From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

Five Science Fiction Stories About Investigating Enigmatic Artifacts

"What is this thing, and where the heck did it come from?" is a great
way to start any story!

https://reactormag.com/five-science-fiction-stories-about-investigating-enigmatic-artifacts/
--
My reviews can be found at http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/
My tor pieces at https://www.tor.com/author/james-davis-nicoll/
My Dreamwidth at https://james-davis-nicoll.dreamwidth.org/
My patreon is at https://www.patreon.com/jamesdnicoll
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 2026-02-26, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:

Five Science Fiction Stories About Investigating Enigmatic Artifacts

"What is this thing, and where the heck did it come from?" is a great
way to start any story!

Hands down my favorite: James P. Hogan, _Inherit the Stars_. The
50,000-year old body of a human astronaut is found on the moon.

Michael Crichton, _Sphere_. There's a crashed spaceship on the
floor of the Pacific.

All sorts of Big Dumb Object stories like _Rendezvous with Rama_
or _Ringworld_.
--
Christian "naddy" Weisgerber naddy@mips.inka.de
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 2/26/26 3:33 PM, Christian Weisgerber wrote:

On 2026-02-26, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:

Five Science Fiction Stories About Investigating Enigmatic Artifacts

"What is this thing, and where the heck did it come from?" is a great
way to start any story!

Hands down my favorite: James P. Hogan, _Inherit the Stars_. The
50,000-year old body of a human astronaut is found on the moon.

Michael Crichton, _Sphere_. There's a crashed spaceship on the
floor of the Pacific.

All sorts of Big Dumb Object stories like _Rendezvous with Rama_
or _Ringworld_.

And by coincidence, I (re)read Clarke's "The Sentinel"[1] just two
nights ago.

Tony
[1] This story is the starting point of 2001: A Space Odyssey, per Clarke.
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:33:09 -0000 (UTC), Christian Weisgerber wrote:

On 2026-02-26, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:

Five Science Fiction Stories About Investigating Enigmatic
Artifacts

"What is this thing, and where the heck did it come from?" is a
great way to start any story!

Hands down my favorite: James P. Hogan, _Inherit the Stars_. The
50,000-year old body of a human astronaut is found on the moon.

Michael Crichton, _Sphere_. There's a crashed spaceship on the floor
of the Pacific.

All sorts of Big Dumb Object stories like _Rendezvous with Rama_ or _Ringworld_.

For more BDO, how about Bob ShawrCOs rCLOrbitsvillerCY series? Ringworld is
a ring, Orbitsville is a complete sphere around a star.
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:05:58 -0500 (EST), James Nicoll wrote:

https://reactormag.com/five-science-fiction-stories-about-investigating-enigmatic-artifacts/

Like this bit of the description of the rCLBlakerCOs 7rCY episode:

Cold, amoral Avon did not pick Vila and Cally because they had the
qualifications to conduct deep-space archaeology. He selected them
because they were the two crew members least likely to stab him in
the back while conducting deep-space archaeology. Camaraderie
wasnrCOt really a thing on the Liberator.

For those unfamiliar with the series, what was US TV SF like back in
1980? As I recall, you still had militarily-organized groups who
rarely disagreed with each other, and were always quick to follow the CaptainrCOs orders.

Meanwhile, Blake was a renegade, leader of a bunch of misfits and
outlaws who hated and distrusted each otherrCOs guts, yet each one owed something to Blake and so remained loyal to him.

So when he disappears, right in the middle of a series titled after
him, the rest have to muddle through somehow from episode to episode,
without killing each other.
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

In article <10nqscr$24gkr$2@dont-email.me>,
Lawrence D Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:33:09 -0000 (UTC), Christian Weisgerber wrote:

On 2026-02-26, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:

Five Science Fiction Stories About Investigating Enigmatic
Artifacts

"What is this thing, and where the heck did it come from?" is a
great way to start any story!

