which legendary sci-fi author coined the
phrase “live long and prosper”?

150.  Theodore Sturgeon

151. 36 visuals – 6 sets of 6 each
+3, +2.5, +2, +1.5, +1, +0.5
-0.5 for wrong guess

164.  Symbols on an Alethiometer (in Philip Pullman’s ‘His
Dark Materials’ trilogy)