What are your favorite opening lines to a sci/fi novel? - Page 2

kennyc · 10-03-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's a very short book; you can easily read it in an evening.

Maybe YOU can read it in an evening.

pilotbob · 10-03-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

"No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinised and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinise the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water."

What is that? War of the Worlds?

BOb

HarryT · 10-03-2009, 11:15 AM

Sure is.

wayspooled · 10-03-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

You know, SF is my favourite genre, and yet I couldn't remember a single opening line from one SF book(*)...until you said that, and it all flooded back.

(*) Others, yes, but not SF.

heh.. That is why I posted. I realized the only opening line I could remember was that one from Neuromancer.

DMcCunney · 10-03-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Of course, kids today will read that and say... How can the sky be black? That's just weird.

It would be really interesting if you looked at the sky and saw a test pattern...
______
Dennis

kennyc · 10-03-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

It would be really interesting if you looked at the sky and saw a test pattern...
______
Dennis

And I'm sure it would make a better novel.

vivaldirules · 10-03-2009, 01:54 PM

Like Marc (Adrian), I'm struggling. I can think of only one fairly easily:

"I'll make my report as if I told a story, for I was taught as a child on my homeworld that Truth is a matter of the imagination."

I'll let you guess the source if you don't recognize it instantly.

kennyc · 10-03-2009, 01:56 PM

Hmmm seems familiar, but I can't place it....

Googled it, I should put that on my "to re-read" list.

vivaldirules · 10-03-2009, 01:58 PM

Oh, and how could I forget this one:

"All this happened, more or less."

I'll quit there.

Greg Anos · 10-03-2009, 02:33 PM

Here y'all go, punctuation and all.

"I know a place where there is no smog and no parking problem and no population explosion. . . no Cold War and no H-Bombs and no television commercials. . . no Summit Conferences, no Foreign Aid, no hidden taxes-no income tax."

BenG · 10-03-2009, 08:46 PM

"Once upon a time there was a Martian named Michael Valentine Smith."

deanstow · 10-03-2009, 10:35 PM

This is one of the all time great 'grabbers' for an opening line.

I have placed this in spoiler mode because it might offend some - you have been warned.

And yes, the book is legitimate Science Fiction. And no, this does not represent the bulk of the content of the novel.

Spoiler:

Steel Beach by John Varley --- very Heinlein-esqe.

BenG · 10-04-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

When a day that you happen to know is Wednesday starts off by sounding like Sunday, there is something seriously wrong somewhere.

The Day of the Triffids- John Wyndham

WT Sharpe · 10-04-2009, 12:27 PM

Can't think of a favorite opening line, but my favorite closing line from a short sci-fi story was:

"LET THERE BE LIGHT!"

And there was light----

WT Sharpe · 10-04-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

"No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinised and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinise the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water."

Agree with HarryT - very good one!

10-03-2009, 01:56 PM	#23
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,898 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Hmmm seems familiar, but I can't place it.... Googled it, I should put that on my "to re-read" list. Last edited by kennyc; 10-03-2009 at 01:58 PM. Reason: Added

10-03-2009, 10:35 PM	#27
deanstow Member Posts: 10 Karma: 20 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: ebookwise, prs300	This is one of the all time great 'grabbers' for an opening line. I have placed this in spoiler mode because it might offend some - you have been warned. And yes, the book is legitimate Science Fiction. And no, this does not represent the bulk of the content of the novel. Spoiler: "In five years, the penis will be obsolete," said the salesman. Steel Beach by John Varley --- very Heinlein-esqe.

10-04-2009, 12:27 PM	#29
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	Can't think of a favorite opening line, but my favorite closing line from a short sci-fi story was: "LET THERE BE LIGHT!" And there was light---- Last edited by WT Sharpe; 10-04-2009 at 12:34 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Series Available As DRM Free Ebook	Kurt	Reading Recommendations	14	12-16-2010 12:32 PM
A list of favorite sci-fi and fantasy that are NOT Twilight or Harry Potter	Michaelbrent	Reading Recommendations	26	07-18-2010 07:43 PM
Opening lines of classic novels	HarryT	Lounge	32	07-11-2009 07:01 PM
Favorite Sci-fi Universe	Andybaby	Reading Recommendations	69	06-16-2009 10:42 PM
Blank Lines	vivaldirules	Upload Help	55	03-02-2009 03:17 PM

10-03-2009, 11:15 AM	#18
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Sure is.

10-03-2009, 01:54 PM	#22
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Like Marc (Adrian), I'm struggling. I can think of only one fairly easily: "I'll make my report as if I told a story, for I was taught as a child on my homeworld that Truth is a matter of the imagination." I'll let you guess the source if you don't recognize it instantly.

10-03-2009, 01:58 PM	#24
vivaldirules When's Doughnut Day? Posts: 10,059 Karma: 13675475 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Houston, TX, US Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad	Oh, and how could I forget this one: "All this happened, more or less." I'll quit there.

10-03-2009, 02:33 PM	#25
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,528 Karma: 37057604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Here y'all go, punctuation and all. "I know a place where there is no smog and no parking problem and no population explosion. . . no Cold War and no H-Bombs and no television commercials. . . no Summit Conferences, no Foreign Aid, no hidden taxes-no income tax."

10-03-2009, 08:46 PM	#26
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	"Once upon a time there was a Martian named Michael Valentine Smith."

Advert

Advert