Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site topaz.RUTGERS.EDU Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!columbia!topaz!Jamie.Zawinski From: Jamie.Zawinski@CMU-CS-SPICE.ARPA Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Bring on the Aliens Message-ID: <3282@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU> Date: Wed, 14-Aug-85 17:49:35 EDT Article-I.D.: topaz.3282 Posted: Wed Aug 14 17:49:35 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 18-Aug-85 21:59:07 EDT Sender: daemon@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 28 From: Jamie.Zawinski@CMU-CS-SPICE There's a short story by Arthur Clarke (don't remember what it's called, but I think it's in SENTINEL) which suggests that the reason that we haven't been contacted yet is that we evolved so durn fast! ****** SPOILER SPOILER ****** It is told from the aliens' point of view. It seems that a research team of a multi-species civilization was observing a star which showed signs of being about to nova, whenf they detected radio signals.They were quite shocked, because an expedition had been there a scant hundred million years before, and it was unprecedented that sentience coulddevelop in such a short time. The star was going to go blooie real soon, so they sent out a rescue team to save as many of the humans as possible. The aliens found the planet deserted. The cities had been left intact, with all sorts of broadcasting equipment set up to observe the nova firsthand. The aliens looked in the direction that the signals were being sent, and saw many ships receeding at *sub-light* velocities with *reaction* thrusters! The rescue team set out in the direction of this spunky little species, and one said to another "What if they don't like our little empire? I mean, we only outnumber them by a few billion to one." The other laughed, but (classic line) "twenty years later, it didn't seem all that funny." GREAT story! --Jamie jwz@cmu-cs-spice