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Looking for Old Sci Fi story posted here years ago
Me

Posted on 03/02/2026 6:17:10 PM PST by kalee

Does any one remember a post from many years ago that fits this description.

The Setting: A man is in his study/living room at night, reading by lamplight. * The Visitor: A man appears suddenly. He is gaunt, weary, and dressed in strange or rugged clothing. He reveals he is a descendant of the man he is visiting. * The Warning: He describes a total collapse of American civilization. He explains that there is a way to stop it, but it requires a specific, seemingly mundane change in the present. * The Cryptic Ending: In the final moments, the visitor leans in and whispers the actual catalyst of the apocalypse. The protagonist is so profoundly shaken and terrified by what he hears that he cannot—or will not—repeat it to the reader. The story ends with the protagonist sitting in the dark, unable to look at the world the same way.


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Chit/Chat; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: dansimmons; dhimmitude; eurabia; freerepublic; honeypot; mysterious3words; oldpost; scifi; thetimetraveller; timetraveler; vanity

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To: sloanrb

That’s the one.


21 posted on 03/02/2026 6:41:51 PM PST by Tench_Coxe (The woke were surprised by the reaction to the Bud Light fiasco. May there be many more surprises)
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To: sloanrb

Bfl


22 posted on 03/02/2026 6:42:07 PM PST by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too. 😁 " - Robert Conquest )
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To: sloanrb
FR thread to that same piece….

here

23 posted on 03/02/2026 6:44:27 PM PST by hole_n_one
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To: Jane Long

Now I’m worried


24 posted on 03/02/2026 6:45:00 PM PST by sopo
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To: hole_n_one
April 2006 = Mid 2000’s on FR

How ‘bout that!

25 posted on 03/02/2026 6:45:26 PM PST by hole_n_one
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To: sloanrb

Just read that again yesterday after it was mentioned in one of the eulogies for Dan Simmons.


26 posted on 03/02/2026 6:46:07 PM PST by yuleeyahoo (“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!” - the deep-state)
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To: kalee

https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1610142/posts

https://freerepublic.com/tag/dansimmons/index


27 posted on 03/02/2026 6:47:12 PM PST by SunkenCiv (The Demagogic Party is just a collection of violent, rival street gangs.)
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To: hole_n_one

906 replies to that 2006 FR post with the latest reply dated 7/5/2025


28 posted on 03/02/2026 6:47:34 PM PST by hole_n_one
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To: Mr170IQ

Sir, a ping to you for something you posted 20 years ago, becoming a new thread of its own.

You have staying power.


29 posted on 03/02/2026 6:54:37 PM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: BigFreakinToad
thats just creepy that an AI found that. means some of FR has been used for training data

I doubt you could find any website of significant size that hasn't been used for training AI.

30 posted on 03/02/2026 6:56:45 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Democracy dies with Democrats.)
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To: Ransomed

Dan Simmons yes! Thank you!


31 posted on 03/02/2026 7:05:01 PM PST by kalee
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To: kalee; Lazamataz

Was it one of Laz’s original writings?


32 posted on 03/02/2026 7:06:58 PM PST by NEMDF
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To: Ransomed

Message From a Time Traveler


33 posted on 03/02/2026 7:11:43 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: kalee; Ransomed; RaceBannon

Dan Simmons: The Time Traveller and the coming Islamic war
| April 2006 |

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1743776/posts


34 posted on 03/02/2026 7:15:18 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: kalee
For a moment there I thought some idiot would post

BTTFaMatchMadeInSpace02

thinking that was funny. Oh wait...

Seriously though - it's amazing how prescient that story was 20 years ago. Back then, so soon after 9-11, the general mindset was "Good thing that'll never happen here."

Fast forward to 2025 to see the city that took the most damage elect themselves a jihadi mayor.

35 posted on 03/02/2026 7:15:38 PM PST by MikelTackNailer (Fortunately despite aging I've eluded the snares of aquired wisdom.)
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To: sloanrb

Wow! It that’s it, Dan Simmons is a terrific writer.


36 posted on 03/02/2026 7:25:09 PM PST by FlatulusMaximus
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To: kalee

The man who actually wrote the story died February 21, 2026.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Simmons


37 posted on 03/02/2026 7:27:22 PM PST by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Wiki Loves Ramadan … tell the world about Ramadan … is an ad that pops up, on your Wiki link. 😩


38 posted on 03/02/2026 7:32:08 PM PST by Jane Long (Jesus is Lord!)
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To: sloanrb; Lazmataz

Are you sure that Laz did not write that story prior to his writers guild club days?


39 posted on 03/02/2026 7:32:11 PM PST by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: sloanrb

Thanks! It was linked on Instapundit by Sarah Hoyt but the link was hard to read on my phone. Copied and saved for future study. Dan Simmons had the time scale wrong but Europe is definitely headed that way. Reckon if President Trump has read this - he is willing to be more ruthless than other world leaders.


40 posted on 03/02/2026 7:32:38 PM PST by Some Fat Guy in L.A. (Still bitterly clinging to rational thought despite its unfashionability)
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