Hands down my favorite: James P. Hogan, _Inherit the Stars_. The
50,000-year old body of a human astronaut is found on the moon.

Michael Crichton, _Sphere_. There's a crashed spaceship on the floor
of the Pacific.

All sorts of Big Dumb Object stories like _Rendezvous with Rama_ or
_Ringworld_.

For more BDO, how about Bob ShawrCOs rCLOrbitsvillerCY series? Ringworld is
a ring, Orbitsville is a complete sphere around a star.

Fred Saberhagen's "Taj" in a fairly late, but entertaining, Berserker entry.
--
columbiaclosings.com
What's not in Columbia anymore..
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

Christian Weisgerber wrote:

On 2026-02-26, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:

Five Science Fiction Stories About Investigating Enigmatic Artifacts

"What is this thing, and where the heck did it come from?" is a great
way to start any story!

Hands down my favorite: James P. Hogan, _Inherit the Stars_. The
50,000-year old body of a human astronaut is found on the moon.

Michael Crichton, _Sphere_. There's a crashed spaceship on the
floor of the Pacific.

All sorts of Big Dumb Object stories like _Rendezvous with Rama_
or _Ringworld_.

Clarke's RAMA and 2001.
The (beginning of the) Perry Rhodan series.
King, Tommyknockers.

-is
--
A medium apple... weighs 182 grams, yields 95 kcal, and contains no
caffeine, thus making it unsuitable for sysadmins. - Brian Kantor
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

Christian Weisgerber <naddy@mips.inka.de> writes:

On 2026-02-26, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:

Five Science Fiction Stories About Investigating Enigmatic Artifacts

"What is this thing, and where the heck did it come from?" is a great
way to start any story!

Hands down my favorite: James P. Hogan, _Inherit the Stars_. The
50,000-year old body of a human astronaut is found on the moon.

I'm rather fond of _Ancient Shores_ by Jack McDevitt. I wasn't
as fond of the sequel, however.

In visual media, Stargate (and especially the TV series SG-1).

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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 2/26/2026 8:35 PM, Lawrence DrCOOliveiro wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:33:09 -0000 (UTC), Christian Weisgerber wrote:

On 2026-02-26, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:

Five Science Fiction Stories About Investigating Enigmatic
Artifacts

"What is this thing, and where the heck did it come from?" is a
great way to start any story!

Hands down my favorite: James P. Hogan, _Inherit the Stars_. The
50,000-year old body of a human astronaut is found on the moon.

Michael Crichton, _Sphere_. There's a crashed spaceship on the floor
of the Pacific.

All sorts of Big Dumb Object stories like _Rendezvous with Rama_ or
_Ringworld_.

For more BDO, how about Bob ShawrCOs rCLOrbitsvillerCY series? Ringworld is
a ring, Orbitsville is a complete sphere around a star.

If you want Big Smart Objects, try Iain Bank's "Culture" books.

pt
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

begin fnord
Lawrence DrCOOliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> writes:

what was US TV SF like back in 1980?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080221/

We would have been better off with none at all.
--
Steve Coltrin spcoltri@omcl.org
"A group known as the League of Human Dignity helped arrange for Deuel
to be driven to a local livestock scale, where he could be weighed."
- Associated Press
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 2/27/26 12:30 PM, Cryptoengineer wrote:

On 2/26/2026 8:35 PM, Lawrence DrCOOliveiro wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:33:09 -0000 (UTC), Christian Weisgerber wrote:

On 2026-02-26, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:

Five Science Fiction Stories About Investigating Enigmatic
Artifacts

"What is this thing, and where the heck did it come from?" is a
great way to start any story!

Hands down my favorite: James P. Hogan, _Inherit the Stars_. The
50,000-year old body of a human astronaut is found on the moon.

Michael Crichton, _Sphere_. There's a crashed spaceship on the floor
of the Pacific.

All sorts of Big Dumb Object stories like _Rendezvous with Rama_ or
_Ringworld_.

For more BDO, how about Bob ShawrCOs rCLOrbitsvillerCY series? Ringworld is >> a ring, Orbitsville is a complete sphere around a star.

If you want Big Smart Objects, try Iain Bank's "Culture" books.

Very much agreed.

Alastair Reynolds has big objects -- both smart and dumb -- in many of
his books.

Tony

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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 2/27/2026 4:05 PM, Steve Coltrin wrote:

begin fnord
Lawrence DrCOOliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> writes:

what was US TV SF like back in 1980?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080221/

We would have been better off with none at all.

Speak for yourself. Galactica 1980 was awesome.

"Space: 1999" was very cool also.

Lynn

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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:

On 2/27/2026 4:05 PM, Steve Coltrin wrote:

begin fnord
Lawrence DrCOOliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> writes:

what was US TV SF like back in 1980?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080221/

We would have been better off with none at all.

Speak for yourself. Galactica 1980 was awesome.

"Space: 1999" was very cool also.

UFO was pretty good, for the day. If a bit campy.
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 2/27/2026 5:16 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:

Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:

On 2/27/2026 4:05 PM, Steve Coltrin wrote:

begin fnord
Lawrence DrCOOliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> writes:

what was US TV SF like back in 1980?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080221/

We would have been better off with none at all.

Speak for yourself. Galactica 1980 was awesome.

"Space: 1999" was very cool also.

UFO was pretty good, for the day. If a bit campy.

Yes and Yes. Are there ANY British tv shows that are not campy ?

Lynn

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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 2/27/2026 10:43 AM, Lynn McGuire wrote:

On 2/27/2026 9:20 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:

Christian Weisgerber <naddy@mips.inka.de> writes:

On 2026-02-26, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:

Five Science Fiction Stories About Investigating Enigmatic Artifacts

"What is this thing, and where the heck did it come from?" is a great
way to start any story!

Hands down my favorite: James P. Hogan, _Inherit the Stars_.-a The
50,000-year old body of a human astronaut is found on the moon.

I'm rather fond of _Ancient Shores_ by Jack McDevitt.-a I wasn't
as fond of the sequel, however.

In visual media, Stargate (and especially the TV series SG-1).

You and me both, for both the McDevitt "Ancient Shores" books and Stargate.

I am probably one of the few who loved Stargate Universe too.

I liked Universe but it was a significant departure from the rest of the franchise in tone.
--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 2/27/2026 7:52 PM, Dimensional Traveler wrote:

On 2/27/2026 10:43 AM, Lynn McGuire wrote:

On 2/27/2026 9:20 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:

Christian Weisgerber <naddy@mips.inka.de> writes:

On 2026-02-26, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:

Five Science Fiction Stories About Investigating Enigmatic Artifacts >>>>>
"What is this thing, and where the heck did it come from?" is a great >>>>> way to start any story!

Hands down my favorite: James P. Hogan, _Inherit the Stars_.-a The
50,000-year old body of a human astronaut is found on the moon.

I'm rather fond of _Ancient Shores_ by Jack McDevitt.-a I wasn't
as fond of the sequel, however.

In visual media, Stargate (and especially the TV series SG-1).

You and me both, for both the McDevitt "Ancient Shores" books and
Stargate.

I am probably one of the few who loved Stargate Universe too.

I liked Universe but it was a significant departure from the rest of the franchise in tone.

SGU was incredibly dark, very dark.

Lynn

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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:05:11 -0700, Steve Coltrin <spcoltri@omcl.org>
wrote:

begin fnord
Lawrence DAOliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> writes:

what was US TV SF like back in 1980?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080221/

We would have been better off with none at all.

Ah, Cattlecar Galactica.
All I remember of it is the MAD version.
Which ends with the leader explaining his intent, on reaching Earth,
of moving to Montana and buying a cattle ranch.
At last! The perfect ending!
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"
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