classic science fiction lines

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Micca
Date: 07 Aug 10 - 07:45 AM

I almost forgot the one of the very best
From "Repo Man"
" Sometimes people just explode"

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Micca
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 10:18 AM

The Russell Quote above?
"Freedom : I Won't"

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Naemanson
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 08:02 AM

And then there was the story of the evolution of man and computer. As the centuries pass computers get smaller and more powerful and man gets closer in the interface. At each point in the story where the time shifts farther into the future somebody asks the computer if entropy can be reversed.

In the last section humans are joining their essence to the computer and leaving their frail bodies behind. The universe is dying. The last human asks the computer the same question and then directs it to keep thinking on the problem.

The story ends with: "...and then the Cosmic AC said, "Let there be light!" and there was light.

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Micca
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 01:54 PM

" F:IW"
...and then there were none"
Eric Franl Russel

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 01:30 PM

"It's just one of those rays where everything goes 'dong'."
                     Ferdinand Feghoot (Grendle Briarton)

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 01:13 PM

"Goddamit, Jim, I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer!"

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Stu
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 06:54 AM

"Tell me about your homeworld, Asshole" - National Lampoon's Doon.

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Aug 10 - 09:01 PM

Arthur C. Clarke once wrote a story where a monastery hires a company to install a computer to help them write down the nine billion names of God. They believe that the world will end once that job is done. The programmers become worried that the monks will riot when they reach their goal and the world doesn't end so they slip away and ride down the mountain. They know when the computer will finish its task. At that time they look up and "without any fuss at all the stars were going out."

I love that line.

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Micca
Date: 01 Jul 10 - 03:25 AM

Thanks Huw, I knew I was close, but not exact, I loved those "Asimovisms" and puns, He was as bad as Severn(almost).
No one has mentioned the Title that is memorable too
"The lathe of Heaven£#"
"Do androids dream of electric sheep? "

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: HuwG
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 10:52 PM

Micca, Asimov's spoonerism was even more apposite. Montgomery Harlow Stein of New York embezzled a large sum of money and used a time machine to jump to a point in the future just outside the Statute of Limitations for his crime. Rejecting the appeal by the District Attorney, the judge declared:

A niche in time saves Stein

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: gnu
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 05:16 PM

"I'll be Barack."

To be written in the future.

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Don Firth
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 04:12 PM

Don't remember the whole schtick verbatim, but the general plot goes something like this:

Scientists and philosophers build the greatest, smartest computer in the Universe and dub it "Deep Thought." Then, they put The Question to Deep Thought. "What is the meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything?"

Deep Thought flickers and hums for some seven years. Then comes the answer:

"42."

The scientists and philosophers protest. "We don't understand the answer." To which Deep Thought responds, "The problem is, you don't understand the question."

After many adventures, Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect discover the question:

"What is 6 times 9?"

Arthur and Ford ruminate over this a bit, then as they walk off, Arthur comments, "I've always thought there was something fundamentally wrong with the Universe."

Yup. That about sums it up.

But you should be okay if you remember where your towel is. Words to live by.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: michaelr
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 01:48 PM

"Why would I destroy Earth? That's where I keep all my stuff!"
- The Tick

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Midchuck
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 12:50 PM

The Programmer closed the switch linking all the computers in the univers together into one giant supercomputer and asked the question "Is there a God?"
There was a flash of lightening that welded the switch closed
and a Voice said " There is NOW!!"
Frederic Brown

I remember that one from childhood. A rather ridiculous idea - in the 1950s.....

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: John J
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 07:22 AM

'There's a pain in my diodes'.

Perhaps shouldn't come under the heading of mere fiction.

JJ

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Micca
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 07:17 AM

The Programmer closed the switch linking all the computers in the univers together into one giant supercomputer and asked the question "Is there a God?"
There was a flash of lightening that welded the switch closed
and a Voice said " There is NOW!!"
Frederic Brown

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Micca
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 06:56 AM

" a stitch in time saves Stein" Dr Asimov, of course

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: TheSnail
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 01:23 PM

"All your base are belong to us"

Zero Wing video game.

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Mrrzy
Date: 29 Jun 10 - 11:09 AM

I'm a soldier, not a diplomat! -Capt. Kirk

I'm a diplomat, not a soldier! -Capt. Picard

I'm a doctor, not an escalator! -Dr. McCoy

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Midchuck
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 11:13 AM

The "Doc" Smith reference reminded me of one of his lines, that I don't know what book it was from, but I'm sure it was him, that I've used for years:

"He's so low he could put on a tall silk hat and walk under a duck!"

Peter

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Green Man
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 10:33 AM

E.E.Doc Smith - Skylark of Valeron

"She's a blinding flash and a deafening report."!

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Hamish
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 08:25 AM

Doctor Who: I'm going to have to ask you to trust me.
Amy: Don't you always tell me the truth?
Doctor Who: If I always told you the truth, I wouldn't have to ask you to trust me.

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Art Thieme
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 10:56 PM

GROK!

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Micca
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 05:47 PM

He said "Greetings" and Melted the Lug wrench??
the movie Starman

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 05:25 PM

He was the last man on Earth.

There was a knock on the door.

It was the wife...

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Peter T.
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 11:59 AM

"Why does no one read earlier entries before posting their own?" -- from an unwritten science fiction story entitled "How The Careless Reader Was Suddenly Sucked Into A Horvath Hell Without Connor or Holtz To Help Them".

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: mousethief
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 11:42 AM

"Fascinating" -- Mr Spock

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 11:33 AM

From a review of The Mole People:

"It moves along with the speed of the digestive track with similar results."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: mousethief
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 01:31 AM

Oh God I'm so depressed -- Marvin the Paranoid Android (H2G2)

Bi-la kaifa -- Dune

Go stick your head in a pig. -- H2G2

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Don Firth
Date: 27 Jun 10 - 12:29 AM

I recall a science fiction short story that I ran across in an SF anthology years ago. The story was first published sometime in the 1930s. It started:

He was the last man on Earth.

There was a knock on the door.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: quokka
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 10:58 PM

"Listen, three eyes," he said, "don't you try to outweird me. I get stranger things than you free with my breakfast cereal." (From The Restaurant at the End of the Universe)

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: deepdoc1
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 08:14 PM

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. -Time Enough for Love

Always listen to the experts. They'll tell you what can't be done, and why. Then do it.

Always yield to temptation, It may never pass your way again. -The Notebooks of Lazarus Long

Certainly the game is rigged. Don't let that stop you; if you don't bet you can't win." -Time Enough for Love

God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent---it says so right here on the label. If you have a mind capable of believing all three of these divine attributes simultaneously, I have a wonderful bargain for you. No checks, please. Cash and in small bills. -Time Enough for Love

Of all the strange "crimes" that human beings have legislated out of nothing, "blasphemy" is the most amazing---with "obscenity" and "indecent exposure" fighting it out for the second and third place. -Time Enough for Love

The meek shall inherit the earth, a 6 foot plot above them. -The Notebooks of Lazarus Long

The plural of spouse is spice. -Time Enough for Love

The ways of God and government and girls are all mysterious, and it is not given to mortal man to understand them."in Time Enough for Love

What are the facts? Again and again and again--what are the _facts_? Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget what "the stars foretell," avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind the unguessable "verdict of history," --what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your only clue. Get the facts!

Anything else from Lazarus Long.

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 07:59 PM

Not exactly science fiction - but in the movie about tornados - "Twister" - Bill Paxton and Hellen Hunt have this massive tornado bearing down on them. They are about to die. What does Bill say?

"Run!"

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Don Firth
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 04:32 PM

Frankenstein (1931).

Young Frankenstein (1974).


SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!

The stinger line of the classic science fiction short story "To Serve Man", by Damon Knight:

"It's a cookbook!!"

Don Firth

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 04:00 PM

Let's see, one button turns on the lights and the other is the self-destruct ...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Mrrzy
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 01:35 PM

You scream and then you leap.

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: deepdoc1
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 11:29 AM

"If I'm your mission, Shepherd, best give it up. You're welcome on my boat. God ain't." -Mal Reynolds

"Do you know what the chain of command is here? It's the chain I go get and beat you with to show you who's in command." -Jayne Cobb

"I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" -Harlan Ellison

"No matter where you go, there you are." -Buckaroo Banzai

"Do you really believe that?"
"I do."
"You willing to die for that belief?"
"I am." (pulls out his gun and shoots at the Operative repeatedly) "Course, that ain't exactly Plan A." -Serenity

"You want to go home and rethink your life." -Obi-Wan

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 10:10 AM

"There won't be so much real difference--honest, there won't--
And I'd go down in a minute and take my chance--
I'm a good American and I always liked them--
Except for one small detail that bothers me
And that's the food proposition. Because, you see,
The concrete-mixer may have made a mistake,
And it looks like just high spirits.
But, if it's got so they like the flavor . . . well . . ."

From "Nightmare Number 3" by Stephen Vincent Benet

Have a nice day!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Donuel
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 09:50 AM

Game over man

Aliens

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 09:41 AM

"90% of everything is crap."

Theodore Sturgeon

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Phot
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 08:57 AM

Oh Shit!! Data, just before crashing the Enterprise D.

Everybody rember where we parked. Kirk, just after landing a Klingon bird of prey in the middle of a public park in San Fransisco.

Where are the nuclear Wessels? Checkov, shortly before finding the USS Enhterprise CVN.

Wassail!! Chris

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: mousethief
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 03:13 AM

"I was the victim of a series of accidents, as are we all." --Malachi Constant: Sirens of Titan (Vonnegut)

"We will rule over all this land, and we will call it, This Land."
"I think we should call it your grave!"
"Ah, curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!" -- Wash: Firefly

"No power in the 'verse can stop me." -- River: ibid.

"Danger, Will Robinson!" -- The Robot: Lost in Space

"Time is an illusion. Lunch time, doubly so." -- Ford Prefect: HHGTTG (Adams)

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: ClaireBear
Date: 26 Jun 10 - 02:29 AM

"They're made out of meat."

-- Terry Bisson, from a very funny short short story you can read here.

Claire

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Art Thieme
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 07:16 PM

TIME is the fire in which we burn!-----one of the later Star Trek films...

Also: (my absolute favorite!)

Every time I begin to feel the slightest bit self-important, I think of all the dirt that never did have a chance to sit up and look around.-------------Kurt Vonnegut in Between Time And Timbuktu

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Bert
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 06:42 PM

Mine! Mine! Mine! - Cat in Red Dwarf

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Midchuck
Date: 25 Jun 10 - 05:16 PM

Jayne: Don't much see the benefit in getting involved in strangers' troubles without a up-front price negotiated.

Book: These people need assistance. The benefit wouldn't necessarily be for you.

Jayne: That's what I'm sayin'.

Zoe: No one's gonna force you to go, Jayne. As has been stated, this job is strictly speculative.

Jayne: Good! Don't know these folks, don't much care to.

Mal: They're whores.

Jayne: I'm in.

- Firefly, "Heart of Gold"

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 09:42 AM

"Close Encounters" is of course full of allusions to earlier SF - including movies...

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: jacqui.c
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 08:29 AM

Yes - but don't you think that there's a remarkable resemblance between Quark and W?

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Kaleea
Date: 22 Jan 05 - 02:59 AM

Justa--
    I think you confused the "Rules of Politicians" with the "Rules of Aquisitions!"

Subject: RE: classic science fiction lines
From: Bert
Date: 21 Jan 05 - 07:10 PM

Though not a 'line' as such - the look on Lister's face as Kryton, who had just become human, was showing him pictures of his penis.