Short Story with a simple form of machine evolution
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
This story Starts out like the standard "Planet of the Apes" routine: Space voyagers from Earth get caught in some sort of warp and return to a recognizable Earth, but the civilization they knew is long gone. In this story, however, all macro biological life has disappeared completely, to be replaced by a wilderness of feral machines, many of them replicating the standard biological forms: amulatory predators/prey (analogous to animals), sessile energy accumulators (like plants), even sea "creatures". Some predators are able to use parts of their prey directly, although most incorporate some kind of smelter or other recycling feature that allows them to mine basic materials from prey. Explosives are part of the repertoire of prey defenses, hinting that some of this may have been kicked off by humans tinkering with autonomous machines meant for warfare. I think it was by a well-known SF author, like, say, Robert Silverberg. I believe it dates back to the 1980s, could have encountered it in a collection of older stuff, but it's definitely post-60s, as integrated chips are mentioned explicitly as a resource.
story-identification short-stories evolution
New contributor
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
This story Starts out like the standard "Planet of the Apes" routine: Space voyagers from Earth get caught in some sort of warp and return to a recognizable Earth, but the civilization they knew is long gone. In this story, however, all macro biological life has disappeared completely, to be replaced by a wilderness of feral machines, many of them replicating the standard biological forms: amulatory predators/prey (analogous to animals), sessile energy accumulators (like plants), even sea "creatures". Some predators are able to use parts of their prey directly, although most incorporate some kind of smelter or other recycling feature that allows them to mine basic materials from prey. Explosives are part of the repertoire of prey defenses, hinting that some of this may have been kicked off by humans tinkering with autonomous machines meant for warfare. I think it was by a well-known SF author, like, say, Robert Silverberg. I believe it dates back to the 1980s, could have encountered it in a collection of older stuff, but it's definitely post-60s, as integrated chips are mentioned explicitly as a resource.
story-identification short-stories evolution
New contributor
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
This story Starts out like the standard "Planet of the Apes" routine: Space voyagers from Earth get caught in some sort of warp and return to a recognizable Earth, but the civilization they knew is long gone. In this story, however, all macro biological life has disappeared completely, to be replaced by a wilderness of feral machines, many of them replicating the standard biological forms: amulatory predators/prey (analogous to animals), sessile energy accumulators (like plants), even sea "creatures". Some predators are able to use parts of their prey directly, although most incorporate some kind of smelter or other recycling feature that allows them to mine basic materials from prey. Explosives are part of the repertoire of prey defenses, hinting that some of this may have been kicked off by humans tinkering with autonomous machines meant for warfare. I think it was by a well-known SF author, like, say, Robert Silverberg. I believe it dates back to the 1980s, could have encountered it in a collection of older stuff, but it's definitely post-60s, as integrated chips are mentioned explicitly as a resource.
story-identification short-stories evolution
New contributor
This story Starts out like the standard "Planet of the Apes" routine: Space voyagers from Earth get caught in some sort of warp and return to a recognizable Earth, but the civilization they knew is long gone. In this story, however, all macro biological life has disappeared completely, to be replaced by a wilderness of feral machines, many of them replicating the standard biological forms: amulatory predators/prey (analogous to animals), sessile energy accumulators (like plants), even sea "creatures". Some predators are able to use parts of their prey directly, although most incorporate some kind of smelter or other recycling feature that allows them to mine basic materials from prey. Explosives are part of the repertoire of prey defenses, hinting that some of this may have been kicked off by humans tinkering with autonomous machines meant for warfare. I think it was by a well-known SF author, like, say, Robert Silverberg. I believe it dates back to the 1980s, could have encountered it in a collection of older stuff, but it's definitely post-60s, as integrated chips are mentioned explicitly as a resource.
story-identification short-stories evolution
story-identification short-stories evolution
New contributor
New contributor
edited 3 hours ago
New contributor
asked 3 hours ago
willibro
163
163
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
This is probably Poul Anderson's story "Epilogue" which fits all of the details you mention. There's a discussion of the story at http://poulandersonappreciation.blogspot.com/2013/08/epilogue.html and another at https://polaris93.livejournal.com/2745134.html. It was first published in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, March 1962 and has been reprinted many times, see the ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?61784
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
A novel, not a short story, is a quirky tale by James Hogan, Code of the Lifemaker. 1983. ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/se.cgi?arg=code+of+the+lifemaker&type=Fiction+Titles
(Though ISFDB does say an "excerpt" was published as a story.)
Somewhat humorous. Reasonably good (not Hogan's best, not his worst).
Includes a prologue with a pretty entertaining description of how the moon Titan gets "colonized" by a species of completely self-aware robots. How they live, reproduce, have politics and governments, etc. Some of the robots are "people" and others are "animals".
And then mankind detects odd sporadic radio signals from there and decides to investigate. For some reason, some of the scientific/research crew going out there consists of a "mind reading" charlatan and his tight crew of accomplices.
These images of the cover will give you an idea: google image search
(Even if it isn't the story you're thinking of check it out.)
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
This is probably Poul Anderson's story "Epilogue" which fits all of the details you mention. There's a discussion of the story at http://poulandersonappreciation.blogspot.com/2013/08/epilogue.html and another at https://polaris93.livejournal.com/2745134.html. It was first published in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, March 1962 and has been reprinted many times, see the ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?61784
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
This is probably Poul Anderson's story "Epilogue" which fits all of the details you mention. There's a discussion of the story at http://poulandersonappreciation.blogspot.com/2013/08/epilogue.html and another at https://polaris93.livejournal.com/2745134.html. It was first published in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, March 1962 and has been reprinted many times, see the ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?61784
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
This is probably Poul Anderson's story "Epilogue" which fits all of the details you mention. There's a discussion of the story at http://poulandersonappreciation.blogspot.com/2013/08/epilogue.html and another at https://polaris93.livejournal.com/2745134.html. It was first published in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, March 1962 and has been reprinted many times, see the ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?61784
This is probably Poul Anderson's story "Epilogue" which fits all of the details you mention. There's a discussion of the story at http://poulandersonappreciation.blogspot.com/2013/08/epilogue.html and another at https://polaris93.livejournal.com/2745134.html. It was first published in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, March 1962 and has been reprinted many times, see the ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?61784
answered 3 hours ago
Mark Olson
11.1k13767
11.1k13767
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
A novel, not a short story, is a quirky tale by James Hogan, Code of the Lifemaker. 1983. ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/se.cgi?arg=code+of+the+lifemaker&type=Fiction+Titles
(Though ISFDB does say an "excerpt" was published as a story.)
Somewhat humorous. Reasonably good (not Hogan's best, not his worst).
Includes a prologue with a pretty entertaining description of how the moon Titan gets "colonized" by a species of completely self-aware robots. How they live, reproduce, have politics and governments, etc. Some of the robots are "people" and others are "animals".
And then mankind detects odd sporadic radio signals from there and decides to investigate. For some reason, some of the scientific/research crew going out there consists of a "mind reading" charlatan and his tight crew of accomplices.
These images of the cover will give you an idea: google image search
(Even if it isn't the story you're thinking of check it out.)
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
A novel, not a short story, is a quirky tale by James Hogan, Code of the Lifemaker. 1983. ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/se.cgi?arg=code+of+the+lifemaker&type=Fiction+Titles
(Though ISFDB does say an "excerpt" was published as a story.)
Somewhat humorous. Reasonably good (not Hogan's best, not his worst).
Includes a prologue with a pretty entertaining description of how the moon Titan gets "colonized" by a species of completely self-aware robots. How they live, reproduce, have politics and governments, etc. Some of the robots are "people" and others are "animals".
And then mankind detects odd sporadic radio signals from there and decides to investigate. For some reason, some of the scientific/research crew going out there consists of a "mind reading" charlatan and his tight crew of accomplices.
These images of the cover will give you an idea: google image search
(Even if it isn't the story you're thinking of check it out.)
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
A novel, not a short story, is a quirky tale by James Hogan, Code of the Lifemaker. 1983. ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/se.cgi?arg=code+of+the+lifemaker&type=Fiction+Titles
(Though ISFDB does say an "excerpt" was published as a story.)
Somewhat humorous. Reasonably good (not Hogan's best, not his worst).
Includes a prologue with a pretty entertaining description of how the moon Titan gets "colonized" by a species of completely self-aware robots. How they live, reproduce, have politics and governments, etc. Some of the robots are "people" and others are "animals".
And then mankind detects odd sporadic radio signals from there and decides to investigate. For some reason, some of the scientific/research crew going out there consists of a "mind reading" charlatan and his tight crew of accomplices.
These images of the cover will give you an idea: google image search
(Even if it isn't the story you're thinking of check it out.)
A novel, not a short story, is a quirky tale by James Hogan, Code of the Lifemaker. 1983. ISFDB: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/se.cgi?arg=code+of+the+lifemaker&type=Fiction+Titles
(Though ISFDB does say an "excerpt" was published as a story.)
Somewhat humorous. Reasonably good (not Hogan's best, not his worst).
Includes a prologue with a pretty entertaining description of how the moon Titan gets "colonized" by a species of completely self-aware robots. How they live, reproduce, have politics and governments, etc. Some of the robots are "people" and others are "animals".
And then mankind detects odd sporadic radio signals from there and decides to investigate. For some reason, some of the scientific/research crew going out there consists of a "mind reading" charlatan and his tight crew of accomplices.
These images of the cover will give you an idea: google image search
(Even if it isn't the story you're thinking of check it out.)
answered 17 mins ago
davidbak
8951616
8951616
add a comment |
add a comment |
willibro is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
willibro is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
willibro is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
willibro is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Thanks for contributing an answer to Science Fiction & Fantasy Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fscifi.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f200016%2fshort-story-with-a-simple-form-of-machine-evolution%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown