BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story

Subject: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: JulieF
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 08:35 AM

I have been trying to remember the name of a science fiction short story that I have been decribing to a friend.

It may be by Asimov but I couldn't swear to it.

The premise is that mankind has a light attached to their foreheads that lights up to show when they are attracted to someone else and the problems that it causes.

I have every confidence that someone out there knows what I'm talking about.

Look forward to hearing from you.

feel free to discuss other good short stories as well.

J

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 08:43 AM

I suppose it'd make a difference what "being attracted to someone" means.

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: JulieF
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 08:47 AM

A sexual attaction .

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: Mrrzy
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 08:58 AM

Ooh, doesn't sound familiar, but I hope someone finds it, sounds interesting!

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: polaitaly
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 09:21 AM

It seems "The Primal Urge" Brian Aldiss, 1961. I read it many years ago as " la lampada del sesso" in italian. I remember very little of the book , but I'm sure it was good; I love Aldiss.
paola

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: artbrooks
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 09:27 AM

From Wiki:

The Primal Urge is a 1961 science fiction novel by Brian Aldiss. A satire on sexual reserve, it explores the effects on society of a forehead-mounted Emotion Register that glows when the wearer experiences sexual attraction.

The book was banned in Ireland.

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 09:57 AM

While we're at it, I'm looking for a SF/future/humor book of short stories that I believe was entitled GAVAGAN'S BAR.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 10:03 AM

.... and I FOUND it!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 10:03 AM

Easy to find on google: Click. Copies available at Amazon.

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 10:11 AM

There was a SF short story in Playboy years ago that I never was able to track down again when I went looking for it. Had to do with a rocket full of astronauts landing on another air-based planet. That planet was inhabited by large worm-like creatures that used the self-defense mechanism of shape-shifting to look like the invaders, so there were hundreds of individuals on the planet surface who looked like the people in the crew. And the difficulties of telling who was the real crew member so they could try to leave. I remember there was something repetetive in it to do with "shoes."

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 10:45 AM

You might be able to find it HERE, Maggie.

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: JulieF
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 11:27 AM

Yes that's it. Aldiss not Asimov and I could have sworn it was a short story. Mind you I just read so much when I was a teenager.

Have just ordered a second hand copy form Amazon. I hope it is as good as I remember but I think it was probably a premise that would really appeal to a shy teenager.

Thanks for your help - in less time than it takes to go and have my ear chewed off about our new computer system

Thanks again
J

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: Joe_F
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 08:42 PM

The Japanese (I have read) have developed a device on which you register various salient characteristics of yourself and your desired companions. When you get near someone with another such device and they find you compatible, you both get beeps.

In a commune I used to belong to, there was a game called 4-point. If you wanted to play, you went down a list of the members and gave everyone a number from 0 to 3. The manager then compared lists and put in your mailbox a list of all the members whose rating of you and your rating of whom added up to 4 or more. You took it from there, without fear of rejection.

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: Art Thieme
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 10:35 PM

The Aldiss book seemingly indicates that all those lightning bugs that sparkle on summer nights have more on their little minds than I ever realized!

Love

Art

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 01:32 AM

I remember a story I read in the early 70s (may have been when I was collecting old copies of ASF, etc) about a similar thing which involved a - er - 'contest' in an arena which the man had to survive, and the (many) ladies had a light which flashed when they, er, um, .... hmmmm

:-)

Anybody else remember it?

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: open mike
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 12:47 PM

Lightning bugs, or Pyralis firefly (fire flies) ARE up to
attracting a mate..that IS what is on their little minds..
http://www.backyardnature.net/lightbug.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly
http://hymfiles.biosci.ohio-state.edu/projects/FFiles/
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/firefly.html
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/insects/beetles/Fireflyprintout.shtml
you can have your own with this string of lights..i miss the fire flies
in the summer -- we had them in Nebraska where i lived when i was a kid.
I also miss Cardinals...no red birds here in Ca (except some i hear that were smuggled in to a southern calif. canyon) but i guess the ruby throated humming birds make up for the lack of both the other...they fly around and their throats light up when they flash their feathers...

Subject: RE: BS: Looking for Science Fiction short story
From: EBarnacle
Date: 04 Mar 08 - 09:44 PM

Sounds like a cousin/ancestor of Tales from the White Hart and the Callahan's Bar series from two of my favorite authors.