The Geek Forum

  • May 09, 2024, 02:23:16 AM
  • Welcome, Guest
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Due to the prolific nature of these forums, poster aggression is advised.

*

Recent Forum Posts

Shout Box

Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 129618
  • Total Topics: 7184
  • Online Today: 140
  • Online Ever: 1013
  • (January 12, 2023, 01:18:11 AM)

Author Topic: Trying to find this one book...  (Read 2042 times)

Crystalmonkey

  • Nazi Absinthe Drinker
  • Hacker
  • ****
  • Coolio Points: +167/-3
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Posts: 1515
    • View Profile
Trying to find this one book...
« on: April 27, 2006, 11:54:11 AM »

Would anyone be willing to help me?

When I was a lot younger, I read this one story that I can remember some of the points but it was interesting, at least then. I want to at least have it on my shelf, if not read it again, but I cannot think of a title, so I was hoping someone might recognize it.

This was something of a science fiction story I believe, where the main character (I think was female) had a skill at telling the pitch of crystal.

The people on the planet she got sent to made their money by harvesting crystal veins, and as a result of conditions on the planet people lived a long time. (Though they had to return to the planet every so often if they left) Some lifeform would merge with the miners I think, though not sure.


This might be just pure crap, but I can't remember enough about the book to say, and I really would like to find it. Hope someone might have a clue.



Edit: I don't believe this is an "age appropriate book" for when I read it, so don't think it will just be under some little kid section.
Logged
"Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned." - Anonymous

"Sadly, computers don't have rights, so moral arguments aside, I'm afraid it's quite legal to run Windows on them." - /. User 468275

ivan

  • Guest
Trying to find this one book...
« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2006, 01:45:27 PM »

In the 80s, I read a story about little white spiders that take over the world. Well, they at least take over a town. It was a chilling story, one I'd like to read again. When I first thought about it, I had a false memory that it was written by George R.R. Martin, because it was similar to his Sand Kings. But no such story appears under his name.

In those days, I subscribed, among other things,  to Analog, Asimov's, Omni and the new Amazing Tales. I have scoured archives of those publications, and  the internet in general, looking for any reference to any story about little white (or maybe they were silver?) spiders that take over a town. Nothing. Nada. Bupkiss. Maybe I dreamed it.

Sorry... what were you saying?
Logged

Crystalmonkey

  • Nazi Absinthe Drinker
  • Hacker
  • ****
  • Coolio Points: +167/-3
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Posts: 1515
    • View Profile
Trying to find this one book...
« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2006, 02:12:57 PM »

It would be interesting to have a thread where people are trying to find books they read before but cannot remember.
Logged
"Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned." - Anonymous

"Sadly, computers don't have rights, so moral arguments aside, I'm afraid it's quite legal to run Windows on them." - /. User 468275

ivan

  • Guest
Trying to find this one book...
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2006, 02:15:30 PM »

Good idea. If someone starts a thread like that, I'll post about this story about white spiders I once read and can't remember who wrote it.
Logged

Crystalmonkey

  • Nazi Absinthe Drinker
  • Hacker
  • ****
  • Coolio Points: +167/-3
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Posts: 1515
    • View Profile
Trying to find this one book...
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2006, 02:20:55 PM »

Aha! Found it.

Crystal Singer, and the two books that come after it.

Will try to look for the spider thing Ivan.
Logged
"Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned." - Anonymous

"Sadly, computers don't have rights, so moral arguments aside, I'm afraid it's quite legal to run Windows on them." - /. User 468275

Crystalmonkey

  • Nazi Absinthe Drinker
  • Hacker
  • ****
  • Coolio Points: +167/-3
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Posts: 1515
    • View Profile
Trying to find this one book...
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2006, 02:30:09 PM »

Do you know if there was only one author or two?

Length of the story?
Logged
"Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned." - Anonymous

"Sadly, computers don't have rights, so moral arguments aside, I'm afraid it's quite legal to run Windows on them." - /. User 468275

ivan

  • Guest
Trying to find this one book...
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2006, 03:05:56 PM »

It was a short story or a novella. Probably in one of the SF 'zines I mentioned, but it could've been anywhere. I would guess one author.

If I did dream it, I'm definitely gonna write it, but I don't want to be a
Logged

pbsaurus

  • Hacker
  • ****
  • Coolio Points: +354/-31
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Posts: 9981
  • Everyone Loves The King Of The Sea
    • View Profile
    • http://www.myspace.com/flipperpete
Trying to find this one book...
« Reply #7 on: April 27, 2006, 03:28:10 PM »

Quote from: ivan
In the 80s, I read a story about little white spiders that take over the world. Well, they at least take over a town. It was a chilling story, one I'd like to read again. When I first thought about it, I had a false memory that it was written by George R.R. Martin, because it was similar to his Sand Kings. But no such story appears under his name.

In those days, I subscribed, among other things,  to Analog, Asimov's, Omni and the new Amazing Tales. I have scoured archives of those publications, and  the internet in general, looking for any reference to any story about little white (or maybe they were silver?) spiders that take over a town. Nothing. Nada. Bupkiss. Maybe I dreamed it.

Sorry... what were you saying?


I think that info has since been classified since it's a DARPA pro....

*no signal*

ivan

  • Guest
Trying to find this one book...
« Reply #8 on: April 27, 2006, 04:16:28 PM »

*shudder*
Logged

Demosthenes

  • Evil Ex-HN Moderator
  • Administrator
  • Hacker
  • *
  • Coolio Points: +567/-72
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Posts: 9904
  • Just try me. See what happens.
    • View Profile
    • Zombo
Trying to find this one book...
« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2006, 03:21:53 PM »

Quote from: Crystalmonkey
Aha! Found it.

Crystal Singer, and the two books that come after it.


I read those when I was in high school.  If I recall correctly the first one was pretty good, but the other two sucked it bigtime.  It was a chore to finish them.

I wouldn't mind finding a copy of that first one again though.  It's been ages.
Logged

Coolio Points: 89,000,998,776,554,211,222
Detta Puzzle Points: 45

Banning forum idiots since 2001