Short Story - Raman Pride
- RJDiogenes
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Short Story - Raman Pride
To commemorate the sighting of the first interstellar trespasser, here is my old unofficial sequel to Rendezvous With Rama:
RAMAN PRIDE
© by Rick Hutchins
From his lab in the Alpha Ring of the L5 Observatory, Professor Anjan Chandrasakhr continued to observe the progress of the alien artifact as it exited the solar system. In the weeks since perihelion, the hi-res images had accumulated in the database and, ultimately, the processing software tagged two dim elements in the background sky for further study.
Duly intrigued, Professor Chandrasakhr took several long-duration exposures of that section of the sky over a period of days. At the same time, he obtained a number of images from the Palomar Archives, some dating back as far as the Twentieth Century.
All these data were combined and processed by the station’s AI, using the most sophisticated algorithms available. Concurrently, the professor solicited expert consultations from his most knowledgeable colleagues at Sagan University and Hammel College, Farside. Many hours were spent in error checking and time-delayed video conferencing.
At last, there could be no doubt: Identical artifacts had passed through the solar system, unseen, in 2070 and 2010.
Fascinating, thought Chandrasakhr with deep sadness. The Ramans really did do everything in threes.
RAMAN PRIDE
© by Rick Hutchins
From his lab in the Alpha Ring of the L5 Observatory, Professor Anjan Chandrasakhr continued to observe the progress of the alien artifact as it exited the solar system. In the weeks since perihelion, the hi-res images had accumulated in the database and, ultimately, the processing software tagged two dim elements in the background sky for further study.
Duly intrigued, Professor Chandrasakhr took several long-duration exposures of that section of the sky over a period of days. At the same time, he obtained a number of images from the Palomar Archives, some dating back as far as the Twentieth Century.
All these data were combined and processed by the station’s AI, using the most sophisticated algorithms available. Concurrently, the professor solicited expert consultations from his most knowledgeable colleagues at Sagan University and Hammel College, Farside. Many hours were spent in error checking and time-delayed video conferencing.
At last, there could be no doubt: Identical artifacts had passed through the solar system, unseen, in 2070 and 2010.
Fascinating, thought Chandrasakhr with deep sadness. The Ramans really did do everything in threes.
Re: Short Story - Raman Pride
^Rather like my thought experiment!
The previous trips were probably bringing noodles.
The previous trips were probably bringing noodles.
- RJDiogenes
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Re: Short Story - Raman Pride
Great minds.Lupine wrote:^Rather like my thought experiment!
Is there a Noodle Nebula? There should be.The previous trips were probably bringing noodles.
- blablover5
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Re: Short Story - Raman Pride
Robot noodles.
Arisen from the ashes of many burned asunder accounts I come to fill your heart with blackest ink and glitter!
- RJDiogenes
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Re: Short Story - Raman Pride
It's a shame Asimov didn't live long enough to write a story called "Robot Noodles."
Re: Short Story - Raman Pride
Robot noodles? Metal shavings, surely.
Also, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is still out there...
Also, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is still out there...
“Satire is meant to ridicule power. If you are laughing at people who are hurting, it's not satire, it's bullying.”
― Terry Pratchett
― Terry Pratchett
- RJDiogenes
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Re: Short Story - Raman Pride
It would make sense that the Ramans were emissaries of the FSM....
- scottydog
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Re: Short Story - Raman Pride
Just when I thought it was challenging enough to write a good 500-word horror story, along comes these two-sentence-long horror stories.
- RJDiogenes
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Re: Short Story - Raman Pride
Oh, yeah, those are great. I've seen a few of them before, probably at The Lineup. Even more challenging is the six-word story, like (allegedly) Hemingway's "For Sale: Baby shoes. Never worn."
- scottydog
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Re: Short Story - Raman Pride
^^ Six words, wow!
- RJDiogenes
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Re: Short Story - Raman Pride
This might be a good idea for a new thread....
- scottydog
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Re: Short Story - Raman Pride
Awesome... writing fiction is outside of my wheelhouse, but I'll give it a try....