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  • YASID - A different deadly maze story

    From Lee Gleason@21:1/5 to All on Wed May 1 14:14:04 2024
    The recent YASID about Rogue Moon made me recall another similar
    story. It was a short story I read in an anthology, probably in the late
    70s. There was an alien planet with a deadly maze that had killed a lot
    of explorers who attempted to navigate it. The story was about the
    latest person attempting it. He did well - actually got to the end and
    realized the key to survival, but at the last minute, not thinking
    through what he had just realized, made a fatal mistake and was killed.
    Ring any bells?

    --
    Lee K. Gleason N5ZMR
    Control-G Consultants
    [email protected]

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  • From Lee Gleason@21:1/5 to Michael F. Stemper on Wed May 1 21:35:53 2024
    On 5/1/2024 4:41 PM, Michael F. Stemper wrote:
    On 01/05/2024 14.14, Lee Gleason wrote:

       The recent YASID about Rogue Moon made me recall another similar
    story. It was a short story I read in an anthology, probably in the
    late 70s. There was an alien planet with a deadly maze that had killed
    a lot of explorers who attempted to navigate it.
    the latest person attempting it. He did well - actually got to the end
    and realized the key to survival, but at the last minute, not thinking
    through what he had just realized, made a fatal mistake and was
    killed. Ring any bells?

    Probably <https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?59019>, although I don't recall it being set on an alien planet.


    It's a good story - available on YouTube as spoken word - but not the
    one I'm trying to ID. The one I remember, the explorer was killed
    suddenly at the end, without any dialog with a maze dweller, just as he realized the MzGuffin to avoid dying. And it was a physical dismembering
    death, not metaphysical transport to unknown realms.

    --
    Lee K. GLeason N5ZMR
    Control-G Consultants
    [email protected]

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  • From Don@21:1/5 to Lee Gleason on Thu May 2 13:15:01 2024
    Lee Gleason wrote:

    The recent YASID about Rogue Moon made me recall another similar
    story. It was a short story I read in an anthology, probably in the late
    70s. There was an alien planet with a deadly maze that had killed a lot
    of explorers who attempted to navigate it. The story was about the
    latest person attempting it. He did well - actually got to the end and realized the key to survival, but at the last minute, not thinking
    through what he had just realized, made a fatal mistake and was killed.
    Ring any bells?

    Food for thought:

    <https://www.sffworld.com/forum/threads/stories-set-in-a-maze.24345/>

    Danke,

    --
    Don.......My cat's )\._.,--....,'``. https://crcomp.net/reviews.php telltale tall tail /, _.. \ _\ (`._ ,. Walk humbly with thy God.
    tells tall tales.. `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.' Make 1984 fiction again.

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  • From Default User@21:1/5 to Lee Gleason on Wed May 22 05:03:38 2024
    Lee Gleason wrote:


    The recent YASID about Rogue Moon made me recall another similar
    story. It was a short story I read in an anthology, probably in the
    late 70s. There was an alien planet with a deadly maze that had
    killed a lot of explorers who attempted to navigate it. The story was
    about the latest person attempting it. He did well - actually got to
    the end and realized the key to survival, but at the last minute, not thinking through what he had just realized, made a fatal mistake and
    was killed. Ring any bells?

    Probably not what you are looking for, as it's very different, but has
    a similar twist at the end is "The Sixth Palace" by Robert Silverber.

    There is a treasure trove of alien artifacts on a planet. Access is
    controlled by a powerful robot. Many have tried to impersonate the
    owners. The robot will ask a series of questions, and if the person
    gets one wrong they are killed. Some sort of sinuous blade emerges from
    the robot or something like that.

    The protagonist and his partner obtained a small computer with all the knowledge. The partner attempts entry, but after a series of correct
    answers is still killed. The protagonist, in desperation decides to try
    anyway. He asks the robot what he must do, and the answer is something
    along the lines of demonstrate truth. He then answers every question
    with random utterances. He is granted admission.

    While gathering some items to take in the first wave, the robot idly
    inquires as to why he selected those. He answers something
    complimentary about the items. He realizes that he has given a relevant
    answer to the question, as the blade begins to emerge.


    Brian

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  • From Lee Gleason@21:1/5 to Default User on Thu May 23 09:30:23 2024
    On 5/22/2024 12:03 AM, Default User wrote:



    While gathering some items to take in the first wave, the robot idly
    inquires as to why he selected those. He answers something
    complimentary about the items. He realizes that he has given a relevant answer to the question, as the blade begins to emerge.



    That's absolutely it! Despite my faulty recollection and description,
    that's the story I was trying to remember! Thanks!

    --
    Lee K. Gleason N5ZMR
    Control-G Consultants
    [email protected]

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  • From Default User@21:1/5 to Lee Gleason on Thu May 23 19:25:06 2024
    Lee Gleason wrote:

    On 5/22/2024 12:03 AM, Default User wrote:



    While gathering some items to take in the first wave, the robot idly inquires as to why he selected those. He answers something
    complimentary about the items. He realizes that he has given a
    relevant answer to the question, as the blade begins to emerge.



    That's absolutely it! Despite my faulty recollection and
    description, that's the story I was trying to remember! Thanks!

    Well there you go. I thought it worth mentioning because the of the
    twist ending being similar.


    Brian

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