Can't find old science fiction story

Google ^ | 8/26/2010 | self

[dr_lew]

Is Science Fiction About to Go Blind? - Aug 2004 - Google Books ResultPopular Science - Vol. 265, No. 2 - 112 pages - Magazine Perhaps he/it is refusing interviews for fear of failing the Turing test. ... SF story is like running a simulation with certain types of driving ground ...

[Semper Mark]

Alien Probing?!

"Eeeyep! Been thayer, had thayat."

[shibumi]

I like the disheveled FFL.

[Bat_Chemist]

Sounds like “Sandkings” by George R. R. Martin. They weren’t originally humanoid, but ant-like and very adaptive.

[Salamander]

“Dreams Of My Father”?

“The Time/Life History of Liberals”?

[Bat_Chemist]

“Offdog”? What’s “Offdog”?

Nothin’. What’s off with you?

[Salamander]

I’d love to see all of the “The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever” books made into films.

[firebrand]

That’s it!
“You don’t need to starve them in order to get them to fight. It’s their nature to fight.” (somethng like that)
Thank you!

[skookum55]

Try Harlan Ellison's I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. It may foretell the future under the Obama Machine.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

That story sounds like “Without a Thought” by Fred Saberhagen, in the collection “Berserker”. I’m not completely certain of this, as it’s been a long time since I’ve read it and I do not currently own a copy.

[ArtDodger]

This is why I do my SF reading shopping at used book stores. Books published back when those involved had brains. The prices are pleasing, too.

[Stat Man]

HartleyMBaldwin is correct that the story is one of the Berserker stories by Fred Saberhagen. I don’t remember the title for certain, but “Without a Thought” sounds right. Oddly, I also read the story many years ago, and wanted to read it again, but couldn’t find it. When I came across/rediscovered it later, I was surprised to learn it was a Saberhagen story, because he had become a favorite author of mine in the intervening time.

[Waverunner]

I went for an oil change yesterday at the wally mart - usually buy a book to read during the change - not a single sci-fi book on the shelves..
Almost sounds like a Fred Saberhagen Berserker story.

[TheOldLady]

I loved those books, and you’re right; they’d make a great series of movies.

[Jonah Hex]

Waverrunner nailed it. It's Fred Saberhagen's "Without a Thought", his first Beserker story.

Do I get a cookie? :-)

[Jonah Hex]

Oops, missed your post. You got it first. :-)

[Jonah Hex]

And you. (sigh) I always come late to these sci-fi trivia contests... (smile)

[Harold Shea]

Late here too,the animals name was Murgatroyd I believe.

Been a while since I`ve read the story

Berserker Base with stories with Niven,Anderson Zelazny,others is good

[ShadowAce]

Sounds like an old Berzerker series story by Fred Saberhagen. I can’t remember the exact title though.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I HAte dragons and fairiy stories being passed off as “SciFi,” see, I’m not the only one! :)

And idiots with electronics hunting 'ghosts'. Sci-Fi? Not hardly.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Anyone know the author or title?

He bought them from "Shade and Wo", a purveyor of exotic items. They were called "Sandkings" and it was written by George R. R. Martin. One of my favorite all time stories. I believe I first read it in Omni magazine years ago